Melanie Rodriguez (she/her/hers) is a second-year, first-generation student at FIU’s Honors College pursuing a double major in English (Creative Writing) and Exceptional Student Education (Foundations and Policy) with certificates in Exile Studies and Women and Gender Studies. As a Global Learning Medallion student, Melanie is a part of FIU’s inaugural Millennium Fellowship cohort working to advance the United Nations’ 4th Sustainable Development Goal, Quality Education. Melanie currently works as Culture Shock Miami’s Program Coordinator at Miami-Dade County’s Department of Cultural Affairs and is also Tutorial Coordinator for FIU’s TRiO Student Support Services Program. In her spare time, Melanie is an editor and writes for Make Muse, a magazine and magazine agency based in New York that encourages “young womxn smashing societal standards.” Her goal is to enact social change by combining her passion for the arts with her dedication to activism and youth education. 

GEOGRAPHY

Delineate, define, and describe the neighborhood you have selected. This section must include a map and original photographs by the student of the neighborhood. The student should describe both the urban and natural landscape.

HISTORY

Provide a thorough, researched, and cited history of the neighborhood.

DEMOGRAPHICS

List population and characteristics of residents (age, gender, income level, cultural roots). Feature a bio and portrait of one resident that the student interviewed.

Interview with Design District Local, Is Perlman

LANDMARKS

List and describe the museums, monuments, and historical landmarks of the neighborhood. Select three to highlight.

Buckminster Fuller Fly’s Eye Dome, 1978-2014

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Konstantin Grcic’s Netscape, 2010/2014

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Xavier Veilhan’s Le Corbusier, 2013

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De La Cruz Collection

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Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), Miami

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GREEN

List and describe the green spaces and parks of the neighborhood

TRANSPORTATION

Describe all modes of transportation within the neighborhood and what are the results of this.

FOOD

Where are the best and authentic places to eat. Select three to highlight.

Politan Row Miami

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Estefan Kitchen

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Night Owl Cookies

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BUSINESSES

Describe and list a selection of unique businesses in the neighborhood. Do not list chains. Select three to highlight.

Ahana Yoga

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Lower East Coast

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nini & loli

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SUMMARY

Assess the neighborhood. What works? What doesn’t?

CITATIONS

Citations

Biography

I am an undergrad student at FIU with only one semester left before graduation. My degree will be in International Relations but I’ve found that my passion is diplomacy and political science. This year, I will be working on the 2020 presidential election as an organizer and hope that this opportunity will allow me to connect further with my community and its residents. In 2018 I graduated from Coral Gables Senior High and so for the most formative years of my life, I spent about 90% of my time in the city of Coral Gables.

The Gables

Geographical Profile

The geography of Coral Gables extends from the edge of Flagami and goes south until reaching Cutler Bay. In a matter of latitude, the bulk of Coral Gables runs between 57th ave and 37th ave (Douglas Road). As seen above, about 35% of the city is greenary, most of it being the R. Hardy Matheson County Preserve and the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

History

The city of Coral Gables was founded in 1925 by George Merrick and it has been dubbed “The City Beautiful”. The founders of Coral Gables had aspirations that hit would become an international city and so they created ties with cities across Latin America and Europe. They were inspired by the City Beautiful Movement which included convoluted roads and lots of green space, as well as plazas and fountains.

Demographics

With a population of over 50,000 people, the median age of residents is 40 years old and data suggests that the median age will continue to drop. Because of the city’s elegant appearance, it only makes sense that the residents and lifestyle would be just as lavish. Living in Coral Gables means that you are at least middle class, with the median household income being about $96k a year. The cost of living in the city is 65% higher than the national average. The city of Coral Gables is made up of mostly hispanic or latino people, and 34% of the population being fully white. African Americans and Asians are a minority in Coral Gables.

Biography and interview of COral Gables Resident: Stephanie Revuelta

Stephanie Revuelta is 20 years old and was born in Miami. Her mother is from Nicaragua and her father from Cuba. Stephanie has lived in Miami most of her life. She attended Coral Gables Senior High for 4 years before moving into Coral Gables as a student of the University of Miami. Stephanie works as a hostess and has worked at several restaurants in Coral Gables. Although she has only resided in Coral Gables since starting at UM, she has spent the majority of her time in the gables over the last 6 years.

What would you say is the biggest difference between just attending school in Coral Gables and living here?

Stephanie: Maybe just change of pace? When I was in high school, I came to gables for school and then I went home and sometimes went to Miracle Mile on the weekends. Since living here I’ve noticed that even as a college student, the way of life is much slower, calmer.

What’s your favorite part of the city?

Stephanie: The nightlife for sure. It’s very chill but not boring at all. Just walking down Coral Way, there’s a bunch of things to do.

And your least favorite part?

Stephanie: The slowness. Even though I appreciate the quiet and calm, sometimes it feels too slow, like even though the main roads are always packed, sometimes driving down the inner streets is a bit creepy. There’s not really many cars or even streetlights.

Having worked in Coral Gables as well other places in Miami, what’s different about working here?

Stephanie: Im a hostess, and I’ve only really ever worked at kind of higher end restaurants so I would say the biggest difference is the amount of people. Even though there’s a lot of people in Gables, most of the restaurants are really fancy and because we don’t get lots of tourists like we would in South Beach, the customers are mostly older, well off residents.

Landmarks

City Hall

Located on Biltmore Way, City hall has a Mediterranean architecture style. It is on the National Register of Historic places and it is practically the first structure when entering the city. It marks the point in the city where most businesses are located. It is the focal point of the city, where the giant christmas tree is lit every year, and where the city farmers market takes place every weekend.

The Biltmore Hotel

The Biltmore Hotel Miami was built in 1926 and is arguably the most historical structure in the entire city of Coral Gables. It was developed by the very founder of Coral Gables. Its extensive history has also made it infamous in Miami history. The Biltmore has always been known for its elegance and beauty, hosting galas and high profile events in its early days. During one of these events, gangster Thomas Walsh was killed in the hotel. During World War II, the Biltmore was used as a military hospital and then a veterans hospital after the war. In 1968, when the Biltmore became abandoned, rumors spread about the building being haunted. This was due to the amount of death surrounding the structure for the past several decades. Eventually the City of Coral Gables renovated the Biltmore into the hotel it is today. The tales continued and in the 90s there were even ghost stories told in the hotel lobby.

Green Space

In general, even in the spaces that are modern and populated, there is gorgeous greenery and landscapes in the city of Coral Gables. The streets are lined with huge trees and there are beautiful canopies all over the city.

Golf Courses

The Granada and Biltmore golf courses are staples of Coral Gables, they take extend through the city and take up several hundred acres of land.

R Hardy Matheson County preserve

This preserve is on the southern edge of Coral Gables and is 813 acres large. Although its size is impressive, the Hardy Matheson preserve is one of the lesser known aspects of the city of Coral Gables.

Fairchild tropical botanic garden

Located on Old Cutler Road just like the Matheson Preserve, the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is known as one of the most beautiful spots in Coral Gables. The garden goes on for 83 acres and has one of the largest collections of palm trees in the country.

Transportation

THE TROLLEY

The Coral Gables Trolley is the most notable of transportation methods in the city. The Trolley has one route along Ponce de Leon blvd and another down Douglas. It is a free service that began in Coral Gables in 2003. The Coral Gables Trolley connects with the City of Miami Trolley on Flagler Street.

Walking

As cheesy as it sounds, the best way to get to know Coral Gables is truly to just walk around. Thankfully, a lot of the best spots to tour in coral gables are all along one street, Miracle Mile. It is highly populated with both people and establishments. There are hundreds of businesses to discover by walking a couple of blocks. Walking is truly the only way to explore this part of Coral Gables as traffic is truly a pain and parking is even worse.

Food

Bulla gastrobar

If you’re looking for something a bit high scale (of course, this is the standard of a college student), the Bulla Gastrobar is the place to go. I stumbled upon this restaurant by pure miracle and honestly would probably never have stepped foot in the establishment on my own accord. To briefly explain, my friends and I were on the trolley after school one day when we made friends with a very disheveled looking older gentlemen, who looked a bit lost. Well he wasn’t lost, this man we just met got off at the trolley stop on 25 and ponce and told us to come into his restaurant for a late lunch. We were hesitant, but it was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. Bulla Gastrobar is an open kitchen Spanish gastrobar with the best tapas in all of Coral Gables. While on the pricier side, the experience of sharing tapas with loved ones in the beautiful vibe of this restaurant is unbeatable. This is the perfect place for a night out with your significant other.

Ichimi Ramen

On the more mellow vibe, when you’re out on the town with friends just looking for something quick but of good quality, Ichimi is the spot. The hipster restaurant makes delicious ramen and is definitely worth a stop if you’re ever in Coral Gables.

morelia

As daunting as the out the door line at Morelia’s may seem. I can assure it is worth the wait. It’s not much of a wait, as you’ll likely be at the front of the line in under 10 minutes. Morelia is right in the center of Miracle Mile and is known for its mouth watering paletas. They are gourmet, and you can customize them to add as many toppings as you like for a flat price. The flavors range from anything as simple as chocolate, to more unique ones like strawberry cheesecake or dulce de leche. You can even have them turn your paleta into a smore. While the paletas are certainly their specialty, do not underestimate the milkshakes, which are equally delicious.

Businesses

Actor’s playhouse at the miracle theater

This small local theater has put on some of the best productions I’ve ever seen. As a broadway fanatic, I have traveled all the way to New York to watch plays and musicals and yet this theater is one of my favorite places to visit. The tickets are inexpensive for a night out with the family and the staff puts on everything from Mamma Mia to Alice in Wonderland.

Books and books

Books and Books is smack dab in the middle of Coral Gables and is one of the coziest spots of the city. Its a local bookstore that has its own cafe and courtyard and is the perfect place for a relaxing afternoon. There’s a wonderful social atmosphere for a meeting to take place but it is still quiet enough for alone time with a nice book and coffee.

Sources

Areavibes. “Coral Gables, FL Cost of Living.” Coral Gables, FL Cost Of Living, http://www.areavibes.com/coral+gables-fl/cost-of-living/.

“Coral Gables, FL.” Data USA, datausa.io/profile/geo/coral-gables-fl/#about.

Duba, Julia. “A History Of The Biltmore, Miami’s Best Known Creepy Hotel.” WLRN, http://www.wlrn.org/post/history-biltmore-miamis-best-known-creepy-hotel#stream/0.

EvoGov.com. “About Coral Gables.” City of Coral Gables – About Coral Gables, http://www.coralgables.com/about-coral-gables.

BIOGRAPHY

Lesly Garcia at Abi Maria Restaurant. Photo by Emily Carrillo/CC by 4.0

Lesly Garcia was born in a small town in Florida in the winter of 1999. An American to some, but a Hispanic too many. Coming from both lovely parents who were raised in Cuba to fight later to come to the state to build a better future for their daughter. Twenty-one years old and a senior at Florida International University. She is majoring in English with a Literature track and works at the FIU Engineering Center as a Proctor. As a hobby, she dances ballet in her spare time and dreams to one day be on Broadway dancing Giselle, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, etc.

GeoGRAPHY

A minority of people have speculated that Kendall is a rural wasteland of strip malls and communities. However, they are entirely wrong. Taking a look at this map, one can automatically think that Kendall isn’t one exact neighborhood, or even a city, although the U.S. Census has established its boundaries. It declares the entire area south of the Snapper Creek canal from US 1 to Turnpike, stopping just north of Richmond Heights. To be even more precise, Kendall is found in Florida, located at “25.68 latitudes and -80.32 longitude and it is situated at elevation 12 meters above sea level” (WorldAtlas). The truth is no one knows where Kendall begins or where it ends.

