Visit to Miami Art Week
- Dec 15, 2024
- 3 min read
When Akio Harada's work was exhibited in Miami, we learned that a large art festival was being held in Miami, so this year, following on from last year, Kotoe-sensei, myself and my son Aoi will be attending!
This year, I had a general understanding of Miami's geography and was able to move around efficiently because I was able to decide on the location of my hotel and get a sense of distances to travel.
Art festivals are held all over Miami. I was able to visit three venues: Context Art Miami + Art Miami, which I was excited about last year, and Red Dot Miami, where Professor Harada's work is being exhibited this time. Signature Fine Art, with whom Professor Harada has a contract, arranged for me a valuable admission pass, which allowed me to take my time and enjoy the works. I'm really grateful for all their help! Thank you very much!
First, there were works by Professor Harada that were exhibited at Red Dot Miami. The entire booth was filled with works by Professor Harada. Most of the visitors were looking to purchase works, and they were cheerful and calm, and it was easy to talk to them, and they were also easy to talk to (lol). They would say things like "This is a friend's work and came from Japan. Which work do you like?" in some fluent English.
"Wow! Kawaii!" The "cuteness" of Harada-sensei's works has captivated people all over the world! It's really exciting to see the reactions of foreigners! And please work harder on your English (lol)
Other works are also available (mostly photographed by Aoi).
My son took about 1,000 pictures (lol), so these are just a few of them.
I hardly ever meet any Asians in Miami, and people I met on the bus or my Uber driver were amused by the fact that I was a rare Japanese person, saying things like, "A Japanese person? Really?! That's rare in Miami!" "I've been to Japan! Tokyo! Shinjuku!" "A Japanese person? I went last year! I'm really interested in Japan!" (:
Ferris wheel from Bayside Marketplace He was very cheerful and talked to me a lot, and we exchanged Instagram accounts lol. His work sold really well! Artworks made by cracking glass. They were everywhere. Free trolley ride I thought there was a policeman A wonderful monument suddenly appears between the buildings The entrance to Red Dot Miami. I've been there three times. Bar counter at Red Dot Miami. There were so many people on the opening day. The man next door to the Harada-sensei exhibition seems to love Japan. A man who took 1000 photos. He was taking pictures with a gleam in his eyes and speaking some strange English. A piece in which the colors change gradually. Kotoe-sensei eats her first hamburger in New York and her second hamburger in Miami. Men from all over the world are likely to strike this pose. I'm working on the walls here and there. Most of them are on this gondola-like scaffolding. A photo of Kotoe Sensei taking a picture of a mother taking a picture of her son. After Miami Beach, we had lunch. The ladies had pancakes and the guys had hamburgers. American potatoes are so delicious! Miami Beach Miami Beach Miami Beach (by Kotoe Sensei) Son of Miami Beach (my work) Miami Beach mother and daughter (mother got wet up to her ankles) Miami Beach Mother (Son Work) Waiting for the trolley The hotel was very close to two supermarkets. The water pressure in the shower was very weak. American supermarkets are wonderlands! I woke up at 6am and went to the supermarket which opens at 7am. Parent and child. A large tree at the entrance to Bayside Marketplace. LOL Walked an average of 20,000 steps per day I definitely want to use the oven to grill some meat! Meat. This sesame bread was delicious (slightly spicy) and I wish I had bought more. It was a stylish shot This too. My son loves sneakers, but he's not coming out easily. I put a sticker on it. I've also posted it here. I also pasted it here. Entrance to Wynwood Walls. A Christmas tree on the beach with people swimming. Last year I bought a sticker of this artist's work and put it on my water bottle. I was blown away by the deliciousness of the burger, and ended up ordering an unexpectedly large shake (sweet). Sunny every day. Suddenly, a bookshelf appears between the buildings. Wynwood is an area where there is always something attached to the telephone poles. The sidewalk is a canvas. Murals everywhere as far as the eye can see. There was a lot of recording going on in different places in the gallery. This is my favorite mural. The magazine section in a supermarket. Wynwood. Murals continue as far as the eye can see. Wynwood Wynwood Wynwood Wynwood Walls Wynwood Walls Wynwood Walls. This artist creates works by cracking glass, and his works are displayed all over the place. Wynwood Walls Murals spring up everywhere you look
The murals have changed since last year, so it seems like more and more artists are painting them. I came across a lot of scenes where people were painting.
The weather was such that you couldn't even see the Christmas tree, and you could wear a T-shirt in a way that made it hard to believe it was December (lol), and the people there to see the art and those I met in town were all calm and cheerful, and the atmosphere in Miami was very friendly and peaceful.
After visiting art museums in New York and Boston on her own, Kotoe-sensei joined us in Miami. What! From sub-zero temperatures in New York! To swimming-friendly temperatures in Miami! She was in great spirits and walked 20,000 steps on the first day with no qualms. Amazing. Physical strength is important!
Miami Art Week took place from December 3rd to 8th, and it seems to have been held mainly at 10 venues, and this year I conquered 3 of them. I've been to Miami for the second year in a row, and I still want to go, so I'll probably go again sometime (:
Finally, I took a lot of videos, so I put them together. This page is probably very heavy! Sorry!