Artist-will-help-City-of-Miami-Beach-address-sea-level-rise
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2018
Contact: Marika Lynch, marika@marikalynch.com , 305-898-3595
Photos: bit.ly/sotophotos
Artist will help City of Miami Beach address sea level rise with new
ArtCenter/South Florida residency
— Misael Soto is ArtCenter and the City of Miami Beach’s first Art in Public Life
resident —
Miami Beach, FL – ArtCenter/South Florida and the City of Miami Beach have named
their first Art in Public Life resident, who will provide a fresh perspective in helping the
city address the challenge of sea level rise and improve its overall resiliency.
Visual Artist Misael Soto, who recently received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, will work both at City Hall and in his studio at
nearby ArtCenter.
ArtCenter chose Soto because of the artist’s approach to involving the community in new
works, including in the November exhibition “Flood Relief.” The installation on the
Downtown Miami bayfront, commissioned by Miami-Dade Art in Public Places, used
giant flood mitigation pumps, and performance events surrounding them, to create a
spectacle that urged people to explore flood mitigation efforts.
“The community has been at the center of Misael’s work. People can engage with the
art, talk about it, learn from it and help push the conversation forward on issues –
whether it’s climate change in Miami or gentrification in Chicago,” said Dennis Scholl,
president and CEO of ArtCenter/South Florida. “With this residency, Misael can go
deeper into one of the most important issues of our time.”
The program is supported in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s
Knight Arts Challenge, which funds the best ideas for bringing South Florida together
through the arts.
Over the next year, Soto will be embedded in the City of Miami Beach, working directly
with the City’s Director of Environment and Sustainability as the City develops climate
adaptation and mitigation programs and strategies. Miami Beach is proactively
addressing sea level rise, its economic and social consequences, and other challenges
faced by many cities in the 21st century. The city is investing $500 million to raise roads
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.
and install pumps to protect the island and the people who live there, and is also
developing a comprehensive resiliency strategy. Soto plans to attend meetings, provide
input, and, through his art, bring the community into the process.
“Miami Beach residents have seen the effects of sea level rise first hand. A problem this
complex demands attention and solutions from all corners of our city. We’re excited to
have Misael on board to help us reach more people and to harness his creativity on the
issue,” said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber.
ArtCenter/South Florida will work closely with the artist on the implementation of
programming and art works throughout the residency period.
"This residency is a way for me, an artist, to get into the room with those who are making
the decisions that affect people on the ground daily and contribute in multiple ways,
primarily through my art,” Soto said.
Soto has exhibited at MCA Chicago, Open Engagement 2015, the Museum of
Contemporary Art in North Miami, Material Art Fair in Mexico City, David Castillo Gallery
in Miami and the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, among others.
ABOUT ARTCENTER/SOUTH FLORIDA
Established in 1984, ArtCenter/South Florida is a non-profit that advances the knowledge and
practice of contemporary visual arts and culture to an audience of approximately 80,000 people
per year. ArtCenter/South Florida creates opportunities for experimentation and encourages the
critical exchange of ideas through residencies, exhibitions, public programs, education and
outreach. The residency programs include a Studio Residency Program, an International
Exchange Program, a PRINTshop Residency Program, a Fellowship Program, the ARTSail
Residency & Research Program and Art in Public Life Residency. Exhibitions and programs at
ArtCenter/South Florida are made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County
Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council; the Miami-Dade County Mayor
and Board of County Commissioners; the Miami Beach Mayor and City Commissioners; the
State of Florida, Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; the Florida Arts
Council; the National Endowment for the Arts; and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
For more information, visit www.artcentersf.org
ABOUT MIAMI BEACH
With an average year-round temperature of 75 degrees, Miami Beach blends the pleasures of a
tropical island with that of a sophisticated metropolis. The 7.2 square mile urban-paradise is the
pulse of South Florida. From walkable neighborhoods, white, sandy beaches, clear aquamarine
waters, and an extensive park system to its rich Art Deco and MiMo history, fine dining, and
diverse and unique entertainment and cultural offerings.
Miami Beach is where everyone wants to come to live, work and play. It is home to unique
museums, the New World Symphony and Miami City Ballet, over 17,000 luxury, boutique and
resort hotel rooms, 12 public parks, and the Miami Beach Convention Center.
On the front lines of climate change, Miami Beach is often hailed to be writing the book on sea
level rise adaptation and mitigation through its estimated $500 million stormwater infrastructure
plan, which includes the aggressive installation of stormwater pumps, raising roads and elevating
sea walls citywide.
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