May Flowers

Tamara, Lulu and Rabekak....... WOW !

Vernissage 2011

Each year the Fashion Club at DASH senior high school puts on a big show. Their instructor, the very particular Ms. Rosemary Pringle, has a gift for taking "freshmen" through four years of a fashion education. Stitch by stitch she builds the confidence and self esteem that awkward girls need to become elegant intelligent graceful women. To see the feminine power process realized is like watching a bouquet of fragile rose buds bloom with Rembrandt rainbow spender.

This is her gift for all who value Girl Power.

Sock Hip

Bobbys and high heels are a telling image for the rite of passage, the passing of time when girls shed their childish garb and step out strutting in six inch pumps.

Project Runway

This year the show was held at the magnificent atrium of the Moore Building in the Design District. The place was alive with an estrogen fueled frenzy of shimmering faces glowing with the thrill of a thousand butterflies dancing in the young model's belies.

Adrian Bonvecchio

Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future. Coco Chanel

Rachel Zaretsky - Iaona the Bean Stock

Delaney Power

I'm tough, I'm ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay. ~Madonna Ciccone

Luisa Castaneda - Roots Classic

I am not interested in celebrities with their free dresses. I am interested in clothes.

Bill Cunningham

Caitlin Farradas - that was Rich

Melissa and Adiley - Red means Go!

We must never confuse elegance with snobbery. Yves Saint Laurent

Caitlen and Victoria - Plastic Bag Prom Gown.

Andres Quintero - not the girl next door

Your dresses should be tight enough to show you're a woman and loose enough to show you're a lady. Edith Head

Andres - Purpose Walking

All I want are high heels, high heels. If I was a girl, I'd wear a lot of high heels. High, stiletto heels. Isaac Mizrahi

Spicy Juju Girls

I don't design clothes, I design dreams. Ralph Lauren

Carolina Fernandez - Swany

There was even a ballerina outfit made from an antique pattern !

Yadiany Garcia - Street Casual Guantanamo Orange Jumper.

Hillary Chandler - Extra Small

Vanessa Zakroisky for Dudes

We've begun to raise daughters more like sons... but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters. ~Gloria Stein

Kahdija the Great

Red is the ultimate cure for sadness. Bill Blass

A Barbie Doll Moments

Mini-Lu modeling Stephanie Dryfos

Vanessa - from Planet Barbie

Luisa Castaneda - Tender Fruit Neck Net

Rebecca Palmer - When pointy head gear is ok.

Grace Suarez - Grandma's Got a brand new bag.

Women belong in the house... and the Senate. ~Author Unknown

I see my body as an instrument, rather than an ornament. ~Alanis Morissett

Briana Williams takes the victory walk.

Lucia Del Sanchez

Setting the bar high for the balcony girls in the wing.

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Our Brown Knight

Doing the math, we here at Swampspace Gallery are comforted to be in the company of 1,244 brethren artists and non-profits that were recently informed of their misfortune at the edge of the coveted funding trough of the eternal wellspring that is the Knight Arts Challenge.

Dear Mr. swampthing,

Thank you for taking part in the Knight Arts Challenge. We have reviewed your idea: Reconsidering Swampspace, the Un-gallery.

We received close to 1,300 ideas for the arts in South Florida. Out of those, we have selected 56 finalists. Unfortunately, your idea did not make it to the final round this time. Please understand that due to the large number of applicants, there were more great ideas than we could possibly include. This is in no way a reflection on you, your organization or the quality of your project.

We hope you will consider applying again next year when, once again, we'll look for the best arts ideas in South Florida.

Thank you again for the time, energy and talent that went into your application.

Sincerely,
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Scene from MT Your Pockets Show ....

Scene from Milk, Honey, Thugs n Money Show...

Going Green

Honestly, who would give perfectly good clean money to a guy that looks like creamed spinach with over-caffinated eyes.

