Cultural Compass
Love of Beauty is Taste
Islara Souto
Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art. Ralph Waldo Emerson.
In theory, temperatures in Miami drop and the humidity subsides as October takes over, but hurricanes remain a threat. The word “hurricane” is a linguistic borrowing from the Arawak, the language of the Taino people, a cultural force in the Caribbean before Columbus. The original meaning was the evil spirit of the sea.
To counter evil spirits, downtown Miami offers an abundance of art in all its manifestations. Here is but sample of things to come this fall. Here is downtown NEWS’ Cultural Compass.
A Literary Party at Mana Contemporary Miami
Ready to enjoy a great Literary Salon in Spanish, a tribute to the beautiful language of Don Quixote? Tributo a un bello idioma takes place October 4, 6:30 to 9 pm., at Mana Contemporary Miami.
Even if not a Spanish speaker, you will enjoy the readings of 5 local writers, and tango and bolero in jazz interpretations. (Some translations available.) That’s not all: a reception follows in the studio of renowned artist Rafael Rangel.
As you might know, Wynwood is losing its edge as Miami’s art destination, and, of all places, Downtown Miami is fast becoming home to some remarkable creative minds around Mana Contemporary. What used to be the dilapidated Mall 777, now houses a dozen + art studios.
Participants
Writers: Mila Tapperi, Pedro Medina León, Andrés Hernández, Isabel García Cintas and Raúl Guerrero. Gary Thomas Experimental Jazz Trio. Actors: Islara Souto and Gaby Gabriela. Artist: Rafael Rangel (creator of the Ñ art.) RSVP: DASSMIAMI.COM
Downtown Arts + Science Salons (DASS) take place throughout the downtown neighborhood, using iconic venues for a campus: the Olympia Theater, the Ingraham Building, the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Books & Books, Miami Dade College, and residential buildings. Mana Contemporary Miami is heading to iconic, so we didn’t think twice about collaborating. We didn’t think twice about collaborating with New York’s PEN America, the premier organization championing the freedom to write.
There the origin of what promises to be a memorable evening, a dialogue among varying artistic genres: writing, drama, jazz, and great art.
A Language of Distinction
Art as resistance against the current xenophobia that has reached Spanish, a language boasting 11 Nobel Prizes in Literature. Join this well-deserved tribute to the language of 500 million people worldwide. And more important, the language in which these lines were created: Si nada nos salva de la muerte, al menos que el amor nos salve de la vida. “If nothing can save us from death, let love save us from life.” Pablo Neruda.
“Of course, can’t have a party without libations,” said Raul Guerrero, Academic Curator at DASS. “Looking forward to drinking to your health, Salud!”
ART: PAMM Turns 35
This fall, PAMM presents a dynamic lineup of exhibitions highlighting the institution’s history as a leading international modern and contemporary art museum. These range from an exhibition commemorating the 35th anniversary of Surrounded Islands — a site-specific installation in Miami by renowned artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude — to a special selection of gifts made to the museum since its beginning as a collecting institution to solo exhibitions of work by Lynne Golob Gelfman and Ebony G. Patterson. “Fall season takes a look back on the history of the museum while looking forward to the next 35 years,” said Franklin Sirmans, PAMM’s director.
A highlight of the season is The Gift of Art, an exhibition opening in October 2018, consisting of approximately 60 artworks from the museum’s permanent collection — from modern masterpieces by Milton Avery, Adolph Gottlieb, Joaquín Torres-García, and Wifredo Lam to contemporary works by artists such as Carmen Herrera, Anish Kapoor, Wangechi Mutu, and Zilia Sánchez.
SCIENCE: Creatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence
A new exhibition on view at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science from Saturday, October 6, until April 21, 2019 explores the extraordinary organisms that produce light, from the flickering fireflies found in backyards around the world to the alien-like deep-sea fishes and other fantastic creatures that illuminate the perpetually dark depths of the oceans.
Rare among organisms that live on land, the ability to glow — that is, generate light through a chemical reaction — is much more common in the ocean, where up to 90 percent of animals at depths below 700 meters are bioluminescent. Scientists continue to discover bizarre new bioluminescent species, like the crystal jelly, whose glow led to a revolution in cell biology. These deep-ocean animals may hold important clues to essential questions. Scientists are in a race against time as marine habitats are increasingly threatened by pollution, overfishing and global climate change.
OPERA: Anna Netrebko & Yusif Eyvazov
For one night only, two of the world’s best opera voices, Anna Netrebko (soprano) and Yusif Eyvazov (tenor), will perform in concert. Today’s reigning prima donna, Anna Netrebko’s distinctly beautiful voice, abundant charisma and arresting stage presence make an indelible impression in every role she portrays. Together with her husband Yusif Eyvazov, they make a breathtaking tandem on stage. The program will feature music by Italian composers Verdi, Cilea, Puccini, Catalani, Di Capua and more!
CINEMA: Miami Film Festival
Film lovers get ready Gems — four days of award-winning cinema, including possible Oscar contenders. October 11–14.
Six Official Oscar Submissions lead the list, with Colombia’s pick, Birds of Passage, as the Opening Night Film and Spain’s selection, Champions, as the Closing Night film. Rounding out the Oscar contenders are the Official Selections from Sweden: Border, Paraguay: The Heiresses, South Korea: Burning, and Iceland: Woman at War.
Bárbara Lennie, the acclaimed and Goya-winning Spanish actress, will accept the Festival’s Precious Gem Award prior to the presentation of her newest film, Petra, directed by Jaime Rosales. Lennie also joins Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem and Ricardo Darín in Oscar-winner Asghar Farhadi’s Everybody Knows (Todos lo saben), which will also play at Gems — the October preview of next year’s Miami Film Festival.
Cinematographer Diego García, touted as a strong contender for his first Oscar nomination for shooting Paul Dano’s directorial debut, Wildlife, starring Cary Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal, will receive the Festival’s Art of Light Award and participate in a conversation about his craft prior to the Florida premiere of Wildlife.
Source: The Miami Film Festival.
The End
To conclude the Fall Edition of Downtown NEWS Cultural Compass, here is a gem: Cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world. Jean-Luc Godard.
