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MOCA Celebrates Earth MonthWith Robust Public Programming in April



In the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA)’s continued efforts to include diverse voices and perspectives, the museum is offering a robust series of education and public programming to celebrate Earth Month this April.


Due to popularity, MOCA’s exhibition “My Name is Maryan” was extended to October 2, 2022. Curated by Alison M. Gingeras, the exhibition is a monographic presentation of four decades of paintings, sculptures, drawings and film by the iconoclastic, ground-breaking Polish-born artist Maryan. Drawing upon new scholarship and a trove of never-before-exhibited works, “My Name is Maryan” is the first retrospective to holistically examine all periods of Maryan’s life and work. Throughout the museum, Maryan’s extraordinary biography and prolific oeuvre represent a deeply moving monument to the perseverance of the human spirit and power of art to work through traumatic loss. Credited as being among the first artist-eyewitnesses to directly depict their experiences of the Shoah, Maryan's unique approach to figurative art strove to solidarity across cultures and generations. A catalog for “My Name is Maryan” is forthcoming this summer. After closing in October, the exhibition will then travel to Tel Aviv.


MOCA’s April programming includes:


MOCA miniMakers: Earth Month | Saturday, April 2, 2 – 4 p.m.

  • Details: MOCA miniMakers is MOCA’s free and inclusive series of art workshops for children ages 6 and up. Children will have access to a variety of art techniques, as well as an inclusive curriculum incorporating step-by-step guides, STEAM activation, and creative free play. Taught by experienced artists and sponsored by the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency, MOCA miniMakers aims to foster an accessible spirit of learning through the arts.

MOCA is celebrating Earth Month by going green. In this workshop, participants will be using found and recycled objects to make new art. Guests will learn about eco artists from around the world and the art of recycling.

  • Cost: Free

  • RSVP: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/packagetickets?tab=3&txobjid=4e23cefb-d39d-4fde-bdfc-c9f03ea09371

Sunday Stories: Earth Month – “Greta and the Giants” by Zoë Tucker | Sunday, April 3, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

  • Details: Join MOCA on the first Sunday of every month for MOCA Sunday Stories’ story time, followed by a DIY early childhood art project. Sponsored by the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency, this early childhood art series engages toddlers and fosters reading, motor skill development, and socialization. MOCA Sunday Stories is a great way for children to bond with their parents or guardians as they create together.


To bring awareness to Earth Month, MOCA will be reading “Greta and the Giants” by Zoë Tucker. This inspiring picture book retells the story of Nobel Peace Prize nominee Greta Thunberg—the Swedish teenager who has led a global movement to raise awareness about the world’s climate crisis—using allegory to make this important topic accessible to young children. After the reading, participants will create works of art out of recycled materials.

  • Cost: Free

  • RSVP: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/packagetickets?tab=3&txobjid=932f563f-2481-4692-a197-52be03f4cfa3

MOCA Moving Images: Ecce Homo | Wednesday, April 6, 7 – 9 p.m.

  • Details: Included in MOCA’s current exhibition, “My Name is Maryan,” Ecce Homo is one of the last works of the Polish-Jewish artist Maryan. Maryan reenacts Holocaust memories with the use of numerous accessories such as an M16 machine gun, dummies of SS officers, a straitjacket, ropes and paint. After the movie, guests will enjoy a conversation with Dr. Oren Stier, Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the FIU Holocaust & Genocide Studies Program, and Kenny Schneider.

  • Cost: Free

  • RSVP: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/MOCA-Moving-Images-Ecce-Homo


MOCA Makers: Portrait Painting with Artist Lucia Morales | Saturday, April 9, 1 – 3 p.m.

  • Details: MOCA Makers is a series of adult art workshops offered the second Saturday of every month. MOCA Makers enables the artistically interested public to learn from local artists in South Florida. Topics include print making, figure drawing, portrait painting and more. MOCA Makers is made possible with the generous support of the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency. During April’s event, participants will learn about portrait painting with artist Lucia Morales.

  • Cost: Free

  • RSVP: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/packagetickets?tab=3&txobjid=1853D4BA-481F-4325-87C0-2FD249951696&activedate=2022-04-09

My Name is Maryan – Public Exhibition Tour with Curator of Education Amanda Covach | Thursday, April 21, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

  • Details: Register for a tour conducted by MOCA’s Curator of Education, Amanda Covach, an interdisciplinary Mexican-American artist. Trained as a studio artist at Florida International University, Covach brings a deep knowledge of the contemporary art field and a professional history in museum management to the educational program.

  • Cost: All tours are free with admission.

  • RSVP: For more information, please visit:https://mocanomi.org/2022/02/tours-at-moca/


My Name is Maryan – Docent-Led Exhibition Tour | Sunday, April 10 and 24, 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

  • Details: Register for a tour lead by MOCA docent Dr. Helen Sachs Chaset. Dr. Chaset is an educator with more than 45 years of experience in administration, professional development, and program development. She is also a board member of Miami-Dade Holocaust Survivors. Dr. Chaset is the daughter of two Holocaust Survivors and was born in a displaced persons camp in Hannover Germany.

  • Cost: All tours are free with admission.