Kendall is a census Miami suburb, known for the numerous residences of farms, zoos, hotels, shopping centers, dining, and recreation to satisfy every taste. It offers residents an urban, suburban mixed feel, and the majority of the inhabitants own their own property/homes.  There aren’t much left of Natural Landscapes considering the back to back development of dozens of businesses and small housings. It does, however, have a primary water source coming from a string of Biscayne Bay entering under S Dixie HWY, leading it to S.W. 92nd Ave, then Howard Dr – S.W. 136th St., up between S.W. 96th and 95th Ave, entering 97th Ave, and ending N Snapper Creek Dr, however continuing long after Kendall’s border.

HISTORY

Images by Pincrestdental.com. Retrieved from https://www.pinecrestdental.com/index.php/kendall-part-1/

Kendall, Florida, back in the 1800s, was seen more as “mosquito-infested wilderness” (Pincrestdental.com), for there were no landmarks seen throughout the area. It was considered a deserted area until an entrepreneur by the name Sir Edward James Reed, a retired Chief Constructor, saw grand potential in the vast expanse. The potential was to produce and generate railroads, which was the start of the move in Florida. After a couple of years, Reed’s railroad crisscrossed the land all over Florida from one town to another. Acres of unused land was later sold, Reed spent millions of dollars to own the ground in South Dade County.

Although the site seemed abandoned, it wasn’t. The Seminole Indians inhabited it; half were relocated to another state due to a war that had occurred, but the other half stayed behind.

Florida Land and Mortgage Company later named Henry John Broughton Kendall as one of the “four trustees to manage the companies in Dade County” (Pincrestdental.com). Kendall followed his dad’s step, assisting as a consul. When he landed in America, his status in the position had risen. He later operated Reed’s land in South Dade.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Kendall, FL, has a populace of 75,123 and is in the 476th rank when it comes to being the most populous city in the United States. The population density is expected to be around 5,000 per sq.—mi, which is more eminent than Florida’s average. According to the numerous recent ACS, the population of these outskirts appears to have a preponderance of Hispanic and Latino residing. Next, following the White race, which happens to be part of its people, and lastly, Asian and Black or African American alone being the tipping point of the scale as it constitutes to be less than the 3% ratio. As of 2018 being the latest US Census ACS, there is an estimate of over 60K adults and only 14k of those being seniors in Kendall, FL. There are about 39K females and 36K males residing in Kendall, with the median age being around 39- 50. The median household income was falling at $69,277, with a 7.67% growth (datausa.io).

INTERVIEW WITH RESIDENT

With what is happening currently due to the pandemic, I was sadly unable to interview anyone other than my mother. Yamile Leon has been residing in Kendall with her husband Ernesto Hurtado, for a proximate amount of about two years and four months. She used to live in Coral Gables for half her life until she decided it was time for a change in scenery. She is 48 years old, about to be 49 next month. I’ve asked her questions regarding her change of mind in moving and the differences in living in Coral Gables and Kendall.

The civilization of Coral Gables compared to Kendall differentiate profusely for her. She responded by saying that the way of living was different amongst both of them for starters, the class at Coral Gables was mostly on the higher-class spectrum while Kendall falls more on the middle class. The surroundings are not entirely different, but at the same time they are for starters in Coral Gables it was rowdier at nighttime due to the clubs that laid one next to another for she used to live a block away from miracle mile. People would still be walking around at 2 in the morning, screaming at the top of their lungs and laughing by her balcony. While in Kendall, the streets are more peacefully quiet. The clubs are a couple of miles away from the housing. To this day, she still misses Coral Gables due to the nightlife almost reminding her of New York in a way, but as she lived here, her state of mind has changed a lot. From her peace of quiet to less traffic, closer to work and school for her daughter Lesly Garcia.

LANDMARK

First up is the Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum, settled right at the core of Florida International University at the Modesto A. Maidique campus in Miami, Florida. It serves as the artistic essence of FIU’s school and as well as a vital part of Miami’s flourishing art association. The building holds nine exhibits, five of them utilizing natural light. There is a lecture room, museum store, and café – Vicky’s (right next to it), art storehouse, and public spaces. It is known for displaying works from the university’s unchanging set, shifting displays, and current educational programs.  Numerous sights and events are befalling every week, each distinctive from the last.

Next up is the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, which is located adjacent to Zoo Miami. This institution is devoted to conserving, displaying, and administering historic facilities. It houses over 40 well-known rail cars. Admissions go as follows: Adults- $8 and Seniors enter for free on Wednesday. The train cars are all parked beneath a huge woodshed in case it rains one could very much still attend and enjoy. The highlight of the museum is Ferdinand Magellan, the rail equivalent to Air Force 1. The car is accessible for rounds, be sure to ask! On another building, it holds different prototype trains, park type trains, and real train rides that are also accessible depending on their schedule.

Apart from the trains, there are playgrounds and picnic areas on the grounds, along with a cute gift shop. I would say this place is worth the visit for railroad buffs and for the occasion to show youngsters flashes of history.

Last standing is the lovely Deering Estate, the residence of Charles Deering until 1927. Deering Estate is a moderately burrowed lot, just off of Old Cutler Road and SW 168 Ave. The terrains are faultless- surely depicts what the property would have resembled 150 years ago. The Deering Estate Boat Basin has a panoramic view of Miami, along with glimpses of its comrades’ manatees. There is also a small land offshore, called Chicken Key. There is a nature tour if one hopes to go past their bucket list ventures, events, and awareness. Dr. Vanessa Trujillo and her staff host it. The guides are charming and quite educated about terrains, history, ecosystems, etc. The fields are 420 acreages from a gorgeous park in southwestern Miami. The property used to be the home of Tequesta Indians, for their remains are buried. 

GREEN

Kendall Indian Hammock Park contains a recreation center that features around 30 something holes in disc golf plus a skateboarding arena with slopes and a skate store. It has a beautiful set of playgrounds for children of all ages and loads of tree shade grounds to race throughout it. It is a tranquil atmosphere packed with trees and flowers everywhere. It is also great for both a picnic, bike, trek, or jogging paths. The place is a bit concealed, which makes this area even more sublime for solitude and safety for everyone.

Kendall Green Park has a beautiful trail for a scenic run/walk; it has nothing much to offer other than its beautiful scenery and view. From the pictures, there were no water streams, banks, tables, playgrounds, or shelters. It was more of open land with concrete walking and jogging tracks and a lake. I do wish it would hold more trees all around, for there were barely any. Aside from its mini-con, it has a mini pro, and that is, it is home to many invasive iguanas.

TRANSPORTATION

There are many exceptional attributes in Kendall, some including traffic, for there are no arenas, mega-clubs, or performing arts auditoria jamming up traffic because there is none in Kendall. If one was to be held in bumper traffic on Kendall Drive, for example, then rest assured there is an accident ahead. There seems to be more of a mini traffic when it comes to entering Kendall and then leaving Kendall.

Kendall holds many possibilities when it comes to traveling to and from; for starters, the number of people in which reside in Kendall takes public transportation, like a bus. Other available transports are carpool, Uber, Lyft, bicycles, and horses (trust me, I’ve seen it all). The results of the many possibilities of getting to a place and from leads for there to be less traffic and hassle of “not” being able to get somewhere when there are endless solutions for it.

FOOD

Finka Table and Tap serves a mix of Cuban, Korean, and Peruvian fusion. The hosting staff is very responsive upon requesting a table, and the waiting staff is alert as well. The design all around the place overall has an individual touch, which holds a charming aesthetic. Now down to the food, the pork belly is flawlessly prepared, the grilled octopus is tender, and the fried snapper is a must-try if anything. Their drinks are handcrafted, and they squeeze all of their juices fresh daily. My overall choice of drink is called “baby hit me one more time,” let’s say their drinks are named after song lyrics.

The place, in general, is warm, has a pure vibe, and it is not a pompous place.

Tacos and Tattoos is a family-owned establishment that emphasizes tacos, burritos, and draft microbrews in an artsy, eccentric center. It sits in the core of West Kendall; I’ve noticed it is a community favorite when I once came in and dined. The place is relaxing, stress-free, and very friendly. Their services are sensational, and the food is very tasty. If I had to suggest one of their delicious tacos, it would be the buffalo style one. The authentic flavors and unique pairings make this site amazing.

Dr. Limon Ceviche Bar is a couple of blocks down from Florida International University. It is a Peruvian restaurant starring a wide ceviche menu and cocktails. Everything in which my family and I ordered, from the drinks to the last dish, was very well prepared. My go-to when it comes to the bowl is Lomo Saltado and Risotto; the flavorings fall together in such a right way. Their plates are massive, which means one might have leftovers, but that’s the best part because one can eat it again when they are hungry. The environment is welcoming, the appetizers are mouthwatering, or should I say everything is. This place is worth the hype.

BUISNESS

Le Luxe Beauty Bar has become one of the first beauty bars to open up with multipurpose. It was once started as an eyelash extension salon, however as years passed and their recognition grew, so did the business. From being just an eyelash extension salon, it later became a hair salon, dental salon, body beauty salon, and currently this year as a nail salon as well. All these different extensions of beauty all came together as one in this beauty salon. It first started as nothing to later grow into something grand. Ladies and Gentlemen, if you wish to get pampered, then this is the place for you. It is not only affordable; it is also an enjoyable, friendly environment. It even smells perfect once you enter, never wanting to leave.

Hoa Oriental Gift Shop is one of the most significant Feng Shui stores in Miami. Everything is stainless, organized, and workers are very wise, fitting one’s beneficial security for flying stars. There is a superb assortment of choices to choose from. The shop is jammed to walk through, but it feels as if it doesn’t take away from the pleasure of goods as long as one is alert. The place overall is peaceful and very homey when it comes to the beautiful statues. The costs are a tad higher, but from what I gathered, it is worth it if you believe in the meaning behind their products.

Lighthouse Garden Center is family-owned. It contains an extensive collection of wildflowers, plants, trees, shade, interior plants, and porcelain. Upon entering, one can say it is a remarkable plantation. The owner Ketlyne is a very delightful human being. She has a beautiful assortment of blooming plants through which one can roam either solo or with someone to assist. The customer assistance was excellent; she was so sweet and gentle with me once when I needed help choosing a plant. The prices are also one of the pros, for they are great considering their worth. From what I learned, being there is that the plants are disease resistant, and they flourish very well if taken care of. 

SUMMARY

Overall, the suburb has an amicable and peaceful environment. The only cons in which I can think of is that there are very few things to do as a young adult. Most of the things one can do around Kendall are shaped around the lives of Adults to Seniors, which is probably why fewer young folks are residing in the area. As for the pros, I would mostly say nonexistent traffic. From living in Coral Gables, having to wake up two to three hours early to get to one place to another was horrible; while living in Kendall, I can say it has released some stress from not just me but my parents as well. 

WORK CITED

“Kendall, FL.” Data USA, datausa.io/profile/geo/kendall-fl.

Areavibes. “Kendall, FL Demographics.” Kendall, FL Population & Demographics, www.areavibes.com/kendall-fl/demographics/.

“Where Is Kendall, FL?” WorldAtlas, 2 Oct. 2015, http://www.worldatlas.com/na/us/fl/where-is-kendall.html.

Deering Estate Walking Tour – John William Bailly. johnwbailly.com/lectures/deering-estate-walking-tour/.

In The Beginning The Birth of Kendall – Part 1 – Pinecrest … http://www.pinecrestdental.com/index.php/kendall-part-1/.

