The Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami is taking art outside for a whole year for a special project.
Art on the Plaza will present newly commissioned, public artworks from Miami-based artists. Artists that will have work gracing the MOCA Plaza include Reginald O’Neal, Studio AMLgMATD (Laz Ojalde and Natalie Zlamalova), a collaborative presentation by Morel Doucet and Stephen Arboite, Nice N’ Easy (Allison Matherly & Jeffrey Noble) and Najja Moon.
Art on the Plaza is being organized by Amanda Sanfilippo Long, curator and artist manager for the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs’ Art in Public Places program. The project is also being supported by the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency.
“I am honored and excited to partner with MOCA to host these art programs on the plaza,” said Sanfilippo Long. “‘Art on the Plaza’ brings imaginative contemporary art exhibitions and programming to a wide range of audiences, while bringing diverse cultural and thought-provoking subjects to the forefront.”
The schedule is as follows:
- Jan. 22-March 7: In conjunction with Black History Month, Miami-based artist Reginald O’Neal will showcase a detailed mural depicting his cultural heritage and narratives relating to Miami’s Historic Overtown neighborhood in a powerful depiction of past and present.
- March 19-April 18: Collaborative Studio AMLgMATD will present a large-scale intervention on MOCA Plaza. Red thread will create an allegory to the interconnections in global networks as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic, and draws symbolic connections to the color red among various cultures.
- April 30-June 27: Artists Morel Doucet and Stephen Arboite will showcase a collaborative work that explores Miami’s historically African American neighborhoods (rendering pictured above). It highlights the specific flora and fauna in those neighborhoods, highlighting issues of gentrification and celebrating the uniqueness and beauty of the African diaspora in a series of banners on MOCA Plaza, based on original artworks. This installation will coincide with Haitian Heritage Month.
- July 9-Aug. 22: Collaborative Nice N’ Easy will playfully activate MOCA’s fountain, transforming it into a swimming pool. The work addresses the prevalent issues of anxiety, concern for safety, and well-being as it relates to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
- Sept. 3-Nov. 14: Artist Najja Moon will explore themes of reflection and self-empowerment through a dynamic sculptural intervention resembling a large-scale mirror on MOCA Plaza. The work will encourage viewers to experience it from multiple viewpoints, see themselves reflected, and experience intricate shadows.
To complement the public works throughout the year, MOCA will host a series of virtual programs.
“With ‘Art on the Plaza,’ MOCA will offer a boost of creative energy accessible to visitors and passersby,” said MOCA Executive Director Chana Budgazad Sheldon. “We are so pleased to commission and support Miami-based artists for these temporary installations while presenting at for large and diverse audiences to see.”
