In its third outing last Sunday (September 3, 2023), chaired by Elizabeth Mayhew with Christopher Spitzmiller and Anthony Bellomo, the event was the largest ever and, once again, completely sold out.
The art world received a grand toast on September 6 when the recipient of the inaugural Maestro Dobel Latinx Art Prize was honored at a splendid affair in Manhattan.
The Marriot located at Biscayne Bay in Miami added a mural, “Natura Sound”, to its hotel. The mural was created by Miami artist Nate Dee and depicts Florida’s ecosystem and wildlife. Julissa Kepner, Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay General Manager talked about the mural for the guests, “we want the guests to find the mural as a place to photograph themselves in front of, as a place to brighten their day, and as a place to remind them of all the uniqueness Miami has to offer.” The mural also encompasses the style of the Wynwood staple of murals.
Dee being a Miami Native and having knowledge of the landscape made him a perfect candidate to paint this special mural. “I felt he would bring the vision to life in a bright and fun way to mirror our new hotel positioning of being on the waterfront,” Kepner said. Natura Sound’s bright colors definitely bring the pop of color and the vibe of the bay.
Dee felt that it made sense to highlight Florida’s diverse wildlife and ecosystem because of things that are important to him in his work. “One of the things that is very important in my work is the idea of sustainability, wildlife, the idea that we are here as stewards to the planet and we should take care of it,” Dee says.. Dee also says the location was impeccable because they were right next to an ecosystem so there was a definite connection.
Kepner says this mural shows South Florida’s landscape in a more engaging way. “It represents our deep-rooted connections to our surrounding and important environment and the ecological treasures you may find,” Kepner explains about what it represents.
The mural is the signature of this Marriot, it shows everything local, “that’s all local plant life, aquatic plants, aquatic animals,” Dee says.
Marriot wants their guests to take advantage of the mural not only to photograph but also to remind them of the uniqueness of South Florida. “It allows our guests to connect with the natural surrounding beauty they will find during their stay,” Kepner says.
Through all these ecological perspectives the Marriott has also been actively implementing sustainability in their everyday operations. In the guestrooms, they have, “High-quality LED lighting is provided to reduce energy usage, reduce glare, approximate natural light, reduce maintenance cost and lower materials and resources inputs,” Kepner says. Other ways they have been eco-friendly is, “ implementing Low-flow plumbing fixtures result in 30% indoor water savings. An emphasis on healthy materials verified as low-emissions/non-toxic. Renewable Energy Credits were purchased to offset five years of electricity use of the project to encourage the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”
This new mural encompasses South Florida’s beauty seen through nature.
The Fall 2023 Collection takes a page from effortless 90’s inspired glam!
During the last week of July, the Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem shared their passion for dance with the public through a free series of 20-minute performances.
On July 25th, 2023, Gotham, New York City’s first legalized cannabis and cultural concept store, collaborated with Bright Moments Digital Art Gallery, hosting an interactive event of digital art and experiencing the culture celebrated at Gotham. Gotham is located in a prime trendy area of the city, right between Soho and the iconic St. Marys Street. Gotham has two floors; the bottom is its cannabis and retail area, and the top is where the art gallery resides. I had quite the experience, so I am excited to share my journey with you all.
When I first heard of digital art and NFTs, it left a big question mark in my head: What exactly is it? NFTs have been trending and created for the past year and have been thriving ever since. NFTs are an outlet where artists, based on the faith of probability based on an algorithm, that technology will create beautiful digital pieces, easily shared on your phone and through the digital atmosphere. Now you may ask, “How does that work? How can technology create art?” Well, you’re in for a treat, because I have the answers. The artist Jimena Buena Vida’s collection is particularly intriguing because of the digital platform media she uses to create these vibrant pieces of artwork. Jimena Buena Vida is a Latino abstract artist who merges from computer science with modern art. Vida’s goal is to push the limits of traditional art and add a twist. She uses technology to allow the NFT’s algorithm to randomly choose based on probability, to create its unique piece. Each piece of art that appears on the digital screen or is sent to your coin-based digital wallet isn’t the same. They are all one-of-a-kind unique pieces. Jimena Buena Vida calls this collection “Epiphanies”. Vida’s collection aims to celebrate the unknown; these creations unlock different dimensions of possibility, chance, and the aspect of existence. Vida’s inspiration for this occurred in the post-pandemic world. Everything that we once knew has changed. How we adapt to the constantly advancing technology is our choice. I think it’s beautiful and very interesting to test the limits of modern art and technology. It’s quite a controversial conversation and topic, but the more research and experience I have myself with, these open my eyes to a whole new world.