Biography:

Ashley Diaz was born in Miami, Florida, to Hispanic parents on October 9, 1999. She lived in Miami Gardens, Wynwood, and then Hialeah. She used to be a competitive swimmer and later became a lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor, where she teaches kids as well as adults how to swim. Ashley is currently attending Florida International University and studying computer engineering, hoping to get a Masters in Business Administration after her four years are completed. She is prone to being active and loves to explore the city that she lives so close to. With so much to discover she decided to take the Miami in Miami class offered in the Honors College at FIU, taught by professor John William Bailly.

Geography:

Wynwood is a small portion of South Florida that is populated with street art and buildings that are on the rise to serve a residential purpose. Surrounding Wynwood is the I-95 North and East, 20th street is on the southern border and the Florida East Coast Railway on its western border. It is only a ten-minute drive from Miami Beach, one of Florida’s main attractions.

History:

Wynwood has a growing reputation for being a prominent player in the world of showcasing diverse arts. However, this was not always the case, and it was quite different from how people see Wynwood today. In 1917 two men named Josiah Chaille and Hugh Anderson bought a plot of farmland that was part of the Pulaski Estate. Chaille, thought of as one of the founders of Wynwood, was on the Miami City Council, and in 1920 they enacted a plan proposed by him to use a new street name and numbering system. As for Anderson, another founder of Wynwood, he became extremely wealthy during a successful high for Miami in the 1920s. Two months after the men took out the first plat in Wynwood in 1917, the City of Miami built a park in the northern part of the area, which was called Wynwood Park. However, as the years went by, the locals ended up just called it Wynwood. This park is now known as Roberto Clemente Park, and can still be visited today.

In the late 1920s, the area of Wynwood had become home to a Coca Cola bottling plant, an Orange Juice bottling plant as well as an American Bakeries Company plant. The presence of these factories created many jobs and supported the citizens of Wynwood to join the working class. In the 1960s, there were a large number of Cuban immigrants that worked in the booming industry of garment. The southern portion of Wynwood or the Miami Fashion District was one of the largest garment districts in the country, according to an article in the Miami News in the 1980s. After the manufacturers left the Wynwood area and the ownership of many companies was changed, there was a massive influx of immigrants of different ethnicities. The shift included but was not limited to Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans, Haitians, and Colombians immigrants. By this time, the neighborhood was considered a lower-middle-class, and its unemployment rate was 55%. It had a dramatic increase in drug trafficking during this time as well.

The owners of the American Bakeries Company plant mentioned previously had moved out of the area around the 1980s, leaving their building without a tenant. A group from the South Florida Art Center bought the building. It became one of the most significant working artist’s space in Florida, known as the Bakehouse Art Complex. This perhaps was the beginning of the gentrification of Wynwood. In the early 2000s, a man named Tony Goldman and some of his children began purchasing warehouses. Goldman had his sights set to open up a gallery called the Wynwood Walls, and in late 2009 early 2010, that is precisely what happened.

Demographics:

The demographics of Wynwood have changed so much since it started to develop. According to the areavibes website, the population of Wynwood is approximately 17,923. With 70% of the population being white, just under 20% is black or African American, and Asians and a mix of other races make up the remaining percentage of the population. The average age of people who live there is 35 years old. The median household income distribution of the people in Wynwood is 53,417 dollars.

Interview with a Former Resident:

Karen Ayuso is a former resident of Wynwood, and she lived there over 20 years ago. I spoke to her in order to gain some information and first-hand experience from someone who lived there before. She prefers not to share a picture of herself.

How long ago did you live in Wynwood?
I lived there from 1984 through 1999.

How was it like living there at that time?
There was much violence, and it was a poor neighborhood. Mom and pop shops everywhere, and we always walked to school. I went to Booker T. Washington at the time it was a junior high.

How would you describe the change in Wynwood?
It was drastic, and we had decided not to live there in the future, even though it was changing. I did not think that it would change that much from how I knew it.

How would you describe the drug problem during the time you lived in Wynwood?
Oooof. There was a drug dealer in my house, and across the street, they were my neighbors, this included my family. Most of the drug dealers were connected to Griselda Blanco, and she was the provider for all of the drugs.

How has growing up there affected you as an adult?
It was either you lived or you died. Back then, I just wanted to get out of there as soon as I could. The violence problem has gotten better now, but it has affected me growing up in that neighborhood.

How is it like visiting Wynwood now?
There is a lot of history there, and a significant change for sure. But you couldn’t pay me enough to move there. It is just not my cup of tea, and I lived there in the past when it was not exactly at its prime.

Landmarks:

There are quite a few distinctive places that put Wynwood on the map, one of them being the “Wynwood building.” The building is located in the heart of Wynwood and holds information that people often look for when planning their next night out. Although it is often more productive to visit their website for the latest news and events happening in Wynwood, it is still a beautiful work of art. Rafael De Cardenas created the Wynwood Building’s artwork making it a unique building in the presence of other buildings that surround it.

In the early 2000s, there was a large purchase made in the warehouse district in Wynwood by Tony Goldman and his children. They were going to be used to grow the art industry within the neighborhood. However, in late 2009 early 2010, Tony Goldman dreamed of the “The Wynwood Walls,” and it was created during this time as well. It is an outdoor gallery that showcases multiple artists and their work and presents them in a new way. It became a populated place and a landmark to be assured. The Wynwood Walls have had lots of spotlight in the art industry. 

Green:

Although Wynwood lacks green spaces, there is one park that has lots of history to it and is enjoyed by the local population. Back in 1917, two men bought the land that later became Wynwood Josiah Chaille and Hugh Anderson. The City of Miami created the park, which was called Wynwood Park. Later, when the Puerto Rican population in Wynwood increased, the park was renamed to honor the Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente. The locals renamed the park two years after the player died in a plane crash in 1972. Amenities to the park include summer camps, after school programs, baseball, basketball, chess table, computers, and a playground. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 9 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from sunrise to sunset.

Transportation:

The flatness of Wynwood, as well as its climate, makes it the right candidate for biking. The neighborhood of Wynwood is home to a specific biking tour that has become very popular. Whether you have never been to Wynwood or you have been there many times, the biking tour has become increasingly popular. There is a Bar Crawl and Brewery Tour that has become a new way for people to explore and get around Wynwood.

There is a trolley that runs through Wynwood for free and is accessible to all, and services run from 8 am to 7 pm from weekdays to Saturday. Every 30 to 60 minutes, the trolley will come. It is important to note that the trolley does not go to Miami Beach. In addition to this, on the move it website, one can see the potential routes through bus from places around South Florida to or near Wynwood. Some of these routes require that one walks to Wynwood after arriving at their destination.

Food:

In a small corner among all of the residential buildings that are newly forming, one will see a place called Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop. It is known for its excellent and cheap eats. This restaurant, known for its authentic Cuban cuisine, is most famous for its “pan con bistec” sandwich. It is also known by Food Network to have the best cafecito, which is a type of Cuban coffee. The restaurant is not located near the art attractions of the neighborhood; however, it is a great place to stop by for some exceptional Cuban food and at a great value.

Serving as Miami’s first craft production brewery, the Wynwood Brewery was founded by Luis Brignoni and his father, Luis Brignoni Sr., who are both of Puerto Rican heritage. For the individuals who can and want to go for a drink and have a good time, the Wynwood Brewery Company may be a pleasant stop. There are quite a few notable beers to try, and the brewery has days where one could play games in teams making the experience unique and very memorable. Some of their popular beers include “La Rubia” which translates from Spanish to English as the blonde one. Other beers that they have that are a local favorite include Father Fransisco, Laces, and Caribbean Sour.

Coyo Taco has a handful of locations in Florida, and the rest reside in other countries. According to its website, the tortillas are made by hand on-site, and the guacamole “smashed to order.” Being located so close to all of Wynwood’s art attractions, it has become a must-go for fresh Mexican street food. According to the Conde Nast Traveler, it is most known for its dunken carnitas, as well as its quinoa tacos that is a vegetarian dish.

Business:

The businesses in Wynwood seem to be endless, with the Design District bringing in dozens of high-end stores, and it also includes restaurants and some museums. The Wynwood Walls surrounds the Design District, and it has a vast number of appeals. Some stores that are in the design district include Bvlgari, Louis Vuitton, Jaeger le Coultre, and Hermes, to name a few. Along with the stores that one can see, there are also splashes of art around the area. One establishment is the De La Cruz Collection, and this gallery is not advertised. Instead, one will most likely read about it online to know of its whereabouts or just hear from word of mouth. The owners are Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz. Originally from Cuba, they decided to formulate this three-story 30,000 square foot gallery of contemporary art.

There is a shop that showcases vintage car models, and its collection changes as does the prices. Anyone looking into just browsing will find themselves in awe by the aesthetic designs of these more antique cars. Walt Grace Vintage located in the art district of Miami, and apart from cars, they also have vintage guitars on display. Bill Goldstein is the founder of Walt Grace Vintage and thought that vintage cars and guitars deserved an art gallery of its own. Goldstein also thought that it should be on the same level of importance as any other works of art.

Summary:

Overall, Wynwood has tremendously improved its appearance through the works of art and booming businesses that reside there. Locals have come from all walks of life, and its people make up the busy and well-deserved nightlife. There is an unimaginable amount of activities and events that take place in Wynwood, and it seems as though the attention will not veer. Whether an individual has a desire to view South Florida’s mixed culture in the form of art or spend a night out with friends to explore, Wynwood is an exceptional choice.

Wynwood’s history has been all about the continual development, and even recovery from a downfall. Making this neighborhood one visit for a unique experience. Conveniently placed in the urban part of South Florida, near man other attractions, it is a hotspot for many and rightly so. The cuisine is not limited to any specific culture and or lifestyle. There is something for everyone, and there is a wide range of tasty good eats. Wynwood has made itself a place for creators of all kinds to demonstrate their works of art. Its businesses have given life to its vast crowds of people looking for an unusual experience.

Works Cited:

Areavibes. “Wynwood, Miami, FL Demographics.” Wynwood, FL Population & Demographics, http://www.areavibes.com/miami-fl/wynwood/demographics/.

Coyo, coyo-taco.com/.

“De La Cruz Collection: Miami, USA Attractions.” Lonely Planet, 29 Mar. 2020, http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/miami/attractions/de-la-cruz-collection/a/poi-sig/1564431/361916.

“Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop.” Food Network, http://www.foodnetwork.com/restaurants/fl/miami/enriquetas-sandwich-shop-restaurant.

“How to Get to Wynwood in Miami by Bus, Subway or Train.” Moovit, moovitapp.com/index/en/public_transit-Wynwood-Miami_FL-site_15356949-742.

Liss, Sara. “Coyo Taco, Miami, Florida, United States – Restaurant Review.” Condé Nast Traveler, http://www.cntraveler.com/restaurants/miami/coyo-taco.

“Miami’s First Craft Production Brewery.” Wynwood Brewing Company, wynwoodbrewing.com/.

Piket, Casey. “History of Wynwood Miami.” Miami History Home, 27 Aug. 2014, miami-history.com/history-of-wynwood-miami/.

Public Transportation Web Tracker, publictransportation.tsomobile.com/webtracker/webtracker.htm?labels=false&tkn=81E39EC9-D773-447E-BE29-D7F30AB177BC&lan=en.

“Roberto Clemente Park.” Miami, http://www.miamigov.com/Residents/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Directory/Roberto-Clemente-Park.

“Social Tours.” Cycle Party Miami, miami.cycleparty.com/social-tours/.

“Urban Graffiti Art Miami.” Wynwood Walls, thewynwoodwalls.com/.

“Walt Grace Vintage: About Us.” Walt, http://www.waltgracevintage.com/about-us.

“Wynwood & the Design District Travel.” Lonely Planet, 31 July 2019, http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/florida/miami/wynwood-the-design-district.