  • RSVP: For more information, please visit: https://mocanomi.org/2022/02/tours-at-moca/

Griffing Park – Electric Tree: Lang Cook Live! | Saturday, April 23, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

  • Details: MOCA North Miami is proud to partner with Terrestrial Funk for an evening of funk under the glow of the Electric Tree in Griffing Park on Saturday, April 23 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Together, guests will celebrate artist Mark Handforth's vision of a community with food trucks, shop vendors, and local musician Lang Cook, the man behind the iconic ’She’s Hot With 2,000 Watts.’ This synth-heavy record, recorded in Liberty City in the early eighties and recently reissued by Miami label Terrestrial Funk, marks the rebirth of a Miami legend. This is Lang Cook’s sole body of work, to which he lends his unique style and approach to the recording process.


The performance will open with Brother Dan, who has been DJing over the past 15 years and collecting emotive and invigorating music that speaks to all walks of life. In 2018, he was named DJ of the Year by the Miami New Times. He is the mind behind Terrestrial Funk, which operates as a record label as well as an online record store.


Teddy Studstill will be the accompanying guitarist. An unsung hero of the South Florida music scene, Studstill’s contributions span four decades and include the production of legendary records from Harris Mazyck and the late Luke Jasmin.

Jazz at MOCA Featuring Dr. Ed Calle | Friday, April 29, 8 p.m.

  • Details: “Jazz at MOCA” is MOCA’s free outdoor concert series in-person on the last Friday of every month. On April 29, MOCA is pleased to present saxophonist, composer, orchestrator, producer, scholar, professor, and leader Dr. Ed Calle. Dr. Calle is known for his extraordinary ability to sight-read, interpret, and perform virtually any musical style. Throughout the globe, his peers and colleagues often laud his versatility. Dr. Calle is a Latin Grammy® Award winner for Best Instrumental Album (2015) with Dr. Ed Calle Presents Mamblue and a five-time Grammy® nominee. The first studio record by the World Music 5, America, features chamber jazz orchestrations of original and classic music from the Americas with an all-star quintet that includes Negroni's Trio and violinist Federico Britos. Dr. Calle was awarded the 2015 Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Medal, named www.facultyawards.org 2014 Outstanding Professor at Miami Dade College (college wide), and 2014 United Teachers of Dade Champion of Education for Arts and Entertainment.

  • Cost: Jazz at MOCA is free and open to the public. The gallery is open to view MOCA’s current exhibition, “My Name is Maryan,” from 7-10 p.m. with museum admission. Admission to the museum is $10. Admission for students, seniors, and visitors identifying as disabled is $3. Admission is free to MOCA members, children under 12, North Miami residents, city employees, veterans, and caregivers accompanying people who are disabled.

  • RSVP:http://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/Jazz-at-Moca-Featuring-Dr-Ed-Calle-Jazz-Ensemble


My Name is Maryan” is made possible with lead support from the Terra Foundation for American Art and Shirley and William M. Lehman, Jr. MOCA is grateful to The Polish Cultural Institute of New York, The Wege Foundation, Funding Arts Network and Adele and Joel Sandberg for their generosity. Special thanks to The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Florida Humanities, Arlene Kahn and Richard Yulman. We are also grateful to Bal Harbour Village, City National Bank, Grand Brulot, Judi Witkin, Daniel Lewis, Isaac Fisher, Brian Bilzin, Helen Chaset, and The Robert Russell Memorial Foundation for their support.


MOCA North Miami exhibitions and programs are made possible with the continued support of the North Miami Mayor and Council and the City of North Miami, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, and the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners. MOCA North Miami also thanks its Board of Trustees, Curator's Circle and MOCA Members for their meaningful support.


MOCA North Miami presents contemporary art and its historical influences through exhibitions, educational programs, and collections. Inspired by its surrounding communities, MOCA connects diverse audiences and cultures by providing a welcoming place to encounter new ideas and voices, and nurturing a lifelong love of the arts. MOCA developed from the Center of Contemporary Art which was inaugurated in 1981. The establishment of the permanent collection coincided with the institution’s move into their current building designed by Charles Gwathmey of GSNY in 1996.


Under the direction of Executive Director Chana Sheldon and a newly installed Board of Trustees, MOCA premiered AFRICOBRA: Messages to the People during Art Basel Miami Beach in 2018. AFRICOBRA: Nation Time, the next chapter of the exhibition, was selected as an official Collateral Event of Biennale Arte 2019 in Venice, Italy. Original exhibitions include: My Name is Maryan curated by Alison Gingeras (2021), Michael Richards: Are You Down? co-curated by Alex Fialho and Melissa Levin (2021), Raul de Nieves: Eternal Return and The Obsidian Heart curated by Risa Puleo (2020), and Alice Rahon: Poetic Invocations curated by Teresa Arcq (2019).

Located in one of the most diverse communities in the country, MOCA North Miami welcomes 35,000 visitors per year, and its award-winning education programs have served thousands of children and teens. MOCA North Miami exhibitions and programs are made possible with the continued support of the North Miami Mayor and Council and the City of North Miami, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners. The museum is supported by the Green Family Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Nathan Cummings Foundation, Terra Foundation for American Art, National Endowment for the Arts, and individual donors.


By ML Staff. Image courtesy of MOCA


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