150 words and less

Swampspace Gallery exists to encourage participation in the betterment of the arts community that inspired its creation. It seeks to empower its audience with an increased awareness of how contemporary art leads to civility and understanding of commonalities. Swampspace compliments re-vitalizing ventures by maintaining a visible presence within Miami's transformative art and design vicinity. Swampspace has presented consistent alternative exhibitions focusing on a growing interest in unique art from the heart of the Design District.

The Swampspace Promise: To Do Better Next Year.

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Poetic Pics of April Art

Bhakti Baxter surveys the damages at Abra Palabra.

Serving cafesitos and MinTreats for a good cause.

The other Jessi Jackson entertains behind the curtain.

Liz Tracy and her perpetual goodness after a sloppy well deserved dunking.

Other nomadic families join the Hollingworths of Transit Antenna.

Mateo gets a lift and a lesson on the art of aerosol.

Fine ladies of Dacra model with Hugo's moped.

Tremors of the aftershock from April's Art Walk.

Late night thoughts arise from vintage markers at Abra Palabra.

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several swampy openings

SWAMPSPACE Gallery

ABRA-PALABRA

by Bhakti Baxter

Opening: April 9th, 2011 12noon - 12 midnight

Swampspace is pleased to present ABRA-PALABRA by Bhakti Baxter, a project that invites people to relax and consider the special arrangement of words in recognition of O'miami during National Poetry Month.

ABRA-PALABRA is a place where visitors can read, write, and display poetry. We provide books, paper, pencils, chalkboard and comfortable furniture for those participating.

ABRA PALABRA acknowledges how a rhyme, a joke, or a simple phrase can evoke meaning and unravel mystery in our

lives.

ABRA-PALABRA cordially invites you to participate in this unique literary experience in the heart of the Design District over a cup of coffee and enough time to extract a poem from the most profound depth of your heart and soul.

“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.”

Mark Twain

"A horse is a horse of course, unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed."

Also of special interest is the much anticipated Transit Antenna Fun Fair courtesy of Artlurker and of course be sure to cozy up to the work of Agustina Woodgate at Spinello gallery.

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Art Marches On

The Know Show theme by definition has a built-in failure mechanism that was evident at the March Art Night in the swamp. By now most South Florida communities have adopted the casual ritual of family night at the art venues. It is encouraging to read that folks want more than teevee 24/7. An art experience offers anyone willing a salvo for the pressure of daily drudgery. Knowing is to surveillance cameras what Feeling is to Books.

Lulu at Lowenstein

Diane Lowenstein gallery in Wynwood opened with a charming show "ComePly" by local youngsters collaborating with Mr. Loveland from New World. The emerging artists are very knowing in the art of feeling.

Annabell with Bonvecchio at Lowenstein

Asher Mones Video at Lowenstein

These fine ladies appear delighted by the provocative video projection featuring the pair of shoes on display. New media defies the articulate, basically you gotta go see it.

Back in the leafy Design District, strollers were treated to Typoe the Michelangelo at Locust Projects. Also of particular note was the very sentimental Caterina Jaramillo at Dimensions Variable. With "You Are Always Here" Caterina lays bare the emotional components of loss and materialism.

Art is many things. One of them is finding solace in the company of strangers.

The Know Show

David Rohn at the KnowShow

another swampy opening

The Know Show

To Prepare Ourselves for Understanding

Opening March 12 7-11pm

Developing the Concept of Knowing

In today's non-linear, dynamic, complex world, art can no longer rely on the logic of the past to win future audiences. As we move away from predictable art patterns susceptible to logic, artists are increasingly reliant on their "gut" instinct, an internal sense of "knowing." To prepare ourselves to understand current situational assessments and potential influence, it is essential that we learn to identify, interpret, make decisions, and take appropriate action to create consensus utilizing this sense of "knowing."

The Know Show will focus on the cognitive capabilities of observing and perceiving art, the cognitive processing that must occur to understand the external world and make maximum use of our internal thinking capabilities, and the mechanism for creating deep knowledge and acting on that knowledge, the Self as an Agent of Change.

selected works from the permanent collection

3821 NE 1 Court - Design District

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