Below are some sample pieces of Jimena Buena Vida’s pieces, they can be found on the Bright Moments Art Gallery on their website bright moments.io for more information. As stated above, Bright Moments is a digital art gallery that started in California, in Venice Beach, and is now in NYC inside of Gotham NYC. Gotham NYC offers a wide variety of cannabis items, such as THC and CBD, gummies, pre-rolls, and more. Gotham also offers fashion and lifestyle brands and is a great space to chill out and interact with the staff and crew and leave feeling “high on life” and relaxed. They offer so many varieties of self-soothing substances with top quality and natural ingredients. I am looking forward to indulging myself. The staff was so friendly and offered me so many things to try. I’m looking forward to coming back.
I had the chance to create my own NFT piece of art through this technology Vida uses. It happened within a minute, a blink of my eye, and I have my own NFT digital art on my phone. It can be transferred and sold through cryptocurrency, or I can cherish it on my phone for special eyes to view. NFT and the Art world are still going to have a bunch of controversy of “what is it” “how does it work” and if it’s trying to replace “organic” art, but I believe it’s a more accessible and transformative type of artwork. It doesn’t take away “organic” artwork but offers a more instant and expansive creativity. Congratulations to Jimena Buena Vida and her amazing collections, I learned so much about both these brands and the NFT Art world.
For more information about Bright Moments, artists and to view Jimena’s expansive artwork:
Go to www.brightmovement.io for more.
An incredible night that paid perfect tribute to 50 fantastic years of hip-hop.
NEW YORK, NY – For its summer season finale, the American Ballet Theatre performed Romeo and Juliet (Kenneth MacMillan’s choreography and Sergei Prokofiev’s score).
On July 6, Arlo NoMad presented the opening reception for Arlo’s Living Room Gallery. Jasmine Arakel created the gallery and curated its pieces. The cozy room displayed Brock DeBoer’s Far From Home installation, on loan from Guy Hepner Gallery. The realistic sneakers sculptures impressed attendees.
Ceramic shoes sat inside glass display cases. Each featured an inventive design and Nike’s logo. One displayed an intricate 
floral pattern with little white space. Through crosshatching, the flowers and petals had dimensions and shadows. The white swish matched the sculpture’s color palette. Another shoe had a different pattern.
This piece had scribbles across the side and Nike’s logo. It displayed plenty of white space. It showed a minimalist approach. A third sculpture had a similar look. Flowers and leaves danced across a small part of the side. DeBoer did not paint on half the shoe, including Nick’s logo. A fourth sculpture had a unique color palette.
The item had a light purple ombre and a shiny gold swish. DeBoer wrote “Air” on the work’s midsole with accuracy. A fifth sculpture had a similar approach.
This shoe also featured a golden swish. In addition, it had a golden tongue. It showed red shadows at each seam. It made the stitching more prominent. DeBoer sculpted realist basketballs as well.
One basketball had shades of blue and purple. Slight mixing occurred between the colors. Some stains looked like trees and flowers. Another piece had a distinct color scheme.
The light green sculpture displayed dark green flowers. They had curly stems and leaves. The white lines sliced the design into fragments. The ceramic material shined in the fluorescent lighting. A third ball featured an eccentric shape.
The round sides contrasted with the flat top. It represented the yellow piece’s deflated nature. The off-white porcelain lines gave the object more dimension. Arakel and Guy Hepner Gallery representatives discussed the cultural importance of the sculptures.
Guy Hepner Gallery discovered DeBoer through Instagram. Over the past ten years, the gallery discovered many emerging artists in this manner. “The artists have become popular from running their own pages,” the representative explained. She talked about Instagram curators, who have produced shows.
The team members displayed upcoming artists’ pieces. They came across DeBoer’s brilliant sculptures. Curators communicated with him on the social media app. The representative discussed his artistic influences.
