Fry in July

"I am not afraid of resistance, conflict, contradiction or complexity."

Thomas Hirshhorn

Guaranteed, July in Miami is again punctuated by the Perrenial Philosophy of nationalistic fireworks and the heavy down-pours of rain that extinguish both while nourishing the swamp. With recurring notions of understanding what actually happens on the sweltering ground, art walkers at large appear to be morphing from mere appreciators of fringe activities focused on objects and deeds of creative expression to the actual recipients of the attraction. In other words the crowds are the show.

On the road to the beaches, a greige veil of stormy forecast hangs in the air like an electric blanket dialed to High. Day is the time to find shade, night is the time to get your art on.

The broad strokes the season is upon us, not the tourists but the tumultuous trampling of never ending roadwork that manifests our preoccupation with tomorrow. To survive the onslaught of summer one must learn to wade through its economic molasses and microwave climate. Like the roots of mangrove and the formidable foliage of a mighty banyan, surviving the tropics with grace requires more than A/C. It requires a purpose. Mine is Art.

Double Decker Depot. Tourist busses sit idle at the Towing yard in Wynwood.

It's the People, Stupid.

With plenty of exceptions, the art world is in Europe. From Venice to Berlin, those aficionados with the means abandon the swamp for more hospitable pastures, do so. Be it here or at Big Basel, art's contagious effects continue. It is the discipline without borders.

People Walk, becoming the art to attend Grela Orihela's show @ Praxis in Wynwood.

People Talk, fluent conversationalist Peter Menendez sports a scholarly beard apropos to Lobo @ De La Cruz in the Design District

Shadowy World, the artist insinuates upon Arrow's new media @ De La Cruz.

Prime real estate, an exterior wall courtesy of Snitzer's rather swampy courtyard @ ground zero Wynwood.

Your Ad Here, clever bus bench for the latin manhattan @ Praxis.

Mette Tommerup's delightful style only compliments her casual seriousness.

Her mentoring influence can be seen in Desiree Almodovar's SCALE currently in swampspace gallery.

Jim Drain projects like the gentle giant that he is. Late night vintage videos on the ceiling courtesy of Kathryn Marks @ The End in the Design District.

Call to artist: "How can I give a form that resists historical facts? How can I give a form that goes beyond the here and the now? And how can I make a trans-historical work, in my time, in my history, today?" Thomas Hirshhom

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Swamp Scale

Swampspace Gallery

presents

Desiree Almodovar

S C A L E

Opening Friday July 8th

6 -10 pm

A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence.

~Leopold Stokowski

"If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music."

- Albert Einstein

3821 NE 1 Court

Miami Design District

UPDATE:

Thanks to the busy folks at Beached Miami for their swampy mention.

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JuneBuggin'

June Art Walk in the Design District was a cool precursor to more hoppity hop art ahead in the swelter of another swampy summer. What longtimers warmly refer to as the melting rainbow flavored crush of heat on the rocks that is at the core of tropical living. If you can stand the Inferno, June is the time to recycle your rabbits.

You might ask, " What does that mean?" and the answer would be "mind your own bees-wax".

The lead-up to June Art Walk held rejuvenating promise for the marking of another passage in time that storm seasons in the tropics deliver. Marlon Preuss, Jeiddy Lopez and Chris Valencia were a treat to behold as their collective effort manifest in a whimsical yet monumental mural devoted to, you guessed it, recycling rabbits.

But after the official end of school mayhem and before opening of Recycle Your Rabbits, the mythical fourth annual teen dance party took place near the rear of swampspace.

It was the stuff of legend. Where do kids go when they are too old for chucky cheese and too young for south beach? They go to uncle swampthing for a good old fashioned rent party.

Forever young old-timers on a date wander in to find a spot on the slippery dance floor.

Chillin' Saturday night at the District.

Swamp's own surest young rappers, Metro Zu tearing up the sidewalk with lyrical deftness.

Excellent fancy foot geezer passerby delivers a convulsive break dance for everyones amusement.

Chris earns a new skateboard...

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Swampy Rabbits

Swampspace Gallery

is pleased to present

Marlon Preuss

Recycle Your Rabbits

celebrating with an accumulation of non-traditional art

3821 NE 1 Court

Design District

Art Walk

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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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