A Reflective Guide: 12 Artists on Inclusive Practice in Youth Education

Highlighting 12 local artists who integrate teaching into their art practice, this free publication will serve as a document, collection, and resource distributed at arts and education centers across Miami-Dade County. Focusing on social justice and healing, each teaching artist’s spread will include images, commentary, and an original art lesson.

[Cries in Spanish]

In the style of melodramatic telenovelas, camp comedies, and reality TV, [Cries in Spanish] is a bilingual episodic web series that follows the story of six immigrant Latinx femme characters breaking free from oppressive systems and living their chosen realities. The show is inspired by a viral meme of the tear-stained face of novela villain Soraya with the mocking subtitle [Cries in Spanish].

Variety Reinspires

Holistically integrating their artistic practice with their experience as a full time caregiver for their elderly mother, Variety Reinspires is a curated selection of Virtual Reality events accompanied by a simple guide to help organizers lead discussions. Partnering with senior centers, these guided experiences offer elders an escape from social isolation through the power of VR.

The Royal Painting

Florence Griffith-Joyner broke the 100 meter world record three times at the U.S. Olympic Trials, but the media paid more attention to her nails. While scrutinizing the beauty aesthetics of Black women, pop culture appropriates these same styles. The Royal Painting reclaims this discourse with a series of photographs inspired by Flo Jo, royal portraits, and more.

Going Home

A rotating group of pallbearers will carry a lone Dade County pine beam (6”x6”x16')--salvaged from a home built in 1925 and demolished in 2017--back into the heart of Long Pine Key, where it will be laid among the pines in a modest ceremony preceded by a Land Acknowledgement.

30 Days of Versailles

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, for 30 days Miami’s iconic Cuban restaurant Versailles will replace its usual paper products with menus, placemats, table tents, and cafecito cups featuring stories, poems, and imagery related to the restaurant, local history, and Cuban identities.

The Queer Theory Library

A library and archive focused on creating a collective space for discussion, experimentation, creation, and knowledge, The Queer Theory Library provides access to academic texts and activates them with curated cultural programming, inviting an engaged, imaginative experience and greater community dialogue. The Queer Theory Library also functions as an actively growing archive for local artists, writers, and residents to submit their work, writings, and ephemera.

GET A CLOSER LOOK at the artist’s past works on the blog

On the Run

On the Run is a visual command of Black bodies pounding pavement in Black communities. For many Black folks, to run means to run away—moving not towards something, but away from something decidedly worse. What do we run towards? Connecting Black runners to Black community in a form of kinetic advocacy, a run group will document itself as it traverses Miami’s historic Black neighborhoods.

Ms. Mary’s House | The Carol City Museum

“Ain’t Nothing but Space and Opportunity.” Ms. Mary’s House | The Carol City Museum is a call to action against the unyielding extirpation of Black historic sites, dwellings, and haunts. By turning her grandmother’s home, which was passed on to her, into a space for house parties, pop-up shops, jazz sessions, writing workshops, and more, the artist preserves the lived history of her community.

GET A CLOSER LOOK into the artist’s previous work on the blog

WAKE

Based on the artist’s own experiences, WAKE is a narrative short film that follows two best friends living under the control of a cult leader. By humanizing--not demonizing--cult members, WAKE explores indoctrination, propaganda, and manipulation, compelling us to investigate how we come to believe what we believe.

Digital Memorial Archive

Beginning with five portraits of victims of violence in Miami-Dade County and beyond, this memorial series has grown to include over 200 works. To collect these stories in one accessible space, the artist will build a Digital Memorial Archive composed of portraits, items families have given her, collected writings, personal accounts, and other materials.

2nd Iteration of Fallen Flowers

Fallen Flowers is an ongoing exploration and research practice. Inspired by red and yellow flamboyant flowers, the series began with time-based ephemeral sculptures made entirely from compressed flowers, twigs, leaves, and seed pods. This is its 2nd iteration.