“Interestingly, DeBoer was a studio manager for Jonas Wood, who was a great artist in the contemporary space,” the representative said. At first, Wood sculpted vases for his wife. Then, he created famous paintings, which spanned various genres. Soon after, Arakel asked how the gallery selects new artists.
Guy Hepner has an emerging artist program. The project prioritized younger and early-career artists. “All that comes down to what’s on Instagram,” said the representative. She added, “We are always on the search for new and upcoming talent.” Arakel pondered the gallery’s criteria for emerging artists.
The representative stressed the importance of unique styles and storylines. She needed an “overall structure and context around why you’re making what you’re making.” She said that collectors needed to find the work relevant.
“It’s about putting the dots together through that story and how someone could latch onto that,” the representative emphasized. She gave advice to artists who wanted representation as well.
The representative underscored the importance of networks. She advised artists to learn about the art world’s structure. She mentioned that creatives should find the ‘right’ galleries for their work. “Talk to people; introduce yourself to people. In the end, it’s such a fun business,” she explained. Arakel agreed with these sentiments.
She said, “Some artists might be a little apprehensive about speaking about their work. It’s easier said than done.” Then, the pair discussed three upcoming artists of note.
Through car windows, Gregory Thiekler took photographs of rain. He recaptured the ethereal scenes with oil paints and linen. The high-end pieces depict the storm’s different stages. “Gregory’s work is highly skilled. You need to look at an artist who has that technique and precision,” said the representative. Taher Jaoui worked in a different artistic genre.
His paintings involved abstract images. Often, he smeared oil paints onto canvases. His works incorporated many shapes and patterns. He received inspiration from Andy Warhol and Keith Herring. The representative mentioned Jaoui’s novelty in the art world.
The representative clarified, “We’ve had a lot of discussions over the past week about collectors.” She noted a recent trend in the industry as well.
She suggested that many collectors like large-scale abstract pieces. Certainly, Jaoui created similar items with depth and meaning. “He’s someone to keep an eye on,” exclaimed the representative. Japanese artist Yokoteen’s work had an overarching, simple story.
Over his whole career, he produced a kitschy, female cat character. His series, Friends in Paradise, depicted animals who surf in Hawaii. “We had three exhibitions with Yokoteen and they sell out every time,” said the representative. She encouraged artists with unique ideas.
She added, “There are markets out there for everything. Don’t be afraid to push what you’ve got and find out where that fits in.” Next, Arakel asked about good investments versus trends.
The representative said that no one can predict the market. She advised against trendy pieces. Instead, she discussed that collectors should buy what they love. Also, she mentioned how to assess a mid-career artist’s trajectory.
Collectors could accomplish this through statistical analysis. They could access the results of exhibitions and auctions. The representative reemphasized that patrons should buy what they love. At the reception, Lamalo served cocktails to attendees.
Girls Just Want To Have Fun contained vodka, cucumber, mint, aloe, and a slice of lime. All Night Long consisted of tequila, celery, and poblano. Time After Time included Grey Goose, elderflower, pear, honey, and a lemon slice. Hot Stuff featured patron silver, Aleppo pepper cordial, mango, and lime slices. Stairway to Heaven contained cynar, angel’s envy rye, white grape, orange, and basil leaves. Lamalo offered wine by the glass and bottle as well.
White wines included Massaya Sauvignon Blanc and Gerard Bertrand Chardonnay. Sparkling liquors incorporated Mionetto Prosecco, Veuve Cliquot Brute, and Hampton Water Rosė. Red wines encompassed Thalvin-Graillot Syrah and Jean-Claude Lapalu Gamay. Lamalo provided beers.
The bartenders gave out Estrella Galicia Lager, Hoboken Cityside IPA, Hoboken Day Beer Lager, Coney Island Mermaid Pilsner, and Hard Seltzer. They distributed snacks too.
Guacamole contained fresh avocado, cilantro, and tomato. Skordalia consisted of potatoes, almonds, chives, and garlic. Tahini incorporated za’atar, sesame, and olive oil. Labneh included housemade yogurt, Persian lime powder, and mint. Also, Lamalo gave out fresh pickles.
Monica Ahanonu recently partnered with Johnnie Walker to create a design that would be worn by the players during warm-ups at the match between Gotham FC and Angel City FC on July 2nd at Red Bull Arena.