Miami Art & Culture

WHAT: “Giants in the City”
For December’s “Art Fair Week” 30 foot high Giant Inflatable Sculptures descend on Miami’s Bayfront Park. The artists who are creating work for this first time ever exhibition are:
 
Gustavo Acosta
Jose Bedia
Tomas Esson
Frank Hyder
Anja Marais
John Martini
Alejandro Mendoza
Angel Ricardo Rios
Alette Simmons-Jimenez
Michelle Weinberg
          
WHEN: December 2, 2008 – December 7, 2008  VIP Premier Reception: 8:00pm – 11:00pm, Dec. 2 Open to the public Dec. 2, 9:00pm

WHERE: Bayfront Park – installed in a row parallel to Biscayne Blvd.
301 North Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, FL 33132
 
Artformz is very pleased to announce that it will be hosting “Giants in the City” at Bayfront Park.  This event is a not for profit art exhibition and a cultural project with broad public appeal that will premier in Miami concurrent to the Art Basel/Miami Beach Art Fair 2008.  Ten celebrated artists have been carefully selected and brought together to design, create, and exhibit “Giant” inflatable sculptures. This event is the first of its kind in South Florida and perhaps the nation. 

The sculptures have been fabricated of nylon material following each individual artist’s design.  Each giant sculpture is maintained upright by tethers to the ground and an electric cold air blower, feeding a continuous stream of air through a duct at the base of the piece.

Under the guidance of 2 of the participating artists, Alejandro Mendoza (Project Curator) and Alette Simmons-Jimenez (Founder/Director of Artformz and Project Director of Giants) the event has blossomed into a spectacular visual experience that will be enjoyed by thousands of local Miami residents, adults and children alike, as well as many more thousands of international tourists.  With the city of Miami and Biscayne Bay as a backdrop, infused with sunshine during the day and illuminated at night, the event promises to create a beautiful encounter, intersecting art, people and city.

This event is just the beginning.   The “Giants In The City” team is working to contract future exhibition venues throughout Florida as well as other States and Countries. The project has plans for expanding the exhibit through collaborations with other artists and institutions. The project will return to exhibit in Miami often, bringing new artists and sculptures.

The project is grateful to the Miami community for its support.  Many private companies and individuals have promised support for an upcoming fundraising event to aid in matching funds required of grant awards.  “Giants” has secured a partnership with the Miami-Dade Division of Cultural Affairs, Bayfront Park, and Culture in the City. The “Giants in the City” project has been selected out of 1650 applications as one of 77 Finalist in the Knight Arts Partnership Grant to be announced in December.   

The Giants team continues seeking additional support so to realize this event in its best manifestation and befitting of Miami’s international cultural position.  The project is very willing to form mutually beneficial alliances with interested partners.  Sponsorship packages are available by request.  
 
This event is free and open to the public.