“Wynwood & the Design District Travel.” Lonely Planet, 31 July 2019, http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/florida/miami/wynwood-the-design-district.

“Wynwood Building.” Wynwood Business Improvement District — Miami, Florida, wynwoodmiami.com/street_art/wynwood-building/.

“Wynwood: Miami, Florida.” American Planning Association, http://www.planning.org/greatplaces/neighborhoods/2015/wynwood.htm.

Student Bio:

I study photography and digital media at Florida International University, where I am a member of the Honors College, the class of 2022, and Professor John Bailly’s Spring 2020 Art, War, & Human Rights class. I did not grow up in Florida and have only lived in Miami since I started at FIU, but have since fallen in love with its vibrancy, diversity, and unique effervescence. I have become involved in a photography project centering around gentrification in Little Haiti, and I have gained a newfound respect and reverence for the city. Through this project I hope to further explore Miami and familiarize myself with its ins and outs, and in the process continue to foster my admiration for its history, culture, and communities.

Geography:

Something that sets Little Haiti apart is its unique geographic and topographic situating. The neighborhood covers three and a half square miles in the northeastern part of the city, bordered to the south by NE 54^th Street, to the west by Interstate 95, to the north by the Miami city limit on NE 80^th Street, and to the east by NE Second Avenue. These borders are the product of redlining, and it would be disingenuous to sugarcoat it. When government surveyors began delineating between neighborhoods in the 1930’s, low-lying areas along the coast that were predominantly white and affluent were marked as having the highest value, while high-elevation inland areas with predominantly black communities were labeled as hazardous, declining, and low-value. This subjugation has caused a suppression of wealth in the area that has impacted its residents for decades. Due to climate change and the threat of rising sea levels, however, the tables have turned. Little Haiti has an average elevation of 7 feet above sea level, higher than nearly any other part of the city. This fact that was once used to disparage the area now makes it valuable to developers, as it is less likely to flood and will be less susceptible to sea level rise in the future. However, it is not the residents, who are predominantly low-income people of color, who will be benefitting from this apperception. Instead, they face a new threat that will inevitably subjugate them even further: climate gentrification. Developers like the Magic City group have already begun to tighten their grip on the area, resulting in higher rents, changing cultural landscapes, and increasing displacement. The community suffers while investors line their pockets. Climate change only portends to exacerbate these issues as, according to a theory posited by Harvard researcher Jesse Keenan, gentrification will accelerate in high-elevation communities as problems such as flooding become more pressing, especially in low-lying coastal cities like Miami. This demonstrates how crucial geography is in determining the future of an area and the people who live there. In a cruel twist of fate, when the same features used to disparage the area in the past suddenly became recognized for their value, rather than being delivered from their suffering the community has to face it in a daunting new form. Such is the black experience in America.

History:

The area now known as Little Haiti has a deep history as a stronghold for South Florida’s black population dating back far before the incorporation of the City of Miami. After the Civil War, a number of Bahamian migrants and displaced former slaves settled on unclaimed land north of the Miami River and west of Biscayne Bay. They eventually applied for homestead grants, securing acres of farmland, and by 1889 had formed a community named “Motto” that boasted little more than a school, a post office, and a cemetery. While harsh winters in the late 1880’s devastated most of Florida’s crops, the groves of citrus trees along the Miami River thrived. The name Lemon City became official in 1893 and the community swelled to 350 people, at the time one of the largest in South Florida. When the Florida East Coast Railway extended to Miami in 1896, however, the booming municipality quickly overshadowed the modest agricultural settlement. Although it continued to grow, adding paved roads, manufacturing facilities, and a high school, the rapid growth of the City of Miami and discriminatory zoning policies made Lemon City an afterthought by the 1920’s, and it has remained one of the poorest communities in the area. The 1980’s breathed new life into the area, however. When thousands of Haitian refugees fleeing the brutal Duvalier regime began to land in Miami, Lemon City was one of the few placed they could afford. They bought houses, started businesses, and transformed it into a vibrant Caribbean community. Tens of thousands of Haitians came to call the area home, and it became a bastion of hope for the waves of refugees that Miami would take in throughout the decade. The Miami Herald coined the name Little Haiti, and in 2016, when the Miami City Council voted to incorporate the neighborhood, the moniker became official, and the impact the community has had on the city was eternalized. Little Haiti exemplifies how, through perseverance, resourcefulness, and fervent optimism in the face of immense strife, marginalized peoples, especially immigrants, have molded Miami into what it is today. Communities like Little Haiti are the lifeblood of this city, and it is impossible to picture this place that we so deeply cherish without the yearnings that those early pioneers sowed into the soil of the lemon groves so many years ago.

Demographics:

Little Haiti is, as previously mentioned and as the name would suggest, an historically Afro-Caribbean community and remains that way to this day. The most current data pins the population of around 31,000 at about 75% black, with Hispanics making up about 20% and whites and other races accounting for the final 5%. As recent years have seen Little Haiti and other poor communities of color cornered by gentrification in surrounding areas such as Wynwood, the area has become increasingly black and Hispanic, arriving at its current makeup from a population that was 65% black and 15% Hispanic two decades ago. Little Haiti is also one of the poorest parts of Miami. The median household income for the area is about $24,800, significantly below that of the City of Miami ($31,600) and Miami-Dade County ($52,205). This is mirrored by high rates of unemployment, limited access to education, homelessness, dependency on programs such as food stamps, and a high percentage of single-family homes. Under increasing economic pressure, many Little Haiti residents are struggling to get by. Through the photography project I mentioned in my biography I have worked closely with organizations such as the Family Action Network Movement and have spoken to numerous residents about their material conditions. They stare hunger and eviction in the face on a daily basis, living in constant fear under the heel of the powerful. The woman below, for instance, is Rosa. She had part of her trailer demolished by Soar Trailer Park and currently faces eviction unless she comes up with the money to pay exorbitant and erroneous fees, concocted by management on grounds that are shaky at best. This is the harsh reality of living in Little Haiti, and much of Miami; people are quite literally fighting for their lives.

Landmarks:

Little Haiti is full of colorfully painted, vivaciously decorated buildings that serve important purposes in the community. One of the most immediately recognizable of these is the Little Haiti Cultural Complex. A brightly colored building in a modern but distinctly Caribbean style covering an entire city block between NE 2^nd and NE 3^rd Avenues, the Little Haiti Cultural Complex is a keystone of the neighborhood that provides a plethora of outlets for creative and economic growth. It features local artists in its gallery, hosts events in its theaters and community centers, holds dance, yoga, and art classes for all ages as well as summer camps and after school programs, and supports Haitian traditions and local business in its 9000 square foot Caribbean Marketplace. The complex plays an increasingly integral role in the neighborhood and has helped keep the community, and the culture that it holds so dear, alive and well. The Cathedral of Saint Mary is another instantly recognizable building in Little Haiti. Standing at an imposing height and drawing from Byzantine and Mediterranean Revivalist architectural schools to stunning effect, the cavernous church has been central to the community for decades. Not only does it provide regular services, it runs a PreK-8 school and serves as the seat of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami. Finally, Little Haiti boasts the Villa Paula, a Neo-Classical mansion on Miami Avenue that formerly served as Miami’s Cuban consulate. It stands out, however, not for its sauntering bougainvillea bushes and gleaming white stucco walls, but for the simple fact that it is haunted by the restless spirit of the proprietor’s wife. This fun ghost story adds dimension and intrigue to what is already a building of historical importance, making it a memorable landmark in the area. What makes Little Haiti so special, however, has never been immense landmarks that command attention and stick out in a guidebook. The true appeal of the community is not so obvious or tangible. It is found in the smell of chicken curry, the sound of chattering voices in a packed salon, the overflowing botanicas and the crowded street corners. It is a feeling not tied to any single structure, but to a culture and a community with a vibrant presence and a distinct identity.

Green:

Little Haiti does not have an abundance of green space. Most of the nearby parks, such as Legion Park and Morningside Park, lay a few blocks outside of the neighborhood’s borders, but their playgrounds, farmers markets, and waterfronts are still within reach of residents. In Little Haiti itself, the minute Lemon City Park and the quiet Little Haiti Soccer Park are about all the green space there is to speak of. This is an issue all too common in poor minority communities. Due to, among other issues, discriminatory zoning policies, these neighborhoods lack the open areas that play such a crucial role in a healthy lifestyle. It is an unfortunate fact rooted in economic disparity, and it is yet another challenge that confronts residents of such areas.

Transportation:

Since it is a relatively small neighborhood and the rail system is quite limited, Little Haiti is not directly serviced by the Metrorail. The nearest stations are Allapattah, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, Brownsville, and Earlington Heights, but each are a few miles from the neighborhood. The best way to access Little Haiti is by the Metrobus and, other than an absurd September 2018 fiasco in which a bus crashed into a clothing store on the corner of NW 54^th Street and remained lodged there for upwards of four days, it has diligently served the community and its transportation requirements. Routes 2, 9, 10, 62, and 95 all stop within the bounds of Little Haiti, and route 202, the Little Haiti Connection, centers around the neighborhood. It is also more than possible to drive around Little Haiti. There is an abundance of public parking, both in lots and on the street, and wide avenues such as NW 2^nd run right through. Once in the area, however, the best way to get around is by walking. Since it covers only a few square miles, it is easy enough to traverse Little Haiti on foot. This allows you to take in the vibrant neighborhood, and all of its unique sights, sounds, and smells. I found most of the delightful eateries and eccentric little shops that I love in Little Haiti by wandering in off the street.

Food:

The food is, for many, paramount to the allure of Little Haiti. There is no shortage of spots serving authentic Caribbean food, always heartfelt and affordable. A personal favorite is B&M Market, a Jamaican restaurant/grocery on NE 79^th Street. Run by a sweet elderly couple, B&M serves heaping plates of familiar recipes like roti and chicken curry and keeps a deep stock of Caribbean snacks and staples. I wandered in one day and fell in love with it, and after a few visits learned that the beloved chef Anthony Bourdain had, in 2017, done the same (an anecdote accounted for by the quality of the food and confirmed by the shop’s Facebook profile). Another Little Haiti essential is Chef Creole. The renowned eatery serves an array of Caribbean dishes, from oxtail curry to fried conch, in an open-air space under a charming thatched roof. It is perhaps the most popular restaurant in the area. Little Haiti is full of restaurants like these, hole-in-the-wall establishments with incredible food and a homely atmosphere. They are the glue that holds the neighborhood together, their smells, flavors, and milieu keeping the spirit of the islands alive even as they lie so many miles away.

Business:

Little Haiti has a rich tradition of community-centric small business. From the restaurants and botanicas to the barbershops and boutiques, the majority of storefronts you see are locally owned and operated, giving the neighborhood a unique and tight-knit feel. Recently, however, the invasion of billion-dollar developers has priced out, undercut, and shot down countless local businesses. This has drastically altered the socioeconomic landscape of the neighborhood, as shops that have been local stalwarts for decades can no longer even afford rent. With each local business that falls, the spark that gives Little Haiti its vibrant authenticity dims further. Organizations like the aforementioned Little Haiti Cultural Complex are making a concerted effort to foster local business and maintain community control in the commercial sector, but the battle against the power of capital is, to say the least, fought uphill.

Summary:

Little Haiti is one of the most vibrant yet deeply distressed communities in Miami. Its rich history and lively atmosphere, manifested on vital street corners by colorful shops, delicious food, and neighborly people, gives the area an alluring quality. However, deep-rooted racial and economic discrepancies have interred Little Haiti in an existential malaise that continues to threaten the neighborhood and its residents and only looks to worsen in the face of gentrification and climate change. The city would feel empty without Little Haiti’s presence, and I believe that we should do everything in our power to protect it.

