Author: nathaliemorlote

Art Encounter as a Text

“What art do I like?” by Nathalie Morlote of Florida International University, January 18, 2024

Photograph taken by Nathalie Morlote // CC by 4.0

Both of my parents were born outside of the country, coming here in their early twenties in search of a new life filled with new opportunities. When my brother and I were born, my parents consistently sought to provide us with the best education and resources they could. My mother would drive hours throughout the day, ensuring my brother and I went to school and learned everything we needed to have a better future and more opportunities than they had. I’ve lived my whole life in Miami, and thanks to them, I was able to learn about a lot of different topics surrounding different subject. One thing, however, that I have very limited knowledge on is art.

I have always admired art from afar, but never had much affinity to learning their background, which is something I know will change over the course of this class. I am fond of paintings with textures and color. I want to say that one of my favorite artists has to be Monet, though I don’t know enough about other artists to give any comparisons. I hope that by the end of this course, I will have a new favorite artist, one that I actually know their history and their background.

My favorite type of art is realism. I love staring at art and not knowing whether it is a painting or a photograph. I am always in such awe that people have so much talent and patience to produce such an intricate and detailed art piece. On the same note, I highly admire sculptures. The ones I have in mind are roman statues; they have so much detail and preciseness. Personally, I aspire to be a doctor in the future, so seeing the human body sculpted to such accuracy is simply mind blowing to me. How a rock was molded to such a smooth and precise texture, I will never know. Every vein and muscle, every small minute detail is depicted, and that is something I can greatly admire.

In reality, I am not afraid to admit that I have no real knowledge about the art world and the way it works. I know nothing about artists, nor how to interpret art. I would love to learn more about the why for artists. To be able to look at a painting and know its past and its reason for being painted or drawn or sculpted. I know that every piece must have a history and a story behind it, and I would love to be a part of that. I believe that knowing these stories would give me so much more insight on the art and the artist. I would be able to look at these paintings and sculptures with more than just my eyes, but with my mind and heart. I would love to be able to see these pieces through a different lens, one that is completely subjective and full of passion. I am very excited to see what this class is going to teach me and what I will learn about art.

Norton as Text

“But you didn’t.” by Nathalie Morlote of Florida International University, January 28, 2024

Visiting the Norton Museum contained a lot of firsts for me. It was the first time I drove more than an hour anywhere by myself as well as the first time I had ever seen such renowned art. You always hear of famous artists: Picasso, da Vinci, Van Gogh– but more often than not we are led to believe that seeing such art is only possible by taking a plane, enduring a 14-hour flight, and walking into a museum in Florence, Italy. Yet, I was proven wrong. I had the privilege of seeing, for the first time, a painting made by Picasso, another by Van Gogh, and finally (my favorite) art by Monet.

The thing about hearing the same artistic names throughout the course of your entire life is that you have very high expectations for their art. Standing there, in front of the oh-so-famous Picasso’s art, I was astounded. I was astounded not because his art was revolutionary, but because how something so simplistic could get so much recognition. How could something so ordinary get so much attention from art connoisseurs, other artists, or even the common person? I began to think about how, given enough time in the right painting supplies, I would be able to reproduce the painting with close to no artistic experience. I am almost 100% certain that I am not the only one who thought the same thing. In fact, many of my peers expressed their shock with similar statements. Then professor Bailly said something that I think applies to many things in life. He talked about how many people say ‘I can do that’ or ‘I can do better’ but the thing is, they didn’t.

Picasso is famous not because of his art, but because of the context of his art during his time. People mention nowadays how ordinary and uninteresting his art may seem insisting that they could paint something similar, but they didn’t. Picasso represents the idea of a new style of painting, one of which was unheard of at the time, nobody else did that, Picasso did. Professor Bailly made me think of it this way: things are special because they’re different and because they represent something that hasn’t been seen before, not necessarily because they’re the most visually appealing or the most technically interesting. Of course, this has applications in the art world but also to real life.

