{"id":294,"date":"2012-09-21T07:10:03","date_gmt":"2012-09-21T11:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/~travelwriting\/?page_id=294"},"modified":"2012-10-05T16:03:47","modified_gmt":"2012-10-05T20:03:47","slug":"294-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/?page_id=294","title":{"rendered":"Wynwood neighborhood brings Miami\u2019s art scene to life for visitors, residents"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted Sept. 21, 2012<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By LAURIE CHARLES<\/p>\n

MIAMI, Fla.\u2014The art-deco style, mint green and bright pink buildings of South Beach, the Cuban influence found in the cafecito<\/em> stops and restaurants of Calle Ocho, the world renowned beaches of Miami Beach\u2014all of these neighborhoods are what attract thousands of travelers to Miami every year.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Wynwood is known for its walls (Photo by Laurie Charles).<\/p><\/div>\n

Although the character of Miami and its shoreline is what lure tourists to the Magic City, Miami is also known for one thing that most travelers, even locals tend to overlook: the art scene of Wynwood.<\/p>\n

Located north of downtown, Wynwood was once considered by many to be Miami\u2019s Red Light District where nothing but drugs, violence and empty textile warehouses surrounded the streets.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a high crime area, but somehow it\u2019s coming together. Warehouses are becoming museums,\u201d said Paul George, a Miami historian and professor at Miami Dade College.<\/p>\n

About 20 years later, Wynwood has transformed into the city\u2019s epicenter of art galleries and street art. Within a 16-block stretch, travelers can explore more than 50 galleries and art studios, most within walking distance of each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cWynwood is not there yet, but it has been miraculous to see a neighborhood that was once forlorn [emerge],\u201d George said. \u201cArt has immensely changed it. It\u2019s no longer a no man\u2019s land.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most of the galleries in the area showcase a compilation of contemporary art, pop-surrealism, mixed media pieces that combine a variety of textures including newspapers, wood, and graphics, and sculptures made from electrical wire and screws.<\/p>\n

The pioneer behind the transformation of Wynwood is Tony Goldman, the same person who revamped South Beach and SoHo in New York. Goldman is known for restoring abandoned historic neighborhoods into a welcoming place for locals and tourists.<\/p>\n

He recently died Sept. 12 at 68 due to heart failure at a New York hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cVisionaries like Tony Goldman said we can improve a neighborhood by bringing a little culture and life [to it],\u201d said Gregg Shienbaum, owner of Gregg Shienbaum Fine Art. \u201cSo he painted the walls.\u201d<\/p>\n

The walls Shienbaum is talking about are the Wynwood Walls and Doors, Wynwood\u2019s permanent exhibit located on the back patio of Wynwood Kitchen & Bar.<\/p>\n

\"Shepard

Shepard Fairey’s mural greets art lovers as they enter The Wynwood Walls (Photo by Laurie Charles).<\/p><\/div>\n

Once plain fa\u00e7ades of warehouses are now colorful murals created by renowned artists like Shepard Fairey, the artist behind the Obama \u201cHope\u201d poster.<\/p>\n

Upon entering the Wynwood Walls, red and black images that portray the face of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition politician, along with a collage of \u201cobey propaganda\u201d and \u201cdemocracy\u201d posters scatter the east wall that houses The P.T. Experiment.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople [the community] take pride in the walls and want to keep it nice,\u201d Shienbaum said.<\/p>\n

Sandwiched somewhere between a wall of graffiti, Gallery Diet and Waltman Ortega Fine Art, Shienbaum is one of the newest gallery owners on the block. He moved his gallery from Fort Lauderdale to Wynwood in March.<\/p>\n

\u201cWynwood is a very now, hip, edgy spot. Sometimes art pushes boundaries and in Wynwood, they like to push boundaries,\u201d Shienbaum said.<\/p>\n

Unlike the other galleries in Wynwood, Shienbaum\u2019s gallery houses pieces from famous artists like Andy Warhol and Shepard Fairey alongside smaller, local artists.<\/p>\n

\"One

One of the pieces currently on exhibit at Gregg Shienbaum Fine Art gallery (Photo by Laurie Charles).<\/p><\/div>\n

Located about one block north from Shienbaum\u2019s gallery, past a pastel colored cartoon-like mural painted on the sidewalk, Black Square Gallery uses a different approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the beginning, we focused on European art,\u201d said Anna Milashevych, director of Black Square Gallery.<\/p>\n

Milashevych\u2019s gallery has been in Wynwood for two years and showcases the work of artists from Spain, Ukraine, Japan and Latin America, to name a few.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn every city, there is an area for galleries. If you want to be successful [in the industry], you have to go where there are contemporary galleries,\u201d Milashevych said.<\/p>\n

Although there are so many galleries in the area, Milashevych said they function as a community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no competition [amongst the galleries],\u201d Milashevych said. \u201cPeople [buyers] either like your work or they don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Inside

Inside the gates of the Wynwood Walls stands The P.T. Experiment. The gallery is owned by the artist himself, Peter Tunney (Photo by Laurie Charles).<\/p><\/div>\n

In addition to the art found within the Wynwood Walls and its surrounding galleries, a five-minute drive takes travelers to the Bakehouse Art Complex.<\/p>\n

\u201cBakehouse was the first art facility in Wynwood,\u201d Arlys Raymond, executive director of Bakehouse said.<\/p>\n

It serves as a fellowship program that provides nearly 70 galleries and art facilities including a print room, kiln, and woodworking and wielding area for artists to work in.<\/p>\n

To be accepted into Bakehouse, artists must submit an application and undergo a jury selection process.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe serve as a launching pad for emerging and mid-career artists,\u201d Raymond said. \u201cWe emphasize the importance of pushing yourself as an artist.\u201d<\/p>\n

Housed in what was once an old bakery from the 1920s, Bakehouse opened its doors in 1987. Inside, passers-by get lost in the maze of studios; glass doors allow observers to take a peek into artistic masterpieces in the making and spot objects that inspire the artists from brushes to yarn to car bumpers to paint.<\/p>\n

Standing right outside his studio, artist Alain Castoriano was adjusting a light fixture that was beaming onto one of his abstract geometric paintings with a ruler.<\/p>\n

\"One

One of the many murals of the Wynwood Walls (Photo by Laurie Charles).<\/p><\/div>\n

Originally from France, Castoriano came to Miami to continue a painting he was working on in France.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t really know Wynwood,\u201d Castoriano said. \u201c[Now] I always bring friends to Wynwood from Europe. They don\u2019t really know about it but are mesmerized when I show them the murals.\u201d<\/p>\n

The murals and artistic vibe were what Goldman envisioned when he renovated Wynwood.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat people don\u2019t realize that Tony [Goldman] realized is that people don\u2019t even know they appreciate art. Now [by exposing them to art] you influence people to appreciate it and like it,\u201d Sheinbaum said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

IF YOU GO<\/strong>
\nWynwood Arts District
\n167 NW 25th<\/sup> St.
\nMiami, Fla., 33137
\n305-695-1600
\nhttp:\/\/www.wynwoodmiami.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Directions<\/strong>
\nFrom Miami International Airport:<\/p>\n