What/Who:
Through the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA)’s continued efforts to include diverse voices and perspectives, the museum is offering a robust series of educational and public programming to commemorate Pride Month and Caribbean-American Heritage Month this June.
On view through Oct. 1, 2023, “Lonnie Holley: If You Really Knew” invites visitors to experience the work of prolific artist Lonnie Holley in his first major exhibition in the South. Also on view is the “South Florida Cultural Consortium” (SFCC) exhibition which showcases the work of 12 intergenerational South Florida artists.
“Lonnie Holley: If You Really Knew” provides an intimate and focused look at the career of Birmingham, Alabama-born artist and musician Lonnie Holley. The exhibition, curated by MOCA curator Adeze Wilford, features 70 works including foundational “sandstone” sculptures, new works on paper and large-scale quilt paintings that depict faces. Known for his unique style of art that draws inspiration from his life experiences, Holley often incorporates found objects and everyday materials, which he transforms into thought-provoking art.
Holley’s influence on Southern art is highlighted throughout “If You Only Knew,” including a section he curated featuring works from artists such as Miami native Purvis Young, Thornton Dial, Mary T. Smith and Hawkins Bowling.
The “South Florida Cultural Consortium” (SFCC) exhibition brings together 12 artists working across various media including, sculpture, film and site-specific installations. The exhibition, this year hosted and organized by MOCA, provides a snapshot of the breadth and depth of the artistic talent in the South Florida art scene.
On view outside the museum from late June through late August is MOCA’s most recent “Art on the Plaza” commission, LIZN’BOW (Liz Ferrer and Bow Ty)’s “El Mundo Es Magico.” The sculpture, “El Mundo Es Magico,”features displaced queer characters in a mix of reality and fantasy within Miami iconography, inviting conversations of fluidity, gender, class and identity. Central to the duo’s work is the feminist reimagining of each element towards a more inclusive, fantastical worldview.
On view through June 25, 2023, visitors will be able to step into MOCA’s Paradise Courtyard and discover “VictoryGarden,” an interactive sculptural community garden created by Miami-based artist Emmett Moore. Drawing inspiration from victory gardens of the past, which were planted during wartime to supplement rations and boost morale, Moore’s “Victory Garden” connects the local community with contemporary art and encourages visitors to reflect on their relationship with the built environment.
Starting June 12, MOCA is offering a contemporary art experience with its summer art camps. Children ages 6-13 may join the museum for in-person camps including Studio Arts Camp and Dynamic Design Camp. Each session will offer a different theme to introduce students to a variety of contemporary art or design techniques. The art camps will entail 10, one-week sessions through Aug. 18.
MOCA’s June programming includes:
MOCA Tours | Saturdays in June – 3, 10 , 17 and 24, 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
Details: MOCA North Miami invites guests to a public tour of its exhibitions, “Lonnie Holley: If You Really Knew” and “South Florida Cultural Consortium” (SFCC). The tour will be led by MOCA Exhibition Specialist Lauren Baccus.
Cost: Free
RSVP: For more information, please visit: https://mocanomi.org/2022/02/tours-at-moca/
MOCA miniMakers: Pride Month – Sculpture | Saturday, June 3, 2–4 p.m.
Details: MOCA is celebrating Pride Month through the captivating world of sculptural art inspired by Jean-Michel Othoniel. Known for his vibrant and whimsical sculptures, Othoniel’s work serves as the perfect muse for this workshop where participants will get the chance to create their own colorful sculptures using wire and pipe cleaners. This hands-on experience not only allows children to express their creativity freely but also introduces them to the power of art as a medium of self-expression and celebration of diversity.
MOCA miniMakers is MOCA’s free and inclusive series of art workshops for children ages six and up. Children will have access to a variety of art techniques, as well as an inclusive curriculum incorporating step-by-step guides, STEAM activation and creative free play. Taught by experienced artists and sponsored by the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency, MOCA miniMakers aims to foster an accessible spirit of learning through the arts.
Cost: Free
RSVP: For more information, please visit: 111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/MOCA-miniMakers-03Jun2023
Sunday Stories: “Ho’onani: Hula Warrior” by Heather Gale | Sunday, June 4, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Details: Join MOCA as it celebrates Pride Month by learning about identity roles and Hawaiian culture by reading “Ho’onani: Hula Warrior” by Heather Gale. The story beautifully intertwines Hawaiian culture and the importance of being true to oneself. After the storytelling, children will engage in a hands-on lei-making activity, an artistic extension of the story that fosters creativity and mirrors the Hawaiian tradition of crafting lei as symbols of love, respect and hospitality.
Sponsored by the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency, this early childhood art series engages toddlers and fosters reading, motor skill development and socialization. MOCA Sunday Stories is a great way for children to bond with their parents or guardians as they create together.
Cost: Free
RSVP: For more information, please visit:
111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/MOCA-Sunday-Stories-04Jun2023
MOCA Makers: Printmaking with Artist Vinicius de Oliveria | Saturday, June 10, 1–3 p.m.