Two decade ago technology wasn’t available to the common person in terms of items such as computers. Nowadays computers aren’t almost every home in America. Computers were new and they were special. In today’s day and age, a computer is just another thing—they’re ordinary and everyone has them. Picasso’s art has a similar concept in the sense that it was new, it was different, and it was special. We may think we can paint like Picasso, but in reality, we would’ve never thought to paint like Picasso if he hadn’t done so first.

Margulies/Bakehouse as Text 

“Art can be different.” by Nathalie Morlote of Florida International University, February 11, 2024

The trip to The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse was impactful in changing the way that I view art. I want to say that in general I tend to gravitate toward more traditional art. More realistic pieces with landscapes or renaissance art where there is much detail and thought behind the painting. After this trip, I have a different view about art, and the real meaning behind it. It does not always have to realistic per say, or intricate. Sometimes the lack of detail is what makes it special, leaving more to the viewers’ interpretation.

One such example of this can be seen through the work done by Marcel Duchamp. The submission of a urinal as art was a bold and revolutionary move that defied conventional norms of what art was defined as during this time. Duchamp was able to shift the focus from the artist’s skill and craftsmanship to more abstract and interpretational aspects of art. By challenging the idea that art had to be a unique and requiring excessive skill and talent, Duchamp invited viewers to change their preconceptions about what could be considered art.

Duchamp’s radical and never before heard of approach opened up new possibilities for artistic expression, that emphasizes the viewers ideas, concepts, and intellectual engagement rather than the craftsmanship and skillfulness of the artist. This shift in perspective of art paved the way for mor a new movement that gained traction during the later half of the 20th century.

One of the ways that he changed the world of art is creating the idea that anyone can create art.

Another really impactful aspect of the trip was our visit to the Bakehouse. I was amazed at getting a chance to view the life of an artist from their point of view. Speaking to different artists gave me more insight on how their art is created and the thought behind it. Seeing how different shapes and colors mean more than just their appearance of shapes and colors. One artist described their own use of triangles, for example, as a language, going on to elaborate how the use of different shapes represents different artistic languages. Additionally, getting to see how the differences in an artists’ environment changes their art and the way they see their work was really interesting. Not being an artist myself, I failed to see how working from one’s home might be different than working in a studio, not only because of the difference in the place, but of the people and objects in that place. Their art reflects their environment, which makes it much more impactful to think about.

Overall, I think that this trip has impacted the way that I view art and expanded it into new horizons that I definitely had never seen before. I am able to view art as more than the painting or the sculpture in front of me, but as something that was impacted by several different aspects of any different artist that may have created it. Art is so much more that what we can see with our own two eyes, and this trip helped me realize that.

Art Wynwood as Text

Every experience I have had at an art museum or exhibition has been thanks to this class and to Miami in Miami. Being able to experience art fairs a way that I normally never would have is something I am very grateful for. Seeing art in different shapes and forms, like many of the contemporary piece in Art Wynwood, has made me want to experience art in this manner more often. I have found, however, that attending such events can get quite pricey buying on your own.

I find it very interesting that art is, in a way, a bridge connecting all kinds of people together. Anyone can be an artist, as established mostly by contemporary art. You do not necessarily need expensive canvas, pricey paints, or extremely defined technical skill per say.  You do not have to have money to make art, or to say, make good, meaningful art. People who make this market possible, however, tend to have money and a passion. The people facilitating fairs such as Art Wynwood go there with intentions of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on art made by everybody. Artists’ backgrounds, ethnicities, life stories, and hardships become a part of their art, making it that much more impactful in their work.

I can only speak for myself, but seeing art with a story and a meaning behind it has more appeal to me as a passerby than art that is more conventionally beautiful. However, that is not to say that art with perfect technicality to it is not as appealing. I think that finding the beauty and the intrigue of the artist within their art is something that I have learned through this class, given that before, I would look at art more superficially. Once you start looking at art as a collection of thoughts, emotions, and life it becomes something that is more impactful than a picturesque acrylic landscape on a canvas.

