By Mary Jo Almeida-Shore
Downtown Miami Security Building Launch
Two fabulous events took over the historic Downtown Security Building, drawing more than 400 lovers of art and fashion on Thursday, June 27. The Miami-based KIWI Arts Group inaugurated its new Project Space, expanding from Wynwood with this second location, opening with the public premiere of William John Kennedy: The Warhol Museum Edition portfolio. The collection of five photographs reveal a young Warhol on the cusp of fame and was created to raise funds for The Andy Warhol Museum. Eric Shiner, the museum’s director, states, “With this rare body of work, Kennedy has given us some of the most joyous and insightful images of Andy Warhol ever created.” Serving as a looking glass into pop culture, both past and present, the event also launched Perrier’s limited edition Warhol bottles, presented with the support of Herradura and Chambord vodka. William John Kennedy: The Warhol Museum Edition portfolio will be on view through August 23, 2013 at the KIWI Arts Group Project Space (117 NE 1st Avenue, Ground Floor). Project space hours are Wednesday – Saturday from noon to 6:00 p.m. or by appointment. For additional information, please visit www.kiwiartsgroup.com.
In a different space within the iconic building, CU-1 Gallery hosted the opening party for its inaugural exhibit Look At Me. Exhibiting artist Paul Solomons was on-site, along with artist and founder Roger Weber and fellow founders Stephan Goettlicher, Bernd Mueller, and Marc Schmidt. Guests admired the diverse and striking pieces. The thrills continued after we left the building, as projections of the pieces illuminated the building’s exterior, bringing life and excitement to downtown Miami.
PAMM’s Annual Friendraiser
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) welcomed new Contemporaries members to the group at the highly-anticipated Friendraiser on Thursday, June 27, the first official PAMM event. The party took place bayside at the Standard Miami Beach and featured an exclusive DJ set by Los Jaichackers, a Los Angeles- and Phoenix-based multimedia art collaborative. Attendees were also privy to a performative intervention by Los Jaichackers, who were in Miami collecting audio and video material in preparation for a major performance that will debut at PAMM’s December opening. This project will be part of PAMM’s official Miami Art Week/Art Basel Miami Beach celebration. Guests enjoyed sips by Belvedere Vodka, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Société Perrier. Notable guests included: Daniel and Marcella Novela, Leann Standish, Daniela Frewa, Ginger Harris, Alex Horn, Zubin Nagpal, Diana Nawi and Aileen Quintana, to name a few.
Pérez Art Museum Miami’s new, state-of-the-art facility, now under construction in downtown Miami’s Museum Park alongside Biscayne Bay, is designed by world renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron and features 200,000 square feet of programmable space.
Photo Credit: WRE