4.4 / Miami

Art Pharmacology: the Conversations

During its residency at LegalArt, Art Practical presented a series of talks exploring the attributes that define the visual arts culture in Miami. Using Renny Pritkin’s “Prescription for a Healthy Art Scene,” each talk focused on a different attribute that shape the interactions and activities of the city's artistic community. The recorded conversations, presented here, were led by Art Practical writers and editors, and held at different venues throughout Miami.

Art Practical extends its thanks to Patricia Margarita Hernandez for producing the audio for this article.

First Prescription:
Where does the art community gather?

Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Sweat Records, 5505 Northeast 2nd Avenue

A comment on Miami's regular meeting spots, event venues and cultural spaces.

Led by Kara Q. Smith

Second Prescription:
Growing an Art Publication Ecosystem.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Lester's Miami, 2519 Northwest 2nd Avenue

How do art producers use printed matter and online media as alternative means to display and disseminate work? And what happens to "the local" along the way?

Led by Matt Sussman

Third Prescription:

The Capital of Caribbean Cool: Contemporary Caribbean Diasporic Artists in Miami

Thursday, September 20, 2012
David Castillo Gallery, 2234 NW 2nd Avenue

Led by crystal am nelson
Guest Speakers: Leyden Rodriguez-Casanova, Charo Oquet, Kira Tippenhauer, and Eddie Arroyo

Fourth Prescription:

Miami as Public Art Playground

Thursday, September 27, 2012
Locust Projects, 3852 North Miami Avenue

What place does Miami take as global model for public art? What impact—concrete or intangible—does public art have on the community? When public art is sanctioned, where does the underground go?

Led by Tess Thackara
Guest Speakers: Brandi Reddick and Agustina Woodgate

Fifth Prescription:

We Have No Friends And No Enemies: A Critic’s Starting Point

 Thursday, October 4, 2012
LegalArt, 1035 N. Miami Avenue

Baudelaire made this claim for impartiality at the outset of his career as an art critic, but is that really what we want from criticism? This conversation posits that a critic must be deeply invested in an art scene and an artist’s closest viewer.

But how to stake such claims while remaining responsible to the task of crafting an informed, and informative perspective on an exhibition or work? How to structure an argument for or against what’s on view so a reader can judge the judgements? How might one offer a fair and honest assessment when everyone shows up at the same bar? And what does criticism offer to an emerging community?

Led by Patricia Maloney
Guest Speakers: Hunter Braithwaite, Sylvie Fortin, and Gean Moreno