That is all to say, Art Wynwood offered a variety of art that, to me, served leagues more than the typical oil pointing would. There was digital art, motion art, art involving lights and movement, etc. There were so many different types of art forms and mediums that I personally had never been exposed to, which made it all such a delightful experience for me, being able to see everything for the first time with people who knew more about the background of each piece. I love getting to chat with the gallery owners, as they passionately got to explain the works they were displaying, along with some information about the artist and the meaning behind the art. My favorite pieces had to have been those by Vicente Hernandez, who focused on Cuban culture, history, and politics to create his art. Being of Cuban descent it was representative of what I have had the opportunity to hear from family members embodied within a canvas full of wit and symbolism of the Cuban government.

Rubell Museum/ Emmerson Dorsch as Text

This past class we had the opportunity to visit two very beautiful places: the Rubell Mueseum and Emmerson Dorsch. In the Rubell Museum, I was exposed to different kinds of art, my favorites which were the Yayoi Kusama rooms and the America sign. The Yayoi Kusama rooms were both stunning and immersive, allowing you to become part of the art itself. It is something I believe is truly unique within the art world, and something that I have found to be more common in contemporary art. The America sign, however, was a great example of art that is deceptively simple without the story behind it. Once the story is understood, the art becomes something with more depth and significance. The neon sign looked like something you would put in your room or as somewhat of a decorative piece that had a slight flicker. The story behind it added more depth to the flicker as the sign of the wavering of America. It shows intention behind the piece.

Alhtough the art in the Rubell museum was beautiful, I found the trip to Emmerson Dorsch to be extremely insightful into how the art world works and operates. Daniel Clapp and Ibett Yanez provided us with details about the transaction of art that I believe many other art curators or art preparators would otherwise like to keep closer to their chests. We learned about the unregulated market of art, and how people control the output of art from a certain artist to ensure their art remains ‘uncommon’ and valuable. We learned about how people who choose to buy art to sell at auctions ultimately end up winning, rather than the artist themselves. The artists generally end up losing in terms of money, since it is not uncommon for galleries to have the opportunity to sell the pieces at a much larger price point than they bought them. I do understand, however, the risk of not being able to sell the piece at all and losing the money. Though it seems odd to me that the artist does not get a portion of the money when their piece is sold, given that ‘their’ art is no longer theirs in terms of technicality, rather the gallery’s.

What I found to be most interesting though, was the brief mention of the change in an artist’s life after their art becomes popular. One often believes that an artist’s biggest accomplishment is becoming renowned and well-known, selling art at high prices. However, Mr. Clapp and Ms. Yanez talked about several instances of artists disappearing due to their success and high demand for their art. It was impactful to me to see how much passion artists have for what they do, and the money aside is incidental; if there is a choice, many artists will chose to go out of the art scene, beside their success, and continue to do what they love. We don’t talk about artists who leave the scene often enough, nor do we acknowledge the kind of stress it puts on their work when their pieces are in high demand, rather we just expect them to come up with art, each piece better than the last.

PAMM as Text

Our visit to the Perez Art Museum was very unique in many ways. Though we have been visiting different art scenes throughout the course of the semester, I found that this trip was more impactful. The first thing that I would say impacted me the most was the intentionality of everything. The through behind the seating outside of the museum, the architecture of the building, the layout of the shade, etc. Everything, even before entering the museum itself, was artistic in its own way. The way the whole environment around the PAMM was set up was meant to invite everyone in, or at least offer a place for anyone to be. The seating had shade, which is something that is much needed in Miami, and areas to sit and either relax, take in the scenery, or study. Either way, it was very inviting and refreshing to see how thoughtful the placement of all the components was, something I would say is unique. I say this since many of the museums we have been to thus far have offered a plethora of beautiful art inside, but not many (if any) have offered such thought and intentionality to the functionality and beauty of the outside of the building containing said art.

Another thing I considered impactful inside of the museum itself was the exhibition ‘Public Enemy’ by Gary Simmons. His depiction of thought-provoking art concerning the prevalent issue of slavery was very meaningful. Everything in all of the piece had so much meaning behind them, where every detail was part of the art, adding something more. It was the type of art that meant more the longer you stared at and analyzed all its small details and connecting parts. One of the most emphasized pieces in the collection was the work titled ‘Lineup’ where there was a line up chart with golden shoes and no people. Upon further inspection, you can see that the shoes are representative of shoes worn stereotypically by African Americans. The work served as a visualization of African Americans placed in prison, without actually putting any people in the piece. Everything was purely hinted at, and the viewer is the one that puts all the clues together to interpret the piece. His most impactful piece, however, was one where there was the full KKK attire, sized for children. This was such a strong piece that indicated that racism is taught at such a young age, and these children were being indoctrinated with the beliefs that some human beings were “lesser than” because of the color of their skin.

