THOUGHTS & WHAT NOTS
The Last 2 Years
What happened to the time? This is very difficult to write, but necessary. Two years ago I was celebrating the first year of living here in Miami. I was working on the blog post series “My 4 P’s”, which I will complete for the sake of finishing it, and expanding my client portfolio. This post will bring us up to the beginning of 2020. I’m saving 2020 for its own soul searching, quarantined, home office experience, post. At the end of 2017 I wrote about my year in review. I was happy, growing, and deeply focused on my personal art practice. Once 2018 hit things got very interesting, in some good and bad ways. The day after I completed the sculptures for my solo exhibition “Identifying Characters” at Englewood Art Center in February 2018 I received 2 phone calls. The first one was that the cute little coffee shop I had been working at part time was closing. The second phone call was to let me know my dear friend John had died in a motorcycle accident. This was a huge shift that would influence the my direction until now, 2 years after my last blog post.
My solo exhibition went beautifully. I got to see my best friends, and meet sweet baby, Winter, my former roommate’s daughter. I was able to spend 3 days in Sarasota, eating my favorite mac ’n’ cheese from Artisan Cheese Company, drinking coffee, and Jared came up for the opening day with Mondi to bring me home. As soon as I returned home, to Miami, the shift began. That cute little coffee shop decided to pivot and pop-up at an event space in Wynwood. I joined the coffee shop Founder and an investor of the event space for lunch. We politely discussed how this was going to work, and they invited to run the coffee bar part of the space. Not fully understanding the responsibilities, I agreed. I don’t know if this was a huge mistake or if this was the way it was supposed to happen, but I will say that this decision changed the direction of where I was going. The best way to describe it is a “detour”.
The next 44 days….Yes, I counted. These 44 days took bright shining, happy, art making Ariana into the depths of anger, mistrust, and manipulation. It took me further way from what I really wanted to be doing and forced me to grow in a different direction. I am not going to get into all the details. But I will say a handful of those days were incredibly exciting, and fulfilling. Jared and I were given the opportunity to throw a music week event “Alive and Well” which was Jared and Sam’s brainchild that needed some financial assistance to be brought to fruition. That night, March 21st of 2018, was a huge accomplishment considering all the adversity to pull it off on a tight budget from sound, lights, flights, only 2 weeks of promotion during Miami Music Week filled to the brim with other events, and 4 broken bathrooms by midnight. In early April that pop-up and event space was done. It had been bled dry before I arrived, and the moving on took a huge weight off my shoulders and introduced new unknowns.
April was a bit more relaxing. One of the results of working in that event space, was that I made some new friends and was introduced to more people in Miami. Some of the people saw me as the one thing I don’t put on my resume, “store manager” or “barista”. We all know how much a I love coffee and the only reason I was working at the coffee shop was to meet people having just moved here. I was doing my best to shift perspectives by showing these new people my mission. I brunched at the Soho Beach House with one of my design idols. I was commissioned to prep a 13’ dining table from a slab of Sapele with a little help. I was asked to put together a business plan for a building and decided that wasn’t want I wanted. I learned how to say No. I was commissioned to work on a visual branding, photo styling, packaging design, website design, a market booth set-up filled with handmade fixtures and a merchandising plan from May to July for Sayblee. Finally, I was back on course. I was commissioned to build fixtures for a new gym in July. I was selected to show at the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series for the second year in a row. I was invited to show more sculptures at the gallery that hosted the Bombay event. I was commissioned to create a paper flower photo booth wall for a wedding in January 2019. And I joined my friend Joe for the new store opening of Walt Grace Vintage in October. Jared and I had gone to weddings, traveled to multiple cities around the US 2018, got our noses pierced on Valentine’s Day, and by mid-October I was exhausted….when another opportunity came knocking at my door.
That investor I had lunch with in February is the same person who hired me to build fixtures for the new gym opening in July-August. One day in passing after installing the boxing glove display, he presented another project he was working on. My first thought was, yes I want to design and build a retail space. That is the mission. To create spaces and experiences for people to enjoy. In my mind it’s pretty simple. This turned into something else very quickly. The more we talked the more I dug my claws into the big picture. I think this happened because the original idea was a very broad stroke, and I can’t help but try to understand the big picture because this defines the details. This retail store, Kalma, would become my primary focus for the next 16 months with the title Creative Curator.
From November 1st 2018 until January 14th 2019 I was consumed by Kalma and completing the paper flower photo booth. I still feel like I barely made it through both projects but I did have MANY amazing helping hands in the process. Kalma was originally conceptualized as a modern apothecary type general store. With the CBD trend accelerating in the health and wellness industry that was its main product focus. I was challenged to learn as much as I could have CBD products in a very short amount of time. While working to create an in-store experience that would be elevated and playful. October gave me the time to plan, and then it was paint, wallpaper, and building furniture and fixtures until we got all the permits to open the doors for customers. The store opened on January 14, 2019 in the retail sanctuary Upper Buena Vista. By February one of the people involved in the planning and opening decided to no longer participate in the project leaving just 2 of us, the Founder and me. I took on all the responsibilities that other person was supposed to do, being the store manager, focusing on brand development and product curation. Once again, I was detoured. I took over Instagram marketing, developing the website, training employees, managing store operations, and maintaining the in store experience. It became my full time job. I become invested, because that’s who I am. I spent my 32nd birthday working a shift in the store. I talked about Kalma when I went out, and promoted the store. I did everything I could to create a successful brand with limited resources.
