Tuesday, February 26, 2013

"The Lost Series" by Arno Elias at Markowicz Fine Art

Once again, Markowicz Fine Art will host a wonderful, private event for another great artist...


THE "LOST SERIES" IS A CRYSTALLIZATION OF ELIAS' MIXED-MEDIA TECHNIQUES AND REFLECTS THE POWERFUL IMAGES HE CAPTURED DURING HIS SOLO WORLD PHOTOGRAPHIC TOUR OF COUNTRIES SUCH AS KENYA, GUATEMALA, THAILAND, EGYPT, INDIA, FRANCE, ENGLAND AND THE AMERICAN WEST.

THE SERIES FEATURES EXQUISITE MOMENTS FROM EXOTIC LOCATIONS, AND THROUGH IT, ELIAS IS "LOST" IN THE CULTURE AND CONTEXT OF FIVE CONTINENTS. ARNO RETURNS WITH SPECTULAR IMAGES AND A PHOTOGRAPHIC MONTAGE OF HIS ADVENTURES AND WE WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ARTIST AND THE GALLERY PLEASE CLICK HERE

Monday, February 11, 2013

Louis XIII Experience at Fendi Casa

Upon the opening of the high season in Miami, luxury brands look for opportunities to reach out to their consumers, and private events always seem to be the perfect outlet to mingle with them.

On Wednesday, November 7th, 2012, Louis XIII cognac (by Remy Martin) hosted one of their classic event series, The Louis XIII Experience, in partnership with FENDI Casa, at their Miami Design District showroom. The affair was an intimate champagne reception for 60 VIP guests, including residents from some of the top luxury condominiums in town, socialites and philanthropists.


“The concept behind these events is to invite a very targeted and exclusive guest list to partake of a social event without exposing them to aggressive marketing or sales pitches; these events are a subtle “match-making” of luxury brands with their consumers” says Marcelo Rivero, principal of Star Services Events & Public Relations.

Guests enjoyed exquisite hors d’oeuvres, and plenty of champagne was poured, but the highlight of the evening was a private tasting of Louis XIII; a cognac manufactured using grapes from the Grande Champagne territory of Cognac, France. It is blended from 1200 eaux-de-vie, some more than a century in age, then it is aged in tiercons, oak barrels that are several hundred years old, in its own cellar.

The average price range is between $1,800 to $2,500 per bottle. Mathieu Levy, brand ambassador for Louis XIII, guided guests through the history of this exclusive cognac/champagne while engaging them in a group tasting that ended in a toast to celebrate life and luxury.


The event was co-hosted by luxury real estate impresario Carlo Gambino, VP of Duglas-Elliman, Vanessa Nunez, principal of Nunez Interior, a boutique high end interior design firm, and South Florida Opulence Magazine.


Friday, February 1, 2013

The Lounge & Shop Experience by Anya Ponorovskaya


New York based designer Anya Ponorovskaya brings to the Miami Design District a weekly rendez-vous well acclaimed in her New York City boutiques, started with a launching event on Saturday, January 12, 2013, coinciding with the 2nd Saturday Gallery Walk.

Obe Santos and Anya Ponorovskaya
The “Lounge & Shop Experience” is a series of weekly informal events to gather friends and clients to enjoy drinks and light bites while perusing through the designer’s latest collections. Each time will feature a unique and fun element, such as complimentary make-over sessions, samplings of cosmetics or other products and accessories. For the occasion, the designer flew to Miami to meet with the media and to make a cameo appearance as the host of the event.


Located in the block of the Miami Design District with the highest concentration of luxury fashion, Anya P. adds glamour and personal touch with the weekly appointment “Lounge & Shop Experience”. With nibbles and wines, clients and friends were invited to experience the femininity, elegance and retro flair of the line.


Known for bringing to modernity an almost forgotten generation of fashion, Anya Ponorovskaya is willing to share her inspirations and introduce her tailoring touches, handmade originality and impeccable fit to clients, friends and visitors. The designer’s retro flair has ideally blended with the cosmopolitan lifestyle of her local clientele since the opening of the boutique. Her Miami client is genuinely sensual and feminine, yet refuses to pay for fashion trends and finds in her creations the appropriate balance of looks for leisure and work.