Works Cited:

About Us. littlehaiticulturalcenter.com/about-us-2/. 2018.

Barber, Timothy A. All About Miami’s Little Haiti and Lemon City. 2020, http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/things-to-do/history-and-heritage/lemon-city-and-little-haiti.

Green, Nadege. As Seas Rise, Miami’s Black Communities Fear Displacement From The High Ground. 4 Nov. 2019, http://www.wlrn.org/post/seas-rise-miami-s-black-communities-fear-displacement-high-ground#stream/0.

Jagannath, Meena, and Marleine Bastien. Little Haiti Residents Should Reap the Benefits of Proposed Magic City Development. 14 Nov. 2018, http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article221686760.html.

Little Haiti Community Needs Assessment 2015. 2016, http://www.thechildrenstrust.org/sites/default/files/kcfinder/files/providers/analytics/reports/Little_Haiti_Miami-Dade_County-May2015.pdf.

Miami. 20 Sep. 2014, localwiki.org/miami/Metrobus.

Minta, Molly. Miami’s Haunted Former Cuban Consulate for Sale for $4.5 Million. 21 Oct. 2019, http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/villa-paula-haunted-mansion-in-little-haiti-goes-on-sale-for-45-million-10382945.

Nebhrajani, Roshan. The Many Names of Lemon City. 20 Jan. 2016, thenewtropic.com/name-lemon-city/.

Viglucci, Andres. Little Haiti Is up for Grabs. Will Gentrification Trample Its People and Culture? 29 Sept. 2019, http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article232134932.html.

STUDENT BIO

My name is Diana Cristancho and I am a sophomore at Florida International University. I’m majoring in Recreational Therapy in the hopes of becoming an Occupational Therapist. I’ve lived my entire life in Miami which has allowed me to volunteer in a variety of locations and accomplish one of the most important roles a person can have; service.

WHO

Miami Animal Rescue is a non-profit organization that rescues animals from shelters, toxic households, the streets and any other environment that’s unsafe. The rescue is foster-based, meaning that there is no specific location that holds all the animals. Each animal is taken care of by a foster family until they get adopted. All the animals are well taken care of and treated for any injuries or diseases they may have. Rescuing from everywhere around Miami brings in a wide variety of animals with many different problems. Some animals that we rescue include dogs, cats, hamsters, snakes, bearded dragons, gerbils, possums, raccoons, guinea pigs, deer, etc. The most common animals are dogs and cats but we try to take in any animals we come in contact with especially since we partner up with other rehabilitation centers that can take in wild animals. Speaking of partnerships, the rescue works with the PetSmart on 88th street and 137th avenue. Every other Saturday, the rescue has adoption events where potential adopters can come see the animals and/or foster one of the animals available. By doing these adoption events, the rescue gets many donations from the store that include, food, toys, beds, bowls, leashes, collars and more. Every year the rescue saves more animals making it necessary to have a constant supply of materials. The rescue also partners with West Kendall Animal Hospital, who donate or bring down the prices of medical supplies due to the increase in customers we provide them. Every adopter that adopts from us gets a waiver for their first vet visit. This is extremely beneficial because many of the dogs rescued have health conditions that require immediate attention. The owner, Meg Sahdala, does everything possible to rescue any animal encountered even if the limited amount of supplies doesn’t permit it. No matter the hard situation the rescue may face Meg stays true to her mission.

WHY

I have been volunteering for Miami Animal Rescue for almost five years now. Due to the Corona Virus, I was unable to branch out to an art institution to volunteer for, as a result, I chose an organization that I trust and have seen grow over the past few years. They stay true to their mission of rescuing all the animals they can and placing them in their perfect homes. Although my major doesn’t directly connect with animals, I have always loved them and I am interested in animal-assisted therapies. Volunteering in a rescue I have learned not only about animals physically and how they should be cared for, but I have also learned how to understand them mentally.

HOW

I connected with this opportunity in my sophomore year of high school. My best friend Laura started off by fostering multiple dogs for the rescue and she began to volunteer at the adoption events. Laura brought me to an event which led me to start volunteering at the events and as a foster. Ever since then, I have volunteered with the rescue and now it is a consistent activity that I participate in.

WHERE & WHAT

My job at the rescue, especially after volunteering there for such a long time, involves a variety of different tasks. Every day my work changes. One day may be calmer than the other. Most days I’m in the office doing paperwork such as filing adoption papers, emailing adopters, creating community service hour letters, filling out forms for neuter/spay surgeries and more. While I do work in the office, I would also have adopters and fosters coming in and out to pick up medication and to receive their vaccinations. On other days I may go on rescue missions, pick up animals from the shelter, transport animals to and from surgeries, and participating in different adoption and advertising events for the rescue. Some examples include:

On January 14, 2020, the rescue got a large supply of dog and cat food from a brand names NULO. Their products are high end and very natural. They provided us with a truck full of soft and hard food. The owner, Meg, and I transported all the food from her house to her storage unit. It took us about two hours to finish packing everything up and afterward we went back to her house/office to complete paperwork.

On January 19, 2020, Meg, her husband, another volunteer, and I went on a rescue mission. We had been called about an abandoned dog in Florida City. The dog was female and supposedly had puppies but we found her chained up to a tree in a small forest all alone. Before approaching her, we went searching for the puppies and we placed plates of food in different areas around the forest. We assumed that someone had found the puppies and sold them, especially since its an area heavily populated by homeless people. After searching for the puppies, we tried approaching the dog but she came off as scared and a bit aggressive so we kept our distance. In this situation, we called the Police and animal services for assistance. Due to formalities, I am not able to disclose any more information on what happened that day. 

On January 25, 2020, there was an adoption event at PetSmart. At the event, I helped clean out and organize the storage room and I entertained the dogs and cats in their pens. I also set up new fosters for the animals who didn’t have any and finalize any adoptions that were happening at the store. The process for adoption is quite tedious but it is all for the security of our animals. We do background checks and review the application and contract that they fill out which asks about the information on where they live, work, and who they live with. Knowing this information is important because if a potential adopter lives in an apartment and wants to adopt a large breed dog, we usually don’t allow them to adopt. We want to make sure that each animal has the right amount of space to live in. This is also why we do pop in visits on adopters after a few months. 

On February 3, 2020, I transported a puppy to the vet to get her surgery done. Although I do not have a picture of the surgery from this day, the picture above shows a dog that I fostered for about three months. Her name was Malory and she had her esophagus wrapped around her aorta preventing her from eating any solid food. Every day I had to blend up her food and feed it to her as a puree. For her surgery, we went to a mobile veterinary hospital meaning that the surgery would take place in an RV that was transformed into a hospital (the inside is shown in the picture above). she had a 10 percent chance of surviving due to the procedure. Throughout the entire surgery, the vet had to have an assistant that would manually inflate and deflate her lungs. Her surgery took about three hours long and she was hospitalized for three days. She made a full recovery afterward and got adopted by a loving family who had adopted from us before. Now she lives in a ranch with her two new siblings. 

On February 12, 2020, I spent most of the day doing paperwork in the office but one of the most interesting things that happened was that we rescued a Chameleon. He was very malnourished and skinny so we tried feeding him water, vitamins, and worms. 

On February 17, 2020, we got a call from an Uber driver who was dropping off a rider at Miami International Airport. He reported that when he was leaving, he saw a small black kitten on the side of the road. He picked it up and brought him to us. He had an eye infection on both eyes due to the nose infection he also had. On top of that, he had mites in his ears and all over his body. When he was brought to us, we first bathed him, wrapped him up in a towel, cleaned his eyes off the pus and fed him milk. He made a full recovery with the help of medication after a couple of weeks. Due to his story, we ended up naming him Uber. 

Another experience I had with the rescue, that brought a low of recognition to Miami Animal Rescue was February 16, 2019, where we attended the Model Beach Volleyball Competition in Miami Beach. We brought multiple dogs to the event and we had many different companies and models take pictures with our dogs. Another amazing experience was May 4, 2019, when we rescued a fawn (baby deer) that was tied up to a pole in Florida City. We cut him from the rope and took him to Possum Posse, a wildlife rehabilitation center.

WHEN

SUMMARY

After working with the rescue I have gained a lot of experiences that not many people have. I am extremely grateful that I have been able to do my part in helping animals who are in need. One of the biggest roles I have in the rescue is caring for animals who we can’t give out to other fosters due to illness, temperament, or the fact that they are too small and need to be bottle-fed for a certain amount of time. Having these animals in my home can be difficult, but knowing that I help in their recovery and finding a forever home makes all of it worth it. I’ve also learned how to measure certain medications, administer vaccinations, formulate certain paperwork, send emails, manage difficult situations, make phone calls and communicate with people like lawyers and different veterinary hospitals. When adopters or fosters try to cause problems because they don’t get their way I have learned what to say and what not to say. I’ve had to face hard circumstances like having to pick out hundreds of ticks from the ears of multiple puppies to having premature puppies die in my arms. Working for the rescue is difficult and can be heartbreaking but it has taught me about responsibility, how to be confident, and that the most important thing a person can do is giving back to others. 

ARTIST QUOTE

“A lot of my work has this feeling of displacement. I put things where they completely make sense but they’re not there. Some of my work is almost obvious but ridiculously enough no one has done it before which is the surprising part. I’m no genius, I’m just using common sense.

STUDENT BIO

My name is Diana Cristancho and I am a sophomore at Florida International University. I’m majoring in Recreational Therapy in the hopes of becoming an Occupational Therapist. I was born and raised in Miami, which has allowed me to experience the different parts of the city. Even though I have lived here all my life, there are a variety of places I haven’t visited. Due to this course, I have been able to visit and learn about a large part of the city and its history, as well as its connection to the art community.

BIOGRAPHY

Agustina Woodgate was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1981. She attended the National University of Visual Arts and studied visual arts and communication instead of fine arts since there isn’t a fine arts major in her country. It was a different kind of program that was focused on theories. After she finished her bachelor’s in 2004, she moved to Miami with her partner at the time. It was a spontaneous decision where she expected to stay in Miami for 1 to 2 years and ended up staying for 15. The first ten years of her life in Miami consisted of her getting her practice and career established. In the last five years of her life, she spent her time mostly outside of Miami. Two years ago she moved to Amsterdam after being invited to pursue her masters in Sandberg Instituut. Woodgate experienced a new form of education in the institution which led her to state, “it is one of the most interesting and best schools in design in Europe and perhaps in the world.” The Instituut used radical pedagogy which she described as a “different kind of model of organization in terms of knowledge and the institution itself.” At Sandberg, she was part of the PUB, a publishing platform where she worked with other students to experiment with different modes of publishing. She has also been a part of other smaller knowledge-sharing platforms. For example, in 2015 Woodgate was able to work with RAD (Research Art and Dialog) by Gean Moreno, who works for the ICA in Miami. Woodgate stated, “this was a turning point for me. Not only by the people that I met but also by the perspective that it allowed me to discover.” Another informal source of knowledge she worked with is the radio station she has been running for the past 10 years.

PERSONAL IDENTITY

In Argentina, Woodgate had limited resources and made the most of everything she had. Now in her work, she is constantly recycling material and using objects that most people would consider trash and useless. For example, she stated, “my very early works were made from my hair that I found in my shower.” This encompasses a huge part in her work because not only is she being sustainable but the reuse of old items adds to the symbolism of her work. As a young girl, she would create comic books and engage in experiments with her brother as well as collect random objects. Her involvement in comic books and experiments can be seen as her creative and scientific qualities. She almost approaches her work like it’s a science experiment. She finds something that intrigues her, she researches it and then experiments with this new-found knowledge. She mentioned that she doesn’t usually have a set plan for her works. She tends to go wherever her research and mind takes her. 

