There’s another big weekend for art coming up. Here are a few of the events …
CANDO ARTS CO-OP
309 23rd St., Miami Beach, 305-672-3336
Buttons Up, Augusto Esquivel’s debut solo show, will feature the artist’s elaborate button sculptures. Esquivel became interested in making such art four years ago, when he took an artist-assistant job at ArtCenter/South Florida and was introduced to artists such as Carolina Sardi, Daniel Fiorda and Federico Uribe. The job inspired Esquivel, who says he’s studied acting, singing, dancing and cinematography but “nothing as intense as sculpting.” In Esquivel’s hands, the humble button becomes something extraordinary. In Buttons Up he will present more than 10 two- and three-dimensional sculptures, most involving buttons suspended from fishing line. Creating them was a labor-intensive process. Esquivel says larger sculptures such as “Audrey in Black,” a black-button portrait of Audrey Hepburn, take about 30 eight-hour days to complete. “There are so many things to do,” he explains, “painting the buttons, drilling holes in the acrylic, cutting hundreds of strings of fishing line, threading hundreds of buttons into the string and then actually sculpting with buttons. Buttons Up will open 6-10 p.m. Jan. 14 at Cando Arts Co-op, 309 23rd St., in Miami Beach. Call 305-672-3336 or visit Augustomuchogusto.com. Read more about Esquivel in our recent Fresh Art feature.
MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER
Hall D, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Mia-artfair.com
Miami International Art Fair will host 48 international and 25 local dealers “featuring contemporary, emerging, conceptual, and modern art including photography, installations, performance, and video” from noon to 9 p.m.. Jan. 14 and noon to 7 p.m. Jan. 15 through 17. An opening preview show on Jan. 13, curated by Miami artist Gean Moreno will feature a “multi-disciplinary playground” made possible by Spring Break, a non-profit group that develops new ways of approaching contemporary local art and culture and Augurari, a non-profit hat publishes contemporary visual artists audio works. Also on the preview show bill, Jona Cerwinske who once transformed a Lamborghini Gallardo into a work of art with a Sharpie, and will now take on a Porsche Carrera S 911; Artem Mirolevich, who blurs the line between performance art and painting; and Lucinda Linderman, a mixed-media artist who delivers a powerful message about the environment. The wine-and-caviar preview, which costs $50 to attend, starts at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m. Cost for the other dates: $10 in advance, $15 at door for one-day pass; $15 in advance, $20 at door for multi-day pass; free for kids under 12 accompanied by an adult; $5 after 5 p.m. on Jan. 14.
CAROL JAZZAR GALLERY
158 N.W. 91 St., Miami, 305-490-6906, Cjazzart.com
Breakdown, a solo exhibition by Miami artist Robert Huff, will feature three-dimensional work,s abstract landscapes,and a large constructed painting, all inspired by time he spent in the Appalachian Mountains and exploring coal regions in West Virginia, southwestern Virginia and eastern Kentucky. As the galleries states in it’s press release: “In this landscape the drama of the environmental battle of the region is sobering. Coal companies dig deep into mountains with slight regard for human life, literally decapitating mountain ranges and effectively destroying the majesty of the ancient mountains, forests, streams, wildlife habitat, and entire communities. Huff’s work reflects his fascination with the push and pull of natural and man-made structures in the visual environment.” Huff, formerly a professor and head of the Art Department at Miami-Dade College’s Kendall Campus, currently divides his time between Miami and southwest Virginia. His exhibition will open 7-11 p.m. Jan. 14 and runs through March 13.
BEAR AND BIRD GALLERY
Upstairs at Tate’s, 4566 N. University Drive, Lauderhill, 954-748-0181, Bearandbird.com
Be There Be Square, a South Florida locals-only exhibition, will feature square-shaped art by South Florida artists, proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that it really is hip to be square. The roster includes Aleloop, Brandy Rumiez, Carol-Anne McFarlane, Devin Echevarria, Jon Hunt, JR Linton, Lisa Rockford, Moxie Nox, Luzalma Gonzalez, Scott Hensel and Marthaland (whose work is pictured here). The show opens 6-10 p.m. Jan. 15 and runs through Feb 26.
UNDERGROUNDS COFFEEHAUS
2743 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954-630-1900, Facebook.com/people/Undergrounds-Coffeehaus/1166704625
Bruce Glider, a musician, painter, digital artist and photographer whose work can be found in the photographic archives of the Community College of Philadalphia, tagged on the back of random cereal boxes and wedged tucked under the seats of mass transit vehicles, will have a solo exhibition that opens 9 to midnight Jan. 15. His work, “Snow Goblin,” is pictured at right. The opening will also feature veggie trays, meat platters, drink specials and $1 raffle tickets for a picture.
1310 GALLERY
Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts, 1310 S.W. Second Court, Fort Lauderdale
Millenyum Expressions, presented by Subbora and Future Visionaries, will feature artists musicians, performers, fashion designers, filmmakers and exhibitors.exploring what our world will be like in the future.Subbora is studying animation at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. The show opens 7-11 p.m. Jan. 15 and runs through the closing reception that runs 7-11 p.m. Feb. 11 and will feature a live performance and Future Film Fest. For tickets or info, call 754-551-0982 or visit Subboragallery.com.
ARTISTS HAVEN GALLERY
2757 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954-817-4893, Artistshavengallery.com
Michael Joseph Photography Exhibition and book release, a 15-year retrospective featuring 50 of Joseph’s photographs and the release of “Point of View,” his book of 180 of his most memorable photos. Joseph’s relationship with photography began as a child when he would watch images appear, as if by magic, in the Polaroid pictures his father had taken. The photographer has since traveled all around the U.S. and to many international cities to capture images of things he says may otherwise go unnoticed. The show opens 6-9 p.m. Jan. 15 when neighboring eatery, Michelle’s Restaurant, will offer complimentary wine, cheese, munchies and cake.
THE BUBBLE
810 N.E. Fourth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954-562-3804, Independentworkingartist.network.com
Everything is Alive, billed as “a celebration of the rhythmic creative spirit of life,” will feature art by Sean Murdock, Darwinandthedodo, Tim Hicks, Luzalma Gonzalez, Alois,Chris Bellus, Mike Turner, Susan Buzzi, Rene Gordon, Trav, Rachel DeJohn, Jacque Lewis, Andrew Banks and Olga Volkus (whose “Initiation” is pictured here), and music by MINEO, Xela Zaid, Laurie and Todd (from Brooklyn) and others. Throughout the afternoon, there will be drumming (feel free to bring your own) and an open mic for anyone who cares to tell some jokes, recite a poem or sing. The invitation doesn’t say anything about yodeling but that would probably be welcomed as well. The Bubble people say this is about peeps coming together to “observe, celebrate and become the creative process.” The art and music party runs 3 p.m. to midnight Jan. 15. Cover is $5 before 6 p.m., and $10 after 6 p.m. and includes free drinks.
For more events coming up this week and far into the future, check out the obsessively updated ArtMurmur Art Guide.