Finally, I loved being able to create a zine, and do something as a whole with my peers. We got to implement and experiment with our own art, after seeing so many different pieces at so many different museums and art exhibitions. Overall, I loved to be able to see a variety of pieces representing a wide array of issues, and be able to express my own art after experiencing such great works.

Wolfsonian/Oolite as Text

I always enjoy being able to meet artists and learn more about their process. Going to the Oolite Arts was an amazing experience that I wish we could’ve experience more of. Getting to meet artists and ask questions about what their art was about, how they created it, and their reasons for their process gave me more insights on how versatile and creative making art can really get. It is typical to think of art as a sculpture or a painting or even an exhibition, but these artists added their own creative process to their art, which to me made it so much more unique and enticing.

One of my favorite artists that we got to speak to was Diana. Her process involved making her own dyes for her tapestries. She used things like plants and insects to make all of the pigments she would need for her art and was very particular about either growing all of the plants herself or sourcing the insects from a small business. I was able to see the bugs she made her pigments from and learn more about how different pH liquids would lead to a different color of dye. Ordinarily, one would see her work, and although her art is beautiful itself, knowing her process and the intention behind it made it so much more meaningful and beautiful in my eyes. Another artist that had such a unique process that stuck with me was Lee. He was particularly interested in stained glass, which he himself made in a crockpot. His resourcefulness and aim to support sustainability through his art was really inspiring and quite impressive.

The second half of the class was spent at the Wolfsonian museum, where I was able to learn a little bit more about Miami before I was born, and how it came to be what it is today. We were shown a series of brochures, which were interesting to see, given that they were advertising living in Miami to people living up north. They would picture women in bathing suits and warm, sunny beaches. They would add areas of tennis, polo, and other amenities typically associated with upper class wealthy individuals. Miami was catering to a certain demographic of people, which quickly changed with the Great Depression. It was fascinating to see first-hand the artifacts of actual post cards, brochures, and posters that were handed out to the people living here around a hundred years ago. We also got to see different strategies that were used to demonize Germans during the second world war, and how that art played a role in moving the American sentiment against the actions of the Germans who were considered devils.

I found this class to be very insightful to learning more about creative ways to express art. These ways could be in the process of creating art, adding more meaning and intention behind the pieces. I learned about the history of the city I live in, and how we convinced people to live here. Overall, I would say that it was a successful trip!

Art Final Reflection as Text

As a class, we spent a whole semester going from museums to art fairs to galleries, seeing what the famed art world had to offer. I came into the class knowing who Vincent Van Gogh was, I came out of it knowing I had seen one of his works. The furthest I had driven from home was Key Biscayne, now it’s the Norton Museum (worth it). Though the changes and milestones hit seem trivial, I feel like I have learned and grown a lot in my development through the course of this class.

In the latest class, we were able to go to the FIU Frost Museum, which I feel is a full circle moment. I was able to go there for the first time before I was admitted into FIU, and explored it, not knowing what I was looking at, really. Now, we were able to go there with a new set of eyes, after an entire semester of seeing different art in a variety of settings. Being back at the Frost Museum, as our last location, felt almost poetic. I was able to see things under a new lens, asking myself questions about the pieces we were asked to examine, taking things in in a way that I know I did not do the first time around. I feel like that is a perfect example of how my view on looking at and appreciating art has changed since starting this class, and really taking the time to understand and interpret the piece in front of me rather than looking at it superficially.

