“IF SEATS COULD TALK” Exhibition
The Miami Design Preservation League proudly presents an “Only in Miami Exhibition” opening on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 from 6-10 pm during the Culture Crawl at the Miami Design Preservation League Welcome Center located at 1001 Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. The “IF SEATS COULD TALK” exhibition features 12 original seats created by artists:
Enma Saiz
Monique Lassooij
Adam Thompson
Alfredo Capelli/George Hernandez
Donna Lee Steffens
Vickie Pierre
Elisa Cellini
Rush Bowles
Bibi Andrade
Courtney Einhorn
Becca Butler Clark
from the Miami Marine Stadium reimagined by our talented South Florida local artists and a full sized life guard chair from Historic Virginia Key Beach Park.
Original MMS seats
Developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Restore Marine Stadium, over 60 artists have taken seats from the Marine Stadium, captured their remarkable spirit, and created an astounding array of inventive sculptures.
The exhibit is timely as both Miami Marine Stadium and Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, the two historic anchors of Virginia Key, are moving forward with restoration plans. The City of Miami has hired RJ Heisenbottle Architects, PA to develop plans for the Stadium and Virginia Key Beach Park is refining its own Master Plan.
“As preservationists, we often say that buildings are one-of-a-kind, and in the case of Miami Marine Stadium-a National Treasure of the National Trust-it’s especially true”, said Jason Lloyd Clement Director of Marketing Campaigns for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Architecturally and culturally speaking, it’s Miami’s most significant structure-the City’s Eiffel Tower. And with its restoration finally underway, we’re excited for this exhibit which celebrates the artists who have kept the vision of Miami Marine Stadium alive for decades.”
Guy Forchion, Executive Director of Virginia Key Beach Park Trust, noted that this exhibit is a collaborative effort between the two historic places on Virginia Key: “The Virginia Key Beach Park Trust is proud and pleased to be a partner with the Miami Marine Stadium “If Seats Could Talk” art exhibit series” Mr. Forchion said. “Both the Marine Stadium and Historic Virginia Key Beach Park share a rich history on Virginia Key and hold extraordinary memories in the hearts and minds of South Floridians”.
MDPL is pleased to host this exhibit at the Art Deco Welcome Center on Ocean Drive” said Daniel Ciraldo, Executive Director. “We look forward to our visitors from around the world learning more about Miami Marine Stadium and Historic Virginia Key Beach Park through this creative exhibition.”