Details: Join MOCA this June for an exciting Printmaking making workshop. Inspired by contemporary queer artists such as Gio Black Peter and Christina Quarles, particpatns will create their own collagraph printing plates using items like cardboard, sticky foam and other found textured materials. Each one-of-a-kind print will be created using a variety of bold colors and graphic shapes reminiscent of expressionist art.
Cost: Free
RSVP: For more information, please visit: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/MOCA-Makers-10Jun2023
Art Insights – “South Florida Cultural Consortium” (SFCC) | Saturday, June 17, 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Details: Join MOCA Curator Adeze Wilford in conversation with artists featured in this dynamic group exhibition presenting the work of artists exclusively from South Florida. The “South Florida Cultural Consortium” (SFCC) exhibition, brings together 12 artists working across various media including, sculpture, film and site-specific installations. The exhibition, this year hosted and organized by MOCA, provides a snapshot of the breadth and depth of the artistic talent in the South Florida art scene.
Cost: Free
RSVP: For more information, please visit: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/MOCA-Art-Insights-17Jun2023
The Artisan Workshop: Celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage Month with Shop Zhuzh | Friday, June 30, 6:30–8 p.m.
Details: Embark on a journey into the captivating world of Haiti’s geographical and cultural history through the art of paper mache. Join MOCA for an immersive workshop hosted by Zhuzh, an empowering accessory brand that connects artisans from the diaspora. Led by experienced instructors, this hands-on workshop invites participants to channel their imagination, molding and shaping simple materials into sculptures and decorative objects that reflect the essence of Haitian culture. Limited spaces are available.
Cost: Free
RSVP: For more information and to RSVP, please visit: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/Jazz-It-Up-Featuring-Shop-Zhuzh
Jazz at MOCA: Featuring Leslie Cartaya | Friday, June 30, (Seating Starts at 7 p.m., Concert Starts at 8 p.m.)
Details: Join MOCA for an unforgettable evening of Jazz at MOCA, featuring Cuban-born, singer-songwriter Leslie Cartaya. Her unique sound – a dynamic blend of Caribbean, Afro-American, Afro-Latin and Latin American rhythms – first found voice in her debut album “No Pares,” and further evolved in her sophomore work “Llevame Contigo.” Not just a solo artist, Cartaya also brings her unique energy to the Afro-Cuban Funk band “Palo” and leads an all-female ensemble, Sexta Clave. With a new record and live concert on the horizon, Cartaya’s musical journey is one to watch.
Cost: Jazz at MOCA is free and open to the public. The gallery is open from 7-10 p.m. with museum admission. Admission to the museum is $10. Admission for students, seniors, and visitors identifying as disabled is $5. Admission is free for MOCA members, children under 12, North Miami residents, city employees, veterans, and caregivers accompanying people who are disabled.
RSVP: For more information, please visit: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/Jazz-at-MOCA-Featuring-Leslie-Cartaya
Where:
Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA)
770 NE 125th Street
Miami, FL 33161
Support:
“Lonnie Holley: If You Really Knew” is made possible with support from Blum & Poe, and is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture. We are also grateful to The N’Namdi Family. Special thanks to guest curator Alison M. Gingeras, for her contributions conceiving this exhibition.
“The South Florida Cultural Consortium” is funded in part with support from The National Endowment of the Arts, The Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council, the Boards of County Commissioners of Broward, Miami-Dade, Martin and Monroe Counties, and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.
“Art on the Plaza” is presented by MOCA, with major support from the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (NMCRA). Additional support was provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
“Welcome to Paradise” is made possible with major support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Additional support was provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
MOCA miniMakers, Sunday Stories and MOCA Makers are funded by the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (NMCRA).
Jazz at MOCA is made possible with lead support from the North Miami Mayor and Council and the City of North Miami.
MOCA North Miami is generously funded by the North Miami Mayor and Council and the City of North Miami; the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture (Section 286.25, Florida Statutes).
MOCA is supported in part by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support general operating expenses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and The Wege Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Fine & Greenwald Foundation; The Nathan Cummings Foundation; and the Sol Taplin Charitable Foundation. Founding support for the MOCA Sustainability Fund provided by the Green Family Foundation Trust. Major support provided by Shirley and William M. Lehman, Jr. We also thank our Board of Trustees, Curator’s Circle, and MOCA Members for their meaningful support.
About the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami:
MOCA North Miami presents contemporary art and its historical influences through exhibitions, educational programs, and collections. Inspired by its surrounding communities, MOCA connects diverse audiences and cultures by providing a welcoming place to encounter new ideas and voices and nurturing a lifelong love of the arts. MOCA developed from the Center of Contemporary Art which was inaugurated in 1981. The establishment of the permanent collection coincided with the institution’s move into their current building designed by Charles Gwathmey of GSNY in 1996.