My favorite classes are those where we get to experiment on our own with different art styles (despite my lack of talent in the artistic realm). Prior to this class, I had never known that there was a paper out there that reacted with the sun to pigment the sheet. Being able to gather items around me and experiment with them helped me be more creative than I was when we did, for example, the Zines. Being given a set object and having to work with it, making it express what I want to it to is a lot more difficult and constraining than being able to draw, paint, or sculpt whatever I want. Because of this, I felt like I was forced to think outside of the metaphorical box to come up with what I could make with what I had (in my case I had picked up a plastic fork and knife from Chili’s). This also helped me reflect on other artists. Some artists have limited resources and do what they can with what they have, and this activity served as a great reminder of that. It gave me that much more appreciation and awe to the creativity and innovation they are able to express with such restrictions.

Overall, I would take this class again, and would give it 5 stars if I had the option to. I do recommend it to everyone who has ears though.

Miami as a Text

“Miami: the best of ALL worlds” by Nathalie Morlote of Florida International University, September 1, 2023

For the past 19 years, I have had the privilege of calling Miami my home. My parents immigrated to Miami before I was born, making me the first one in my family born on American soil. From a young age, I have noticed that Miami isn’t like anywhere else in this country; it is full of culture and diversity. This was evident when my family made a trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee where I was shocked at how hard it was to find authentic Hispanic food, something that is on every corner of every street in Miami. After countless google searches, we settled for Chipotle, the closest to Hispanic food we could get. This was one of the first times I was able to experience just how much culture (especially Latino culture) was present in Miami.

I am always amazed with how much there is to do and how much I have left to see in a place where I have spent my entire life. I have made my fair share of trips on the metro, especially to walk around Brickell, which has a completely different feel than other parts of Miami. I am an avid beachgoer, although I wouldn’t say I prefer any beach over the other- if there is sand and water, I will have a great time. Because of my love for the ocean, I have been able to explore Miami Beach, which is one of the most diverse places I have ever been to. I feel like every restaurant and store in Miami beach has a personality, all unique and different from one another. Some are colorful and full of life, while others lean toward a tamer modern, sleek look. Despite this, all the different forms of architecture diversity to the city in a harmonious way.

Apart from the beautiful scenery and beaches of Miami, I have been able to see the tip of the iceberg in terms of Miami’s history. My boyfriend, knowing my love for orchestral concerts, got us tickets to a Joe Hisashi tribute. Joe Hisashi is a Japanese composer to the world-renowned Studio Ghibli animated films, including ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’, ‘Spirited away’, and ‘Princess Mononoke’. This concert took place in the Scottish Rite Temple, which is full of history behind it, rooted in Freemasonry. Inside, there were beautiful paintings on the walls, and the architecture was incredibly unique, considering the other more common physical characteristics of Miami buildings.

Overall, I love Miami. I have dreams of one day attending medical school, but no matter where the future takes me, I plan on always coming back to Miami. There is no place in the world quite like it, with its unique blend of different heritage and culture filling its past, present, and future. I hope to learn more about Miami and the history behind how it came to be today through this course, and I cannot wait to see more of the city I hold so dearly to my heart.

Overtown/Historic Miami as a Text

“Why not make a REAL change?” by Nathalie Morlote of Florida International University, September 6, 2023

Throughout our time through the city of Overtown, there were very few things being spoken of that I already had a knowledge of. Everything was new; fresh information, at least to me. However, although the rich past of the city was something I had never thought of, it was and continues to be a part of the daily lives of the people who live there.

The city of Overtown of today seems to be a ghost of its lively past, which is unfortunate, considering that nowadays, there is a negative stigma surrounding the area. Overtown is considered by many, a part of town to avoid if possible. Upon learning of the past of Overtown through the stories told by locals, a different picture was painted: one of a lively town, bustling with energy and people of every race, ethnicity, and culture. There is a very clear disparity between the two perspectives referring to the same city, which begs the question: How does this happen?

One of the most impactful parts of the class was the opportunity we had to tour the Ward Rooming House, where were able to meet Christopher Norwood. He talked about how, previously, when Overtown was full of life, there was segregation. However, he explained that segregation didn’t happen in Overtown, rather, everywhere else. Overtown was a place where everyone could go and have a good time, no matter who you were or what you looked like—something that could not be said for other cities in Miami at the time.