In her childhood, she thoroughly enjoyed parks and playing in the streets. She translates this love of the outdoors in her works by exhibiting them in public spaces. Examples of these outdoor exhibits are “The Source” and “Hopscotch”. She stated, “I’m really into openness, not so much into artwork that is vernacular that you can’t access it.”Her “Stuffed Animal Toy Skins” are another example of how her childhood has affected her art. Her attachment to a teddy bear led to research on the connection between child development and stuffed animals. In the end, that research blossomed into the creation of her rugs.

CULTURAL IDENTITY

Although she was born and raised in Bueno Aires, she doesn’t focus her art on the culture of Argentina. However, her early childhood experience taught her to make the most of the resources she found around her. She said, “being Argentinian, you are resourceful. You don’t have a lot of stuff and in school, we only had one sink to clean our paintbrushes.” Even though she encompasses qualities of her life in Argentina, she feels her cultural identity isn’t from that culture alone but a variety of cultures derived by other people and the interactions between them. These interactions and interconnections between cultures are discovered through her radio station, RadioEE. It is an online, multilingual, and nomadic radio station that discusses the topic of movement and mobility. Being nomadic, they travel to different locations around the world and broadcast from different parts of the city. By constantly moving around the city and interacting with locals, Woodgate was able to experience their culture. Depending on each location, the conversation of movement and mobility would change. Being a multilingual radio requires adaptations to different languages as they broadcast in Portuguese, Turkish, Vietnamese, and Hmong. “We are lost in a world of radio,” said Agustina, but she still finds a way to turn her radio into a source that anyone can access. Through her radio, she fosters cultural relationships by introducing locals to their neighbors. That being said, she spreads cultures to the public through her projects and artwork as well. For example, in 2010, she participated in O, Miami Poetry Festival’s mission in making every citizen in Miami experience a poem. She had 50 character poems printed on clothing labels and visited thrift stores, illegally sewing the labels to the clothes. Poetry is a culture of its own and Woodgate took a huge part in involving others in the poetry community and its culture.

SUBJECT OF ARTWORK

Woodgate’s work taps into the knowledge and the relationships of people and their surroundings. She intends to fuel conversation about important subjects to the public. Her radio station is the means to achieve her objective. The broadcast promotes discussions on a variety of topics, but it also supplies her with new ideas and knowledge which in turn sparks her imagination and results in her unique creations. She explains, “I do a lot of research before I do a sculpture or anything, but a lot of it comes through the radio.” Her Radio focuses on the topic of movement and mobility around the world and engages in politics and policies. She pulls from this knowledge and does further research on each issue of conversation, making the radio an extension of her art, but also the center of her work. In “Stuffed Animal Toy Skins”, she researches and discovers the psychological meaning of Teddy bears and their influence on a child’s transition into adulthood, while also discussing human relationship to the animal world and the unnecessary need for humans purchasing different parts of animals. With her rugs, she takes the skins of stuffed animals and sews them together which looks identical to cow skins without actually killing an animal. Another piece that was greatly influenced by the radio was “National Times”. It is a set of 40 slave clocks run by a master clock. She didn’t know what a master clock was until one of her segments in Washington D.C. led her to visit the master clock in the U.S. Naval Observatory. There she discovered its role and its function. After that, she purchased 40 slave clocks and explored the clock’s network and how to program it.

An important part of her art includes the deconstruction of her research and the material she attains for her pieces. This is reflected in her radio project in the constant movement of materials and equipment needed to access the internet. She is breaking down all the rules of radio and is finding different ways of doing it. In every location, she has to consider transportation whether it is on a boat, in a car, or on a 16 person bicycle. The mobility of the radio itself is a challenge. She also experiences problems she can’t control such as traffic and being stopped by the police. All these aspects tear apart what a radio typically is and gives a new meaning to it. Another great example of how she includes deconstruction is through the way she separates the materials of maps. She used sandpaper to dust off the ink of world maps and used the dust to create other works. By deconstructing her art, she forces her viewers to see the world from a different perspective. In her point of view, “art is a tool for communication and a way to expose things from different angles” (“Artist Agustina Woodgate Considers Everything”, 2019, p. 6). In her radio, she speaks about topics like sea level rising while on a boat. She takes locals to Biscayne Bay, the Miami river, Turkey Point, and Stiltsville while discussing this topic that threatens the lives of Miami residents. 

Another important quality of her work is the displacement of it. “I put things where they completely make sense but they’re not there. Some of my work is almost obvious but ridiculously enough no one has done it before which is the surprising part. I’m no genius, I’m just using common sense.” She did this with the poetry bombing by hiding poems in the pockets of clothes.

FORMAL ELEMENTS OF ARTWORK

Woodgate emphasizes how she usually doesn’t know how her art will turn out until it’s done. At the end of her process, some elements have meaning, but she doesn’t tend to care about aspects such as line, light, and color. She stated when talking about the “Stuffed Animal Toy Skins”, ” It looks pretty in the end but that’s not what I’m looking for. I’m not going behind color and aesthetic.” Although she doesn’t focus on aspects like color, there is a definite intent in the shape and texture of her works. In “The Source”, fountains are made in the shape of a pedestal intentionally. She found it ironic how when people drank from the fountains, their heads became the bust of the statue. Texture and material are also very important. She did “The Source” in Miami and Buenos Aires and the material changes depending on the location. In Miami, the fountains are made out of oolite and keystone coral. She uses this material because Oolite filters Miami’s water source but it also is the reason why sea levels will rise and why there is the intrusion of seawater. 

The shape is also influential in her piece “Hopscotch”. It maps around different locations, such as Buenos Aires. “Each segment comes out of a drain and goes into a street drain, thus utilizes the city’s sewage system to travel” (Woodgate). The shape of the “Hopscotch” isn’t very spontaneous, but the shape of the “Stuffed Animal Toy Skin Rugs” is. When she took the stuffed animals apart from the seams and sewed them together, she realized that they looked like cow skins and went with it. 

The biggest element of her work is the material she uses. She collects trash and recycles it in her work. “I’m like a waste management studio,” she says. Although she does collect trash, she is selective about what garbage she chooses. Most of the material she gathers are tools. For example, slave clocks, used stuffed animals, and globes. All of these objects were used at one point no matter the reason. They all influenced someone’s life, great or small, and now they’re just trash. Woodgate takes these objects and pulls out the meaning they once had. She explains, “I try to focus on objects with a function disguised as art.”

Since her radio is also a part of her art, you have to discuss the elements in it. Although you can’t see aspects of line, shape, light, color, and texture in it, other components put the radio and its meaning together. This must be considered because publishing and research are a crucial part of her work. The radio includes factors such as location, variety of vehicles, and the fact that they use ADB (Audio Digital Broadcasting) systems instead of AM and FM systems. Throughout each broadcast, they use different mediums such as sound, music, experiments, archives, and interviews.

EXHIBITION AND PROJECT HISTORY

Woodgate’s first showcase was in Anthony Spinello’s gallery. She was also represented in the Barro gallery in Buenos Aires. Once she moved to Miami, she was part of the O, Miami Poetry Festival in the summer of 2018. She did a large project called Concrete Poetry. In this project, poetry would be put on the sidewalks all around Miami-Dade County. One of the most influential exhibitions she had was in 2019 when her piece “National Times” was installed at the Whitney Biennial, curated by Rujeko Hockley and Jane Panetta (“Artist Agustina Woodgate Considers Everything”, 2019, p. 3, 6). 

In terms of her radio, she has been all around the world, including Vietnam, California, Miami, Vienna, and Turkey. The most memorable experience she had was in Berlin, where she worked for two years. She was involved in a public project in an abandoned amusement park in East Berlin. “It was very influential in my work and the process of thinking. It had to do with the policies, public parts, and maneuvers around a site that is abandoned.”

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

Woodgate’s approach to art compared to other artists I’ve seen in this course is in a completely different category. When I first looked at her work from afar, I was intrigued by it and how it looked. As I dug deeper into her work and the meaning behind her pieces, I began to grow passionate about it. The intention behind her work excited me and made me want to know more about her and her art. In my high school, my teachers always tried to instill an inquisitive mindset: one that encouraged us to learn not only about local topics but about topics world-wide. Even now, the honors college tries teaching us the importance of learning different topics that have nothing to do with our majors. In her own way, Woodgate does this as well. As a multidisciplinary artist, she spreads her knowledge and stimulates conversations with the intention to reveal systems and our relationships with it, and between us. It is very important to be introduced to a variety of viewpoints and to be educated on international issues. This is what leads me to admire Woodgate’s work. She spreads her knowledge to others through her art and shapes it in a way that fosters relations, relevant topics, discovery, and knowledge. 

CITATIONS

Agustina Woodgate. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2020, from https://www.artsy.net/artist/agustina-woodgate

Art Basel. (n.d.). Agustina Woodgate goes straight to ‘The Source’ ahead of Miami Beach. Retrieved April 12, 2020, from https://www.artbasel.com/stories/agustina-woodgate-goes-straight-to-the-source-art-basel-cities-miami-beach

Artist Agustina Woodgate Considers Everything. (2019, April 6). Retrieved April 12, 2020, from https://www.culturedmag.com/agustina-woodgate/

Uszerowicz, M. (2016, September 8). In Conversation With Agustina Woodgate. Retrieved April 12, 2020, from https://www.ravelinmagazine.com/posts/in-conversation-with-agustina-woodgate/

Woodgate. Selected Works.PDF. Retrieved April 12, 2020, from https://agustinawoodgate.com/

Randy Burman

ARTIST QUOTE

“Whether graphic design or a work of art, the processes I employ are most often exercises in identifying how communication will be perceived, and the simplifying of concepts and gestures to amplify the metaphorical essence.”

– Randy Burman

STUDENT BIO

My name is Nicholas Pastrana and I am a sophomore attending Florida International University. I am pursuing an Accounting major and intend on getting a certificate in Pre-Law to attending Law school after graduation.

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, 1947, Randy Burman considered himself an artist since birth. Fascinated with the world around him, Burman loved to draw the things he found visually appealing and make his own renditions of them. Even as a child he was self-aware of his rebellious nature, which was only reinforced when the Hebrew parochial school he attended accused him of “making graven images” (Burman “Biography” 2016).  His father owned a wholesale poultry and egg company and a few retail market stalls and outlet stores in which Burman worked at, eventually he opened his own grocery store; Randy’s Discount Food City. Burman found satisfaction in the “art” of displaying poultry to make it visually appealing to customers. “You’ll see in my work, there’s a lot of horizontal layering, which I trace back to laying out chicken parts on ice. Food display is an art, and I took it very seriously” (Burman “The Alchemy of Juxtaposed Elements and Metaphysical Confrontation in Sculpture, Installation, Painting and Print” 2016).

Burman attended the Maryland Institute of Art but did not graduate, he dropped out in 1968, then later that year had his first “one-man show” and published a book of his own drawn poetry titled We Knows Who’s Crazy Baby.

In 1975, the Department of Transportation intended on demolishing a 2-block swath of many two hundred-year-old houses in Baltimore’s historic Fells Point sea port neighborhood to put in a stretch of the I-95 highway. Burman along with many of his neighbors formed an organization and pursued a lawsuit against the Department of Transportation (DOT) plan, which they eventually won.

Burman has pursued a plethora of endeavors including: being staff artist of Baltimore’s underground newspaper Harry; operating Randy’s Discount Food City; publishing The Fells Point Telegraphe – in which he also edited and art directed, “organized contributing artists, writers and photographers to support a community lawsuit opposing the DOT’s plans” (Burman “Biography” 2016); worked at the National Lampoon; created movie titles with his friend Alan Rose for John Waters’ Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble, and even played a bit part in Pink Flamingos.

