The Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA) Offers Robust Public Programming Throughout July
Through 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 educational programming this July.
On view through Oct. 1, 2023, “Lonnie Holley: If You Really Knew” invites visitors to experience the work of prolific artist Lonnie Holley in his first major exhibition in the South. Also on view is the “South Florida Cultural Consortium” (SFCC) exhibition which showcases the work of 12 intergenerational South Florida artists.
“Lonnie Holley: If You Really Knew” provides an intimate and focused look at the career of Birmingham, Alabama-born artist and musician Lonnie Holley. The exhibition, curated by MOCA curator Adeze Wilford, features 70 works including foundational “sandstone” sculptures, new works on paper and large-scale quilt paintings that depict faces. Known for his unique style of art that draws inspiration from his life experiences, Holley often incorporates found objects and everyday materials, which he transforms into thought-provoking art. Holley’s influence on Southern art is highlighted throughout “If You Only Knew,” including a section he curated featuring works from artists such as Miami native Purvis Young, Thornton Dial, Mary T. Smith and Hawkins Bowling.
The “South Florida Cultural Consortium” (SFCC) exhibition brings together 12 artists working across various media including, sculpture, film and site-specific installations. The exhibition, this year hosted and organized by MOCA, provides a snapshot of the breadth and depth of the artistic talent in the South Florida art scene.
On view outside the museum through late August is MOCA’s most recent “Art on the Plaza” commission, LIZN'BOW (Liz Ferrer and Bow Ty)'s “El Mundo Es Mágico.” The sculpture, “El Mundo Es Mágico,” features displaced queer characters in a mix of reality and fantasy within Miami iconography, inviting conversations of fluidity, gender, class and identity. Central to the duo’s work is the feminist reimagining of each element towards a more inclusive, fantastical worldview.
MOCA’s July programming includes:
MOCA Tours | Saturdays in July – 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
· Details: MOCA North Miami invites guests to a public tour of its exhibitions, “Lonnie Holley: If You Really Knew” and “South Florida Cultural Consortium” (SFCC). The tour will be led by MOCA Exhibition Specialist Lauren Baccus.
· Cost: Free
· RSVP: For more information, please visit: https://mocanomi.org/2022/02/tours-at-moca/
MOCA miniMakers: Soap Carving Inspired by the Art of Lonnie Holley | Saturday, July 1, 2–4 p.m.
· Details: MOCA is hosting a special workshop inspired by featured artist Lonnie Holley. Participants will carve their own unique shapes and patterns with this take-home soap carving project. MOCA miniMakers is MOCA’s free and inclusive series of art workshops for children ages six and up. Children 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.
· Cost: Free
· RSVP: For more information, please visit: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/MOCA-miniMakers-01Jul2023
Sunday Stories: Independence Day Celebration | Sunday, July 2, 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
· Details: Join MOCA as it celebrates Independence Day with a fun family art workshop. Participants will learn about the history of American Independence and make their own 4th of July-themed decorations inspired by the book, “Apple Pie 4th of July,” by Janet S. Wong. 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.
· Cost: Free
· RSVP: For more information, please visit: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/MOCA-Sunday-Stories-02Jul2023
MOCA Makers: Printmaking Silhouetted Exquisite Corpse with Artist Vinicius de Oliveria | Saturday, July 8, 1–3 p.m.
· Details: Participants will discover the captivating world of Lonnie Holley's exhibition, “If You Really Knew,” and unleash their artistic spirit in MOCA’s printmaking class. Inspired by Holley's whimsical and dynamic forms, this workshop delves into the abstract representation of the human body, combining it with inanimate objects or exploring otherworldly qualities. Artists will create separate pieces and collaborate on an “Exquisite Corpse” print.
· Cost: Free
· RSVP: For more information, please visit: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/MOCA-Makers-08Jul2023
Art on the Plaza Special Performance: Capitulos de Niña 2.0 | Friday, July 21, 7–9 p.m.
· Details: To celebrate MOCA’s current “Art on the Plaza” commission, LIZN'BOW (Liz Ferrer and Bow Ty)'s “El Mundo Es Mágico,” the museum will host an exciting performance on MOCA’s Plaza, “Capitulos de Niña 2.0.” This unique bilingual soap opera weaves together music, performance art and interactive theater while navigating the intersections of femme, queer and Latine identities while drawing inspiration from both Latin and American pop culture. The performance incorporates mini-telenovelas and live performances in Spanish and English, with a soundtrack of original reggaeton songs from the live band, Niña, which features the charismatic duo, Liz Ferrer and Bow Ty. Adding to the excitement are some of Miami’s finest talents and Puerto Rican artist duo Poncili Creacion. “Capitulos de Niñas 2.0,” challenges stereotypes and traditional norms, promoting understanding, acceptance and enjoyment for all.
· Cost: Free
Jazz at MOCA: featuring Lisanne Lyons | Friday, July 28, (Seating Starts at 7 p.m., Concert Starts at 8 p.m.)
· Details: Join MOCA for an unforgettable evening of Jazz at MOCA, featuring the incredible talent of Lisanne Lyons, a multifaceted jazz vocalist, pianist, guitarist, arranger, composer and conductor. Lyons began her career as a featured performer in multiple Air Force bands, captivating audiences across the United States and Canada. She has been recognized with DownBeat “Dee Bee” awards for her exceptional jazz vocal solos and arrangements and had the honor of performing alongside Joel Grey on the NBC televised Orange Bowl halftime show. Lyons has shared the stage with renowned big bands such as the Woody Herman Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau and Arturo Sandoval. Her captivating performances have also graced the presence of esteemed orchestras, including the Roanoke Symphony, Palm Beach Pops Symphony and Fort Worth Symphony.
· Cost: Jazz at MOCA is free and open to the public. The gallery is open from 7-10 p.m. with museum admission. Admission to the museum is $10. Admission for students, seniors, and visitors identifying as disabled is $5. Admission is free for MOCA members, children under 12, North Miami residents, city employees, veterans, and caregivers accompanying people who are disabled.
RSVP:For more information, please visit: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/Jazz-at-MOCA-Featuring-Lisanne-Lyons
Where:
Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA)
770 NE 125th Street
Miami, FL 33161
Support:
“Lonnie Holley: If You Really Knew” is made possible with support from Blum & Poe, and is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture. We are also grateful to The N'Namdi Family. Special thanks to guest curator Alison M. Gingeras, for her contributions conceiving this exhibition.
“The South Florida Cultural Consortium” is funded in part with support from The National Endowment of the Arts, The Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council, the Boards of County Commissioners of Broward, Miami-Dade, Martin and Monroe Counties, and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.
“Art on the Plaza” is presented by MOCA, with major support from the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (NMCRA). Additional support was provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
MOCA miniMakers, Sunday Stories and MOCA Makers are funded by the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (NMCRA).
Jazz at MOCA is made possible with lead support from the North Miami Mayor and Council and the City of North Miami.
MOCA North Miami is generously funded by the North Miami Mayor and Council and the City of North Miami; the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture (Section 286.25, Florida Statutes). MOCA is supported in part by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support general operating expenses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and The Wege Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Fine & Greenwald Foundation; The Nathan Cummings Foundation; and the Sol Taplin Charitable Foundation. Founding support for the MOCA Sustainability Fund provided by the Green Family Foundation Trust. Major support provided by Shirley and William M. Lehman, Jr. We also thank our Board of Trustees, Curator’s Circle, and MOCA Members for their meaningful support.