It is heartbreaking to see firsthand the negative impact that the construction of I-95 has had on the community of Overtown, turning it from one of the most popular cities in Miami to one of the most averted. Seeing the construction of new buildings in the area and the demolition of old ones felt like I was witnessing the destruction of history. It truly feels like people are trying to take Overtown out of the map, and its rich past and culture with it. This is furthered by the reiterations made by Ms. Godfrey that it was extremely difficult and expensive to maintain the Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church up and running, despite it being a registered historical place. It is interesting how difficult it is to maintain a building that it supposed to be protected—shouldn’t there be more being done to protect its history? What is the point of the church being registered as a national historical place if there are multiple hindrances in keeping it standing?

I think that throughout this class, I was able to really examine my own perception of Overtown and compare it to the reality of its past and what it used to be. Now, I am left with the question of how this city could have been different without the construction of I-95. Could it have been a city where people would go watch a live show or celebrate, rather than a city being gradually erased of its past?

Coconut Grove/Vizcaya as a Text

“James Deering: the ultimate Miami man” by Nathalie Morlote of Florida International University, September 20, 2023

Prior to my visitation of Vizcaya and the man behind its building, I truly believed that the face of Miami was Pitbull. However, upon learning about the persona and eccentric attributes of James Deering, I can say I stand corrected. Deering was a man that was, in more ways than one, ahead of his time—whether it was through the ‘advanced’ technology in his home or his way of living.

James led a life that was somewhat prophetic of what would ultimately become the culture of Miami in modern times. The architecture in his home was very demonstrative of a life of parties, luxuries, and flashiness—all core characteristics of the Miami we live in, to this day. From the beginning of our time in Vizcaya, we were met with a statue of Ponce De Leon, with Florida at his feet; indicative of Deering’s feeling of power over everything and everyone.

Deering had a statue of the Roman God Bacchus inside his home, implying his love for revelry and wine. Nowadays, Miami is a hub to places like clubs, where partying is abundant, and the night never ends. However, it is interesting to note that, at the time of Deering, Miami was made up of almost entirely Mangroves, where there certainly was no place to party or wind down. Deering changed that with his estate. He established a place that did not exist in Miami, a place of diversion and exoticism.

In every way possible, Vizcaya is extremely flashy and ostentatious. James Deering had marble floors and walls, extensive gardens, and ridiculously imported ceilings. James also made sure everyone knew of his riches and success. The Miami of today could not be any more similar. If you have a nice car, you show it off; same goes for a house, or clothes, or any extent of material thing, really. Deering was the epitome of a Miami man before the definition of that even existed.

Deering also had a knack for setting up conspicuously hidden benches around his garden, for lovers to sleep together. Sex is such a large part of ‘pleasure’, whether it be in Deering’s time or today. However, in Miami, it is somewhat glorified. People go to clubs to meet their next one night stand, similar to how people would meet at Deering’s parties.

Finally, because of the location and architecture of the building, it is clear Deering had a love for the ocean. It is very hard to find a Miamian who does not love the beach. James established his estate in a way that was open, allowing for the ocean breeze to provide fresh air throughout his home. It is also important to note that the beach is considered a luxury today. People who own apartments or homes along the coast tend to have wealth and are admired, as was James Deering in his time. Ultimately, James Deering was a Miami man through and through, establishing the basis of what Miami would later become: a city of debauchery and pleasure.

Biscayne Bay as a Text

“Nature invaded…by plastic” by Nathalie Morlote of Florida International University, October 22, 2023

After making the long, treacherous journey toward Chicken Key from Deering Estate, we collectively set off to collect washed up trash from the shore of mangroves. We got to witness hermit crabs of all sizes scurry around the sand, making anything their home. While walking around, we came across a massive plank of wood. It resembled a portion of a dock, which had been washed off at some point, where the hermit crabs had adapted and made it their home. Dozens of crabs scrambled out from underneath it after we lifted it and attempted to remove it from the island. This board was somewhat representative of the invasion of waste on this island, and how the wildlife already living there is forced to adapt to a polluted environment in order to survive.