Calligaris Miami - Art Basel 2012

Owners of Calligaris Miami, Liliana Silva and Agustin Aguera with
artist Pablo Atchugarry (center)
On December 8th, 2012 Italian furniture and home décor purveyor, Calligaris, celebrated the works of acclaimed Uruguayan sculptor and artist, Pablo Atchugarry and mixed media artist, Lara Campiglia, with a cocktail reception during the Art Basel week. Atchugarry unveiled five new creations specifically designed for Art Basel Miami Beach 2012, hosted by one of Uruguay's finest modern and contemporary art galleries, Galeria Sur. Atchugarry was in attendance at Calligaris Miami to showcase one of his sculptures, a 240 cm tall, Portugal bronze contemporary masterpiece.
Uruguayan artist, Lara Campiglia, featured exhibit pieces from her "City from The Sky" series. An aerial perspective of men on Earth inspires the mixed media artist's latest series created in Miami. Campiglia's contemporary artwork has been on exhibit in Uruguay, Miami, Los Angeles, New York City and Vienna.
The host of that evening is a leader in Italian home design since 1923, Calligaris has grown from a small, family-owned operation to an international name in modern furniture. Calligaris prides itself on creating stylish and adaptable chairs, tables, sofas, beds and accessories for any contemporary home by combining sleek Italian design with the highest level of functionality. Calligaris incorporates its four pillars of Italian style into each piece of furniture - modern design, excellent craftsmanship, ingenuity and everyday appeal. Based in Manzano, Italy, Calligaris products are available at retailers in 95 countries worldwide.


"Post-Millenial Jonah" Exhibit at Williams McCall Gallery - Art Basel 2012

Enveloped in a sea of turquoise blue, visitors to The Williams McCall Gallery enjoyed a special, multi-media exhibit during the debut of "Post-Millenial Jonah" on December 7th. The art installation, on display at the first fine art gallery South of Fifth on South Beach, is the creation of artist Dorothy Palanza.

Palanza successfully set out to bring a different perspective of the ocean and the union of air and water space by creating a multi-sensory installation for people to walk through. Her work, which is deeply rooted in the experiential, includes drawings and paintings of migratory Right Whales. Art enthusiasts praised the exhibit, which took place during Art Basel Miami 2012, the most prestigious contemporary art show in the Americas.
Artist Dorothy Palanza and gallery owner Gail Williams
Those who attended the opening reception were not only treated to a cascade of flowing champagne, but to a unique, multi-sensory experience. That's because the installation included a video by Elizabeth Bradfield and poem by Demet Taspinar. Bradfield is currently the Poet-in-Residence at Brandeis University. Demet's work has been shown in galleries from Turkey to the Tate Modern in London.

"The synthesis of these three mediums perfectly came together to allow our guests to experience the union of the elements of water and air," said Palanza. "What an incredible opportunity this has been, to not only bring the plight of the Right Whale to life, but to allow guests to embrace this important part of our world."
Palanza and Bradfield were among those in attendance, Richard Delaney, President and CEO of the Provincetown Center of Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts, also attended the event. A portion of the sales at the exhibit will benefit the Center, whose mission is to conduct scientific research and preservation of marine mammals, habitats and whales in the western North Atlantic Ocean.

Palanza was born in Massachusetts and is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (BFA) and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (MFA). Palanza's work reflects the personal, environmental and socio-cultural influences from her life experience and extensive history of exploration and collaboration in the arts. Palanza has had numerous group and solo shows. Her work is collected by private patrons internationally.


Maurice Renoma Exhibit at Markowicz Fine Art - Art Basel 2012


The compliments flowed as much as the champagne at the exclusive opening exhibit 'Story of the Stories', for France's premiere designer and photographer, Maurice Renoma. Renoma mingled with celebrities and signed autographs during the exclusive opening on Friday, December 7th, at the Markowicz Fine Art Gallery at 1114 NE 40th Street in Miami’s Design District. Renoma's exhibit included a number of the artist's most iconic pieces from his Mythology Collection and Dean Collection. The exhibit coincided with Art Basel, the most prestigious contemporary art show in the Americas.

A number of notable faces took part in the exclusive opening. Famed rock and roll photographer, Bob Gruen, paid a visit to the gallery. Gruen has photographed artists such as: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Green Day and was once John Lennon's personal photographer. Local fashion designer Samy Gicherman and Bravo's Real Housewives of Miami star and art dealer, Adriana De Moura, were also in attendance.
Adriana De Moura and Maurice Renoma
"I am much honored to have had so many people come visit my exhibit and praise my work," said Renoma, whose very appearance in the U.S. is rare. Guests got to meet the artist, admire his series and enjoy wines and champagne at the evening event.
Bob Gruen and Maurice Renoma
Maurice Renoma began his career in the 1960's as a fashion and furniture designer. In the early 1990's, Renoma developed his passion for photography. From the human body, to life on the streets, to clothing, Renoma captures the beauty of the moment in photographs. Besides clothing, furniture and photography, Renoma's name can also be found on watches, eyewear, tableware, and even in the restaurant business through the Renoma Cafés in Paris, France and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Markowicz Fine Art is owned by French gallerist, Bernard Markowicz. The Markowicz Fine Art Gallery is home to the Mourlot estate in Florida. The Atelier Mourlot, located in Paris, is one of the largest printers of artistic posters in the world and widely visited by artists who create original graