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Vol. 1 - MAY 2015 - WYNWOOD, MIAMI www.TheWynwoodTimes.com Magic Mountain Miss Wynwood ascends cultural pinnacle Text By Wanda Pierce • Illustration By La Disenadora Salvaje To say Nina Fuentes was astonished when Lincoln, with whom she now shares the The honor is also a reminder that in many South Florida authorities declared that “Presidents’ Day” observance. notable ways Fuentes and Wynwood have she has carved as monumental a presence been perfect for each other. Over the past on the Wynwood landscape as George For many Miami residents Presidents’ Day decade both the artist and place have Washington and Abraham Lincoln did on Weekend, in particular, has become one of been transformed dramatically from the Mt. Rushmore is an understatement. the most popular highlights of our cultural calendar. The busy weekend brings But Miami Dade County leaders made both the Miami International Boat Show Fuentes,moment athey native first Venezuelan came in contact. who planted and the Art Wynwood Art Fair to our proclaimed Monday, February 16, 2015 as community and over 50,000 international with the Hardcore Art Contemporary “Ninatheir conviction Fuentes Day.” official when they art collectors and visitors to the region. Spaceher flag back in the in 2005,fledgling remembers neighborhood being one of only a handful of galleries in the The Board of Miami Dade County So for Nina Fuentes the public recognition blighted area during its cultural infancy. Commissioners elevated Fuentes, whom and the timing of its announcement they called an “ambassador for the arts,” is a brutal business and how very few to the company of Washington and that left her both humbled and thankful. collectorsFuentes can paid relate attention first-hand to Wynwood that art in offered a perfect moment for reflection The Wynwood Times © 2015 Nina Dotti - Community Participative Project Registered in the Form of a Newspaper Publication Vol. 1 THE WYNWOOD TIMES MAY 2015 those early days. The devoted arts activist dug into the area with a Her insightful opinions and the experience of founding a solid single minded purpose, she steadfastly began building a respected gallery program while raising two young daughters alone program. Hardcore focused on the work of cutting edge, new media and Hardcore.merits recognition for Fuentes whose fingerprints loomed large across Wynwood’s evolution during her decade-long tenure at Fuentes recalls is “that they all shared a fearlessness to provoke Fuentes had already carved an impressive career in her dialogueinternational about emerging contemporary to mid-career society.” artists. What set them apart, homeland before relocating to Miami, but she appeared emotionally moved when the Board of County Commissioners She’s quick to remind us that local art lovers were then starved for hailed her for continuing to distinguish herself locally as a stimulating proposals from serious talent. To those discriminating “museologist, arts activist, curator, art dealer, cultural producer art enthusiasts, it became evident soon after Fuentes opened her and philanthropist.” Miami Dade leaders also cited Fuentes for doors that she was determined to deliver. “her extraordinary achievements on behalf of the Miami Art Dealers’ Association” of which she is a founding member. No subject was considered taboo, and under Fuentes’ direction, Hardcore’s exhibition themes explored universal matters ranging The Proclamation was signed by Carlos A. Gimenez, Mayor from genetics to environmental issues, gender identity and other hot button social topics. Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, whose district includes Wynwoodof Miami-Dade and whoCounty, was Chairman responsible Jean for Monestime sponsoring and the tribute It wasn’t long before local and visiting collectors took note of her to Fuentes. progressive program and scores of artists from across the globe vied to join her stable. Fuentes notes that what made the Proclamation meaningful for her is that it was presented at her latest venture, The In the years following Fuentes’ launch of Hardcore she went on Chill Concept, which she established in October of 2013 in a and international artists at more than 70 Contemporary Art Fairs acrossto represent the globe Miami-Dade including County Art Miami, and countlessSCOPE Miami, South New Florida York and historic Wynwood house she fully refurbished into a pop-up Basel, Switzerland, the Bridge and Pinta Art Fairs in London, as well as Art Shanghai among others. “I opened Hardcore Art Contemporary Space when only Bernice Steinbaum, Brook Dorsch, Dot Fifty One, Locust Projects, Fred Snitzer and just a few other galleries, artist’s studios, and the Marty Margulies and Rubell Collections believed in the neighborhood,” she recollects. Today she describes Wynwood as a far cry from its early heyday when art was the focus, rents were artist friendly and parking was plentiful. In fact, many of Fuentes’ fellow pioneers have since an identity crisis. decamped from the artsy neighborhood that finds itself mired in Fuentes pauses to consider how Wynwood’s soul has been bartered over the past decade by developers and other special interest groups who regarded artists as little more than real estate Instalking the end, horses these influential creative pioneers in helping played raise aproperty pivotal role values. behind Wynwood’s branding, helping sell its image as a street mural paradise, gritty nightlife destination, and urban lifestyle paradise. But the truth now is that Wynwood is increasingly becoming a trendy tourist trap where a modest concrete loft commands a place to live or work in. fortune and most artists no longer find Wynwood and affordable “Wynwood has been dramatically transformed from an edgy and dynamic creative community where artists once lived and worked or operated experimental spaces alongside serious galleries into prohibitive area for many galleries and the majority of artists,” observesa growingly Fuentes. commercial business district that’s become a rent- Vol. 1 THE WYNWOOD TIMES MAY 2015 museum. There are several galleries in the they were “proud to honor this visionary the podium and Pit Bull wailed on the sprawling art complex which functions for her invaluable contributions toward speakers, Miss Wynwood stood in front as a multifaceted institution. Here the the promotion of artists, curators and public can attend a broad array of cultural exhibits in our society and abroad.” waved at her constituents. Next to her was programming such as art exhibitions, Missof the Puerto American Rico and 2011, Venezuelan Desiree del flags Rio, and While many locals celebrated the Federal who read the County Proclamation placing Holiday honoring Presidents Washington Fuentes in the company of famous U.S. Oneperformances of the most and distinctive film projections. features of and Lincoln during barbeques with the Presidents as those assembled applauded this venture is a residency program for family, the Magic City’s arts and business the surreal proceedings. After all, where contemporary artists, which includes community gathered at The Chill Concept else but in the Wynwood utopia she has working space and accommodations on to pay tribute to Nina Fuentes. fought tirelessly to cultivate, can Fuentes’ the premises, explains Fuentes. pageant queen turned politician become Clad in an impeccable white designer suit hailed for her contributions as a de facto The program is by invitation only and and crowned with a tiara, Fuentes was public persona? designed to run for a period of two to three weeks, during which workshops and “Miss Wynwood Day,” in her function as Afterwards Fuentes preserved a copy of exhibitions will promote encounters and theconducting visual artist a performance AKA Nina Dotti. fittingly called her government award in a time capsule dialogue among artists, curators and the along with other memorabilia marking public. Miss Wynwood is Dotti’s political avatar Wynwood’s evolution the past decade, in which she portrays a beauty pageant which was then buried on The Chill The Chill Concept’s importance was queen serving as Wynwood’s conceptual Concept’s grounds for future generations mayor. to discover. Fuentes, it seemed, was already channeling Lincoln’s sentiments strideschiefly notedin bringing by County art to officials the forefront who of On the sunny Monday afternoon, as on how to impact the future without ourstated community,” that Fuentes while “has further made significantadding that the sun dappled trees swayed near realizing it. Vol. 1 THE WYNWOOD TIMES MAY 2015 By Zinnia Martinez Historically fashion designers have looked that featured international visual artists, During the project’s inaugural evening for inspiration in art, to create or recreate fashion designers and performers shapes, fabrics, colors and unexpected collaborating seamlessly within an commanding models and performers struttedon February across 13th, the a catwalk coterie delightingof attention- the road, art and fashion combine to explore exhibition, and performances took place pieces. At the juncture of this two-way avant-garde framework. A catwalk, an courtyard. Bodies swayed and the beats new ways of exhibition. well-heeled crowd gathered in the festive Weekend from Friday the 13th until revelers with live music. during the first edition of our Art Fashion Sunday the 15th of February in what can became blistering as a DJ entertained where art and fashion daringly collide, only be described as one of the high notes thatIt’s precisely inspires athis rare, genre-busting catwalk

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