Besides the plank, I found an array of different pollutants, including a fluorescent light rod, an aluminum water bottle, and a paw patrol sticker. Although some of the miscellaneous items washed up on the Chicken Key shore can be chalked up to a tropical storm or hurricane, a lot of it is a direct result of our own carelessness and disregard for the environment around us. When hiking throughout the property of Deering Estate, there were dozens of small wrappers, bottles, cigarette butts, and other varied trash items around the area. It is important to note that these are protected areas that are not necessarily readily available for the general public. I was astonished to see the results of human irresponsibility in a place as secured as this.

In general, global pollution is a serious issue that is not necessarily taken as seriously as it should be. It is a threat not only to Earth’s land and water, but to its wildlife and humans as well. One big issue that arises from human pollution can be seen through the rise of microplastics. Often, plastics are dumped into our oceans without much regard, and with little idea of how harmful it can be. Marine life will often consider the newly discarded plastic items in the ocean as their food and will ingest it. Funnily enough, many people enjoy eating seafood, which normally would be a positive nutrient for our bodies. However, what happens if the salmon you just bought from Publix ate that water bottle you tossed into the beach a couple years ago?

Life on Earth is a cycle, and everything has a natural flow. It is a known fact that matter cannot be created nor destroyed. This makes one consider what exactly happens to something when we throw it away improperly. According to physics, it does not just disappear, it goes somewhere else and becomes something else, but it will always be there. That is why it is so important to be mindful of recycling when we can, and disposing of things in the correct way, so that they can be made into something that is beneficial for the Earth and for us, rather than something that ends up having a negative effect on both.

Deering Estate as a Text

“Preserving Deering Estate” by Nathalie Morlote of Florida International University, October 29, 2023

I had the great opportunity to go to Deering Estate, one of the most historical, and impressive parks in South Florida. This rich history immediately drew my attention, there was always a new landmark to discover, within this diverse landscape. I enjoyed the first stop we made in our visit, to the notorious Stone House. Charles Deering’s love of alcohol seems insatiable, with Professor Bailly providing a great anecdote of his use of lanterns as a signal to smugglers during the prohibition era. His love of alcohol was only made abundantly clear by the substantially large wine cellar, which wine lovers could easily fall in love with.

From the comfort of Charles Deering’s lovely house, we made our way into the wilderness, our wily professor leading us deeper into new, restricted territory: it is here we visited the Cutler Fossil Site. This site was mesmerizing, it is difficult to imagine such a place, filled with water, once the location of a prominent watering hole. It is here I learned of human’s first presence in South Florida, seemingly 10,000 years ago! I was amazed to learn that many Ice Age fossils have been found, providing us with insight into the environment within South Florida. It is here that I believe preservation is such an important and pressing need.

The Cutler Fossil Site, gives us just a small glance into the past, of not just the environment of Florida, but how our human relatives began to expand in a new area. It is critical that sites like the one visited are restricted, as public access to such an area could cause harm to the undiscovered fossils that lie there. Yet the value of preservation is not just limited to this one site, as there are other areas that must be maintained for our understanding of lost cultures. Visiting the Tequesta burial mound, made me aware of the prevalence of Native Americans within the South Florida community. It seems improbable that any group be able to survive in South Florida (Especially without A/C!), yet this group has captured my mind since learning of them.

It saddened me to learn that the group itself was wiped out during European colonization, as this only reinforces my sentiment in the importance of preservation of this area. There is so much to learn from this lost group—how they ate the Conch was extremely effective—preservation of a burial mound will only assist in helping us understand the Tequesta. It is through these valuable preservation efforts that I believe that we can continue to understand the context of our city, Miami, and see how it has evolved over time. I can only hope that Deering Estate continues to be an example of preservation within South Florida, and that it continues to be a place where those can go to learn more about our history.

Everglades as a Text

“The Everglades is making a comeback “ by Nathalie Morlote of Florida International University December 8, 2023

The Everglades is thought of as a wet, humid swampland, full of dangerous animals like alligators and pythons. Generally speaking, people often have a negative stigma surrounding the Everglades. What these people fail to recognize, however, is the importance of this lush and diverse ecosystem to our own daily lives. Without the Everglades, we would have little to no available drinking water as Floridians, as most or our potable water comes from this so called swamp.