In 1976 Burman moved to Miami, Florida, where he worked several jobs; washing dishes at the Spiral Health Food Restaurant, washed windows, carpentry, silkscreen art, sign painting, and graphic design. In 1983, Burman was part of a silkscreen workshop, funded by a CETA Title IV grant and hosted by the Lowe Art Museum and the City of Miami Cultural Experiences Division. Burman has worked with multiple graphic design studios and in June of 1995, incorporated his own graphic design firm; IKON Communication and Marketing Design. By this time, Burman had mostly dropped his production of fine art but in 2005 Burman rekindled his drive to produce fine art. In 2010, Burman again had invitations to display his works at galleries, enthralled, Burman “accelerated [his] construction of assemblages and installation work” (Burman “Biography” 2016).  

PERSONAL IDENTITY

Burman’s work was largely influenced by his observance of what he was exposed to. Appreciating what he saw, he created his own renditions. He was able to provide me of an anecdote of when he was a small child. Burman used to look out of his parent’s bedroom window to the street and admire his neighbors’ new cars (the planned obsolesce era of automotive design where flamboyant displays of chrome and fins prevailed) and then retire to his own bedroom in the rear of the rowhouse to sketch his own versions. As he reflected on his particular artistic behavior he pondered the similarities his artistic inclinations might have been to a prehistoric child artist, who might have gone to opening of his cave home, saw herds of bison instead of Buicks and gone to the back of the cave to make marks on the cave walls to record a version of his observations.

I noticed a similar pattern of behavior of his, working at the poultry stalls and stores, it wasn’t enough for him to place the poultry on ice; it had to have symmetry, look uniform, he’d accent the poultry parts with kale to make them as visually appealing as possible. Burman clearly has a strong appreciation for visual appeal, making even the simplest things beautiful. Young Burman also had a rebellious nature. For example, at the Hebrew parochial school when he was criticized for not paying attention to his studies and instead drawing, it fueled him. It wasn’t rebellious in the sense where he wanted to offend people, but his curiosity provoked him to question the norm.

An observer can see his tendency to interpretive aesthetics in his graphic design work. For example, in his work for a company named Needleworks, which produced knitting supplies, Burman created a logo in which the N and the W look knitted and appear to be stitched together. Looking at the logo one can immediately infer the company’s purpose and on top of this it makes for a very appealing logo.

CULTURAL IDENTITY

Earlier in his works, Burman’s cultural identity reflected the communities he was a part of. If you listen to his lecture The Alchemy of Juxtaposed Elements and Metaphysical Confrontation in Sculpture, Installation, Painting and Print, Burman talks excitedly about how his grocery store was in a predominantly black neighborhood “so we sold all mainstay soul food, you know, ham hocks, neck bones, that kind of stuff” (Burman “The Alchemy of Juxtaposed Elements and Metaphysical Confrontation in Sculpture, Installation, Painting and Print” 2016) but he was excited that they introduced Macrobiotic basics, like brown rice, umeboshi plums, and tamari sauce to the neighborhood. You can also see this connection to his community in the pride he takes in fighting the Department of Transportation’s plan to demolish the Fells Point neighborhood to build a leg of I-95. Burman enlisted many artists and writers to create The Fells Point Telegraphe, which served raise awareness of the lawsuit to protect the community.

Burman kept his strong connection and sense of responsibility towards his community throughout his career. During our interview, he admitted that he was disappointed to have not been involved in the civil rights struggle going on during the 1960’s and 1970’s, while he was focused on automotive and advertising design. After coming to this realization, Burman has “felt obligated to make more socially conscious works” (Burman). Since the realization, Burman has created several highly influential works that address major political, religious, and social issues. One series of works, titled Memory Scrolls, collages that juxtaposed images of King George, George Washington, Manifest Destiny, the Constitution, and Native Americans. The piece shows how the Americans saw colonization and Manifest Destiny as a righteous endeavor, while Native Americans were horrified by it and being slaughtered over this American dream of unyielding conquest. In a related piece, Burman collages Thomas Jefferson, Leif Erickson, Christopher Columbus, Francisco Pizarro, the Declaration of Independence and slave ships. In these two works, Burman addresses how something so glorious to one group of people could mean an apocalypse to another group of people, and the lack of moral consciousness behind it.

A friend of Burman’s who worked with a Jewish organization for young adults asked Burman to participate in a show where artists would make artistic interpretations of rituals of the Passover seder. Burman accepted and created a work titled 18 Contemporary Plagues. In the lecture previously mentioned, Burman discussed how one of the rituals of the Passover seder is telling the stories of the plagues that G-d set upon the Egyptians. Burman explained that as name of each plague is recited, participants spill a drop of wine into a saucer, to express empathy with the suffering the plagues caused. The essence being that even though the plagues were brought upon the ancient Israelite’s oppressors to force them to release the enslaved people, as a human being one shouldn’t find satisfaction in seeing other humans suffer. In place of the ten Biblical plagues, Burman came up with eighteen contemporary plagues such as inequality, bigotry, industrialization, and hypocrisy. He gives the audience the ability to shred images of these plagues, similar to the spilling of the wine, to “feel a release from being affected by these type of things” (Burman “The Alchemy of Juxtaposed Elements and Metaphysical Confrontation in Sculpture, Installation, Painting and Print” 2016). One can only imagine the impact this had on the young Jewish community. Not only does it relate to their religion, but it educates the young on the plagues affecting them today.

Another one of Burman’s socially conscious works was IT’S A TRAP. In this installation Burman had hundreds of plastic penis’ set on mouse traps. This work begs the audience to question the nature of sexuality and sexual identity. Although Burman was unaware of the meme associated with the title when he named the work, it was remarkably suitable. The phrase, “It’s a trap” stems from a memorable quote said by Admiral Ackbar during the Battle of Endor in the 1983 Star Wars film Return of the Jedi. In the movie, as the Alliance mobilizes its forces in a concerted effort to destroy the Death Star, Admiral Ackbar encounters an unexpected ambush, which leads him to exclaim, “It’s a trap!” “It’s A Trap!” later became a catchphrase that was often used as a reaction image to photos of transsexuals and cross-dressers (often referred to as “traps”), or people who appear sexually ambiguous. It usually means that the person in question has male reproductive organs, regardless of their appearance. “Burman’s work could be interpreted as a warning, or opposingly, a statement referencing the exuberance of pushing gender boundaries and living dangerously” (Burman “It’s a Trap!”).

The last works of Burman’s I’d love to touch upon is Poems to the Sky. These works were created for the O, Miami Poetry Festival.  The poems used were written by local elementary school students as part of the Sunroom Poetry project. Burman’s idea was simple. Paint the poems on the top of buildings in flight paths in and out of Miami International Airport so passengers who happened to look out their windows would see the poems.  On Burman’s website, randyburman.com, there is a video where the two students whose poems were used, talk about how they wrote poems about their emotions and how they feel. The students, Tywon Willams and Nieema Marshall, in fourth and third grade respectively, introduce themselves as poets. The smile on Nieema’s face says it all. Burman’s project has inspired and empowered these students more than any traditional classroom assignment ever could. His work opened the eyes of dozens of young students to the world of art and creative writing. For Tywon and Nieema it will be an experience they’ll never forget.

It’s been amazing to see the pride and sense of responsibility Burman holds towards educating and supporting his community. From introducing new foods, to protecting property, to inspiring and educating on social issues; through his artwork, Burman does it all. Burman considers himself a conceptualist, which he fits and executes perfectly. Through his work he can cause you to question the morality of the Manifest Destiny from a collage, question gender identity by looking at penises on mouse traps, and inform you of the social constructs imposed on your life while still leaving you the ability to release your negative emotions. Burman is a conceptualist because he didn’t need a child to write him a poem, but he knew that when he used Nieema’s poem she would go home and dream of being the next J.K. Rowling.

SUBJECT OF ARTWORK

“The tone of my work – a back and forth between weighty intellectualism and flippancy – is deeply personal” (Burman “The Alchemy of Juxtaposed Elements and Metaphysical Confrontation in Sculpture, Installation, Painting and Print” 2016). I believe that when Burman refers to his art as flippant, he’s referring to his earlier works. When his attention was focused on sketching a cooler looking car, or strategically placing rows of kale between cut-up poultry parts. Originally, most of Burman’s work was to achieve the most desirable visual aesthetic. Now, though still visually appealing, Burman’s work is geared towards educating and provoking thought. In additional to some of the works I mentioned under “Cultural Identity” Burman has: Internatsyonale Fonschlong Zikherhayt Apparatus, which provokes the audience to consider the abundance of information corporations and states collect on us. The Vent-o-matic, which is a collection of headshots of extremist politicians for the audience to throw shoes at to vent their frustrations. He’s also made Art of Destruction, in which people walk into a room with prints of sixteen of the greatest artworks of the world and are encouraged to shred some of them. Burman’s works touch on every social issue imaginable. The end goal is to educate; to teach the audience something new, bring them to a new realization, or challenge their thinking and fortify their ideas because they held true. Burman is highly successful at this because his projects are extremely thought provoking. When viewing one of Burman’s works it’s impossible to not have your attention captured by an interactive activity, or intriguing construction, or thought-provoking imagery. In relation to broader social and cultural context Burman uses his art to educate the audience on a plethora of topics via self-reflection.

FORMAL ELEMENTS OF ARTWORK

Burman has not confined himself to any of the elements of art. He draws upon whatever elements he may need to complete the project at hand. In many of his works, destruction is used to achieve creation. For example, Memory Scrolls and Art of Destruction. Burman describes his creative process as “free-flowing”. Sometimes he has an idea and collects the materials needed to create it, an example of this would be Poems to the Sky. Other times he’s had an abundance of materials which he begins to work with and makes a project out of. For example, the abundance of materials sitting in his studio during Hurricane Wilma, led him to create his Half FOOL Half Empty series. Occasionally, Burman’s pieces come together almost by chance. The doll on casters and stack of books on casters were sitting next to each other on Burman’s workbench when he exclaimed “OH! You guys want to be together, okay, you’re together” (Burman “The Alchemy of Juxtaposed Elements and Metaphysical Confrontation in Sculpture, Installation, Painting and Print” 2016), which then became his work titled Holy Mountain. Through Burman hasn’t limited himself to specific elements of art, his earlier work tends to deal with shape, pattern, and composition. Creating appealing patterns with poultry parts or reforming the shape of letters and images to create aesthetic logos. In his most recent works, Burman’s biggest congruency has become composition. This can be seen in his caster sculptures, selection of imagery for the Vent-o-matic and 18 Contemporary Plagues, and the Memory Scroll collages.

EXHIBITION AND PROJECT HISTORY

The first piece Burman mentions displaying is his painting Underneath the Piano in the Baltimore Museum of Art’s Annual Regional Painting Show. In 1968, after dropping out of college, Burman had his first one-man show and published his book of drawn poetry, We Knows Who’s Crazy Baby. At this time, Burman was a staff artist on an underground newspaper in Baltimore called Harry. In 1972 and 1974, the movies Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble came out, respectively. In which, Burman, along-side his friend Alan Rose created the movie titles. Burman then worked on special projects at the National Lampoon which was an American humor magazine. In 1975, he published The Fells Point Telepgraphe,of which he was editor, art director, in support of the lawsuit against the Department of Transportation. In 1983, Burman was included in a CETA Title IV grant funded silkscreen workshop program led by the Lowe Art Museum and the City of Miami Cultural Experiences Division. Between 1979 and 1995 Burman worked for Diamond Dust – a t-shirt company; R&R Graphics, River Studio – both mostly sign companies; Hall Graphics, Burman & Perez, and HE2.3 – graphic design firms. In 1995, Burman began his own graphic design firm; IKON Communication and Marketing Design. During Hurricane Wilma in 2005, Burman resumed his fine arts career. In 2010, Burman reemphasized his focus on fine arts after an invitation to participate in a three-person show at 12345 West Dixie Gallery. In the same year, Burman became a member of the Artformz Collective in Wynwood, Miami, where he participated in four group shows and created his first project room, the Art of Destruction. Continuing in 2010, Burman participated in an exchange program with artists from Miami and Valencia, Spain. Lastly in 2010, Burman had two artworks selected to be displayed at the New Art Exhibition at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Burman participated in The Open Tent’s Seder as Art project at the Art Center of South Florida in 2011, where he exhibited 18 Contemporary Plagues. Also, in 2011, three of Burman’s artworks were picked for Humoratorium: Art of Whimsy and an installation in the Appropriated Gender exhibition at 1310 Gallery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Burman was one of twenty-nine artists whose work was invited to be displayed for the Rough & Tumble exhibition at The Projects in Fort Lauderdale’s FAT Village Arts District in 2013. In 2016, Burman created his Poems to the Sky on the roofs of Florida International University’s Blue Garage and MANA Wynwood. Burman’s Vent-o-matic went on display at Schmidt Center Public Space in 2016 as well. Most recently, Burman has had exhibitions at The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University in 2016 and Art and Culture Center of Hollywood during 2019 in Hollywood, Florida.

Burman shared his most meaningful experience was getting back into fine art in 2005 and realizing he wanted experience personal artistic growth and do more to influence his community culturally and socially through art. This new drive is what brought about some of his most well-known pieces such as the Vent-o-matic, Poems to the Sky, Art of Destruction, and 18 Contemporary Plagues. Without these works Burman might still have been as great of an artist but wouldn’t have made such large contributions to society.

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

Randy Burman was a phenomenal artist to work with. Mr. Burman responded to all my emails within several hours, which I found shocking especially with all the chaos being caused by COVID-19 right now. I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Burman via phone call – due to social distancing. Mr. Burman was very well spoken, and I was very impressed with how he spoke to me. He told stories and gave anecdotes as if we had been friends for years, quite frankly I didn’t expect him to be nearly as invested nor engaged in our conversations. I really admired and appreciated this about him. Mr. Burman was able to draw congruencies between him and I. Though he spent several years focused on graphic design, he always kept fine art in the back of his mind. Similarly, I may be focused on work or school but long to make music in my spare time. Which coming from a man like Randy Burman, who’s made it in both worlds, was very inspiring. Working with Randy Burman taught me that the “art” is only very little of what you see or hear. That the “art” is in what you feel when you see or hear it. And, that when an artist makes an artwork, a lot more thought and effort go into it than just making the piece itself.

CITATIONS

1. Florida Department of State Division of Corporations. “IKON COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING DESIGN, INC.” Opencorporates.com, Opencorporates, 12 Feb. 2020, opencorporates.com/companies/us_fl/P95000045047.
2. Burman, Randy. “The Alchemy of Juxtaposed Elements and Metaphysical Confrontation in Sculpture, Installation, Painting and Print.” Vimeo, 16 Oct. 2016, vimeo.com/187534813.
3. Burman, Randy. “Biography.” Biography, Randy Burman, Aug. 2016, randyburman.com/biography.
4. Kobrin, Alan, and Randy Burman. “Needleworks.” IKON Communication Marketing Design, ikoncom.com/newsite/ikon_content.html.
5. “Randy Burman.” MutualArt, 2019, www.mutualart.com/Artist/Randy-Burman/E2C64424E42CC9B1.
6. Burman, Randy. “What We Do.” Edited by P. Scott Cunningham, O, Miami, www.omiami.org/video.
7. Burman, Randy. “It’s a Trap!” It’s a Trap!, randyburman.com/it-s-a-trap.

Florida Middle School Vex IQ Robotics Competition Judge

STUDENT BIO

Hi, my name is Nicholas Pastrana, and I am currently a sophomore attending Florida International University. I’m an Accounting major, but also an honors college student, which is how I found my way into this class.

WHO

I volunteered with the Robotics Education Competition (REC) organization to help host the VEX IQ South Florida Regional Championship. It’s a robotics competition that many students prepare for all year, in many cases the same team of students have been competing in this competition several years in a row.

WHY

Since I was a child, I had always loved to play with LEGOs. After I built a new set, I would love breaking it down to add it to my continuously growing conglomerate set. I also attended Coral Reef Elementary School, at which my mother was a Math and Science teacher. At the end of my 4^th grade year we had heard of a competition called FIRST Lego League. In my 5^th grade year, my mother decided to form a team, of which I was on and we went to compete. We didn’t do very well but I still vividly remember the competitions in which we participated. I had loved competing in FIRST Lego League, I felt like I was in a movie building and programming robots to save the day, at least that’s how its seen through the eyes of a child. For a while, FIRST Lego League had played a huge role in me wanting to become a software engineer. Just as it inspired me, these competitions inspire thousands of students each year. In FIRST Lego League students would be given an obstacle course where they would race with their robots to complete objectives in order to garner points. Each team would be given a basic kit of parts to build their robot. Creative teams, such as my own, got crafty and added on extra parts in attempt to surpass the competition. The students would also be tasked with programming the robot in a beginner’s level block-based programming software. Finally, the students would be given a real-world problem of which they would need to come up with an invention to solve it. All these factors came together to create an amazing educational experience for young STEM studies interested students. Though I never competed in VEX IQ, I know that VEX IQ is very similar to FIRST Lego League; build a robot, program a robot, compete with the robot, and analyzing real world problems. Reminiscent on my experiences with FIRST Lego League, I was ecstatic to volunteer as a judge for the VEX IQ competition at Westminster Christian School, where my mother currently works.

HOW

Westminster Christian School is collaborating with Florida International University in developing a training program for robotics teachers. Through this connection, Westminster Christian School reached out to Florida International University to find volunteers for the event.

WHERE & WHAT

To start the morning, the judges met in the conference room of the STEM building where we discussed the rules and scoring guides we would use throughout the day. Then we separated into elementary school and middle school and began reviewing the teams’ journals. The journals are notes of the team’s progress throughout the year and are scored on a scale of zero to forty-five. After scoring the journals we noted the teams with the top scoring journals and went to go interview them. We interviewed teams in groups of two or three judges at a time. Each group of judges ranked their favorite teams, but we didn’t use a score for this portion. By this point it was lunch time, so we took a break to eat. We had narrowed down forty-seven teams to about fifteen, eleven of which would receive awards and the top three of those would move onto the World competition. After lunch we had received updated results on the scoring of the team’s robot runs and were able to determine which award would be given except the Excellence Award (overall champion).

The school was short on volunteers so they picked up whoever they could. I think this is important to mention because the debate for who won the Excellence Award was being debated between myself, who’s had experience competing in these types of events, and a preschool Bible teacher, who’s never participated in robotics in any way whatsoever. She had said that we should not give the Excellence award to the highest ranked team because no all-girls team won an award. The team who rightfully won the Excellence award was a group of three boys. I told the group this and the lady who wanted the all-girls team to win called me sexist. I would’ve loved to have gone off on her, but we were doing this for children and my mother worked at the school, so I held my tongue. I explained “Look, the boys were dominant in the journal, robot runs, and interviews, I can show you here with how we scored them, quantitative data proving that the boys won. The boys ranked first overall, and the girls ranked fourth. Should you pick the girls to win over the boys YOU would be showing them favoritism based off gender.” At this point, the kindergarten English teacher said, “well I think it would be a cute way to end the day if the girls won.” Baffled, hurt, and concerned for the integrity of the tournament I asked them all to please give me a minute. I left to get my mother’s boss; the man responsible for hosting the competition.

When I stepped out of the door, I realized how risky this move was. I was going to tell my mother’s boss that I was arguing with several of their co-workers, that I was right, and that I’d like for him to come settle the argument. But, I remembered how much these competitions meant to me as kid. How much fun it was to win just any award. I never went to the world competition; I never even went to the state competition. I couldn’t imagine the satisfaction I would’ve felt winning the top award in-state and going to the world competition. I couldn’t let an undeserving team win just because they were girls.

I found the man and explained to him how the other judges had wanted the girls to win, because they were girls and to my surprise, he cut me off and said, “absolutely not, let’s go”. I followed him back to the classroom we had been holding our debates and he asked for the scores and rankings we had given teams. He then picked up a sticky note and held it in the air “This is the time highest ranked overall?” Several people said yes or nodded their heads. “OK.” He slapped the sticky note onto the printout copies of the awards we had taped to the wall to guide the debate. Then, took a picture of all the awards and all the team’s sticky notes on the wall. He turned to leave and said, “I’ll be announcing the awards in fifteen minutes.”The rest of the afternoon I spent picking up tables and folding chairs and bringing them back to storage. We then picked up any leftover trash of food and threw it out, took out the trash, said good-bye, and went home.

WHEN

SUMMARY

This experience was amazing. I was glad I had the opportunity to give back to something that had such a positive impact on me as a child. I was also glad that I held my tongue back from the lady who called me sexist because it wouldn’t have fared well for my argument nor my mother.  

Lotus House Women’s Shelter

STUDENT BIO

I am a freshman attending Florida International University’s Honors College, working on a Bachelor in Science degree in Marine Biology. My long-term goal is to use this degree to do research for a university or a large company, however, my goal for my college career is to pursue multiple interests, and be exposed and experience as many things as I can.

WHO

The Lotus House is a homeless shelter for women and children funded by the city of Miami. In order to live there, people must apply and be approved by the city on a first based call system. They accept anyone who was not an addict, with the exception of marijuana.

WHY

This volunteer hours opportunity was part of the Miami in Miami class when Professor John Bailly used it as one of his lectures. It was a delightful, amazing, and unexpected experience that was unique to anything I had ever done before.

HOW

I always kept to myself during this class; I was always nervous or awkward around others, especially when they were much more experienced than me. I am the youngest one of the class, and most of my colleagues will be off to graduate school or law school after this year, so it was difficult for me to make friends with my upperclassmen. However, spending time with Nicole in the playroom was one of the most amazing experiences I have had this entire year. I made a connection that I thought I never would, and although the timing so close to quarantine was off, I was glad I made a friend like Nicole. This experience really helped me open up to my classmates, and I’m so grateful.

WHERE AND WHAT

Nine of us were the sanitation group, responsible for cleaning the different rooms on the first floor. Nicole Patrick and I were assigned to sanitize the children’s’ playroom, which was a lot of fun, however, there was a lot of stuff to clean. Our goal was to finish before lunchtime so the kids could play after, but it, unfortunately, took longer than expected, and we eventually had others come to help us, like Fuzzy and Gianmarco. We were able to finish before lunch ended so that the children could play. 

SUMMARY

The Lotus House was such an amazing opportunity where I could engage in conversations with others and learn about a part of Miami I had never even known existed. I learned about the struggles and obstacles these women and children go through, but I was also reminded that no matter the circumstances, we are all human and that we all have similarities. All children love to play, all people enjoy their hobbies, and everyone sits down to enjoy a good meal. I loved our last non-virtual excursion, and I know I will be back to volunteer again.

Beatrice Gonzalez, Community Outreach Director

beatrice@lotushouse.org

Lotus Village

217 NW 15th Street

Miami, Florida 33136

T:   305-438-0556

REFERENCES

“Contact Us.” Lotus House Shelter, lotushouse.org/contact-us/.