All the while, in 2019, self care of my brand and my why quickly diminished. I only took on 3 freelance projects related to art and my personal mission. Each being realized between September and December. After 2018s huge personal art successes and progress. I was feeling disappointed in myself for the detour. It wasn’t until October when my mom and I went to France and Italy to experience the Venice Biennale and give me a much needed break from my day to day in Miami that I become whole again. When we returned home from that trip I knew things needed to change, I knew it was going to difficult, and I knew that I needed to try harder to get off the detour. I gave myself the benefit of the doubt, I was gentle with myself, and I allowed the rest of 2019 to play out exactly as it needed to. I trusted that if I put the intentions out into the world something would happen and they did. I was linked up to Always Friday Co and commissioned a project that was 100% on mission. I was introduced to Harmont & Blaine as an expert visual merchandiser, and sculptural display artist, because that’s exactly who I am. This was how I ended my year. Back on course, and with 2020 intentions: REFINE.
Meta Apparition: Miami Art Week 2017
I was really excited and nervous on September 27th. I almost didn’t go to the opening at Primary Projects in the Design District because I was by myself. But there was a plan in place, an intention. I would go and introduce myself to Typoe, artist and owner, whom I had been Facebook messaging with the month before. I had to show up even if it was just for myself. Primary Projects is such a beautiful space and the show “Impressions of a Landscape” by Magnus Sodamin was a site to see. While I was there I wandered around awkwardly, staring at the paintings on the walls. I turned the corner and saw Carlos Betancourt's “Times of Illuminations: For the Sake of Beauty” and I lit up. The funny part was that the assemblage wasn’t even plugged in. That was my moment where I felt as though the gallery was empty. It was just me and the monumental rectangle covered with Christmas stars. Massed in the center, sprinkling out to the edges, I felt like a little girl on Christmas morning and I knew I could survive the rest of the evening. I made my way outside and saw a tall bearded man adorned with tattoos, in an unrefined way I introduced myself with “Hi! I’m here by myself, my name’s Ariana, who are you?” He kindly exchanged salutations and talked with me for a bit, introducing me to the people he knew outside.
Carlos Betancourt "Times of Illumination: For the Sake of Beauty"
Through the window I saw Typoe walking and for the first time all night he was not surrounded by 5 people. This was my moment, I walked back into the gallery, and up to him. He greeted me as if we had been friends for years, so kind and welcoming. We engaged in light conversation and then a gentlemen wearing a button up and slacks came up to say hello. Our exchange set in motion an opportunity I didn’t know was possible when I moved here 5 months ago. This is the moment that positively changed the course of what I would be doing for Miami Art Week. I met Kevin, Projects Director for Shulman+Associates. Our brief conversation, standing in the packed gallery, resulted in an email 2 days later. Subject line “Outdoor Installation”. I was planning on emailing him the following Tuesday. I’ve learned that building relationships with people is like dating. Be aggressive, but don’t look desperate, engage in like-minded conversation, but speak your truth. This has been part of my business model. I was surprised and intrigued by the message including one creative direction “furniture/shelter like”, and I knew we were a good fit.
After our first in person meeting, and 1 page project overview submission, I got the call. This was now our project. I began my planning, and result was a 14 page powerpoint presentation of the interactive indoor/outdoor sculptural art installation. The colors are bold and vibrant. The shapes are graphic. The surface treatments organic. All 10 ambitious sculptures were well received by the Shulman Team. Pre-production began at the end of October. My timeline was 5 weeks with 1 week of details. I began dying watercolor paper, material testing, designing each piece thoughtfully, knowing that it will represent myself as well as Shulman + Associates during the most important time of year for artists and designers here in Miami. 3 trapezoidal cabanas outside with 5 plinths, a coffee table, and a suspended ‘chandelier’ inside the reception area. I was told “furniture/ shelter like” and this is where my creative brain went.
Two weeks into production, I assessed my timeline, and realized in order to get everything done before December 4th, I was going to need to bring in some help. The suspended ‘chandelier’ is composed of 2000 discs made from aluminum mesh screening, watercolor paper, and metal foil. The circle punch I got worked great for the paper and metal foil but when I tried the mesh I broke 3 punchers. I knew that these were going to have to be cut by hand. One Facebook event, 32 ounces of Cold Brew coffee from Box, 3 hours and 40 minutes and 4 friends later all 1150 mesh circles were completed. I continued to assess, adjust, and stay on schedule. Week 3 came and so did the rain. I needed to work outside to dye the curtains I tailored for the cabanas. 20 feet of canvas for each cabana. I found a window in the weather app that showed me clear skies through the night. I promptly picked up 9 bags of 10lb ice, set up the structure, and the curtains soaked the dye as I slept. Week 4 I started working on the plinths, I had some plywood donated to me, which was saving my budget. As I began working with the material, following my original plan, something felt off. I was not connecting to the shapes, or the heavy material. I couldn’t use it. I needed to adjust, be flexible, and revisit my drawings. I thought to myself “If I could change this and do anything what would you do?”. The sketch that came out of that put me in a position that made me uncomfortable. But I knew it was the right thing…remember this is the most important week for artists and designer for the whole year in Miami. I took the day to find a solution. The next day I started again on the plinths, creating all 5 in under 12 hours. These felt right. These came together as if the universe was guiding me. They make me happy. Over the last week I have been in detail mode. Refining installation processes, color story, weather proofing, and assembling as much as I can. Yesterday I took the whole day off, I spent time with my roommate developing this weeks media marketing strategy, drinking coffee, and watching mid-90s rom-coms. Tomorrow we install.
The exhibition is titled “Meta Apparition”. When I was developing this installation I knew it was going to be playful, spiritual, and metamorphic. I experienced all three of these things while I was producing the work, and my overall intention is for the viewer to also experience and celebrate these ideas. Meta pertains to a story, conversation or character. It describes a consciously and playful self-referential story. Apparition is the supernatural element, as if these objects have appeared from the natural, to be remarkable. This is my truth.
This will be my first solo exhibition…and you’re invited…
5 Years Later: Back in the Gallery
Time flies when I am making the art. I didn’t even realize how long it had been since I’ve posted in the blog and shared with you all what has been happening in the magical world of Ariana and Alchemist Productions. This post is about the spaghetti I am throwing at the wall hoping for a piece to stick. One of the pieces stuck, and it wasn’t the piece I thought. It’s really interesting because when I made the decision to leave my dream job to work on Alchemist I had not intended to do gallery exhibitions. I haven’t shown my personal work in 5 years. I’ll tell you the story…
Once upon a time…in 2004, I moved to Sarasota, Florida to go to college. I spent 4 years developing my personal art practice. Attending Miami Art Basel every December discovering contemporary art. I graduated in 2008 and did my best to continue to make art, but I wasn’t very successful, or self-motivated. The end of 2009 to the beginning of 2010 broke that cycle when I was accepted to Vermont Studio Center for a 6 week artist retreat. In July of 2010 my mentor invited me to move into his warehouse studio space with him, allowing me a space to create larger sculptures and develop installations. He also invited me to show in an exhibition for the first time since my senior thesis. That October I created a sculptural installation with a video performance. The following year I joined S/ART/Q, the local contemporary art collective, and started doing pop up events with them around town. At the same time I began creating window display installations for a local boutique, Juno & Jove. In 2012, S/ART/Q raised enough money to go to Miami Art Basel and show at Select Fair. This was the last time I showed in a “gallery” setting.
S/ART/Q Exhibition Installation, 2011
My personal art practice was really difficult to maintain while producing the branded content for the boutique. It just wasn’t my time, and that was okay. In the middle of 2013 I took a year off from making art. Then in mid-2014 I was hired by Anthropologie and moved to Naples, FL. I made art for them for about 3 years. At the beginning of this year, I was presented with an amazing opportunity to create something that brought my personal art practice together with branded content and granted me this magical sense of social responsibility to get back to making my own personal art. That’s one of the reasons I made the decision to leave my dream job and move to Miami.
In August I was scrolling through instagram and I came across a Prism Creative Group post promoting the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series. I had been focused making personal work. I had content again, so I submitted 3 pieces. This is really interesting because I’ve never applied to anything like this before. I’ve never felt this confident about my personal work, but at the same time this particular competition spans all of North America. I had no idea who else was submitting work, or who the judges are. All I knew was that if I didn’t try I would never know if my work was in line with other contemporary artists.
When I received the email that I am a regional semi-finalist and that I would be in a group show with 14 other artists in a Miami gallery, I was extremely surprised and excited at the same time. It is an honor to be selected as 1 of 15 artists in the Miami region. I am so pleased that I moved to Miami and live in a city that collaborates on opportunities like this. Yesterday I dropped off my assemblage at N’Namdi Contemporary in Wynwood. It has been 5 years since I have shown in a gallery setting. This Thursday October 12, will break the cycle again. The Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series is happening in collaboration with Artsy.net to showcase emerging artists at Scope Miami Beach during Miami Art Basel. You can vote for my work online once a day, everyday until November 7th by clicking this link. I also lined up a solo show in February in the Mitchell Gallery at the Englewood Art Center which is affiliated of Ringling College of Art and Design, my alma mater.
The selected assemblage for the exhibition.
The piece I will be showing titled "My Mother's Jewelry"
Although I am still following leads to take my work outside of the gallery and create bespoke branded sculptural installations for businesses, and site specific commercial buildings, this is a great start to build relationships with the art community. It’s one of the most important things I can be doing. Building relationships. Contributing to the landscape of art and culture in my community. Giving back to the community that has supported me in the past. I invite you to join me as the cycle breaks and I share my work with the world.