This was my first time visiting the Everglades, and to say that I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. It was beautiful. I was under the impression that the environment there would be muddy and dirty, as the wetland is depicted. Contrary to what I had believed, the water was crystal clear, and everything was simply breathtaking. I quickly realized why people have written poems of such a place and why people are fighting to preserve this land to what it once was. Preserving the Everglades means preserving endangered life and unique ecosystems; it means preserving us.

The Everglades is a hub of biodiversity within Florida, and harbors some of the most unique endemic species within the United States. One of the most prominent of these species is the Florida Panther—as a FIU Panther I believe we are naturally inclined to preserve our mascot—but also many more unique species of plants and animals that inhabit the Everglades National Park. It is within this diverse ecosystem that we find the Everglades’ value. Its conglomeration of species allows it to be an area of immense scientific value. Being able to learn from the ecological processes of this environment is a prime example of its importance. Its biodiversity must continue to be maintained, especially with the threats it faces from habitat loss and invasive species. As Miami expands, we must continue to keep the Everglades protected. Not only from humans, but from invasive species, such as the Burmese Python, that can completely transform the diversity of the Everglades. Although there are efforts to extract this invasive species, it’s severe ecological impact shows how fragile this environment is.

Maintenance of the Everglades is not only for biodiversity, but also for the common good of South Florida. It acts as a natural form of flood control for the whole of South Florida, which (we experience firsthand) can flood on any rainy day. It is, and will continue to be, an extremely important resource for the South Florida community as a whole.

The Everglades is crucial to life: the lives of all the diverse and unique organisms living there, and to our lives. Its preservation means to protect that life and support projects that promote and actively work on bringing back the Everglades that once was. We have done our fair share of damage to this ecosystem and  it has run the circle of life and come back to haunt us, the least we could do is break that cycle and take action to preserve it. Although it may never be the way it used to be, we can definitely take measures to drastically improve its current state. This is seen through the many projects sponsored today, and the improvements the Everglades has seen in recent years. We can do better.

Miami Final Reflection

“Miami: a reevaluation” by Nathalie Morlote of Florida International University December 10, 2023

I can confidently say this class has shown me parts of Miami that I would have never known otherwise. It has shown me the gruesome history, the rich culture, and the beautiful nature that makes up the city of Miami. Having lived in Miami for almost two decades, I thought I had a solid view of the city, knowing *almost* everything there was to know about Miami. I was very wrong.

Miami in Miami has taught me the importance of learning our history and where we come from. I have learned the foundation of how different communities throughout the city have come to be and who they were established by. We learned about communities like Overtown; where a culture-rich and bustling neighborhood was completely turned upside down through the construction of a major highway running right through it. Nowadays, Overtown is largely overlooked and thought by many to be a dangerous and unsafe place to be. Learning its history has changed my views on what exactly happened to Overtown and what it really has become. Getting to share a meal and live a day throughout area has opened my eyes to the true kindness of many who live there, impacted by the lack of compassion of those who instated the building of I-95.

I was also introduced to brothers James and Charles Deering, who were responsible for the building of Vizcaya and Deering Estate, respectively. Both were eccentric men who envisioned Miami before Miami was what it has become today. It is a city full of cultures of all kinds and debauchery, much like the lives the Deering brothers had in mind for themselves. Seeing how they lived their lives and how they constructed their lavish lifestyles through a plethora of material possessions also serves as a reminder of the labor and work behind it all. The Deering brothers both had large estates which were built through the hands of mostly Bahamian workers at a very low wage (if any) and barely humane living conditions. It is important to remember and acknowledge the hands that built this city from the ground up, given that Bahamians’ working conditions were so bad that it resulted in some circumstances of death while constructing and building things for people like the Deering brothers.

Overall, this class has taught me more about Miami and where it really came from. Not only that, but I learned to appreciate the history behind everything built and the people behind it. It is impossible to see this city the same way, when you know all the blood, sweat, and tears behind it. I have a new appreciation for my city and for its people. In the same way that this class has taught me so much, there is always more to learn and more history to uncover. This course has encouraged me to look around and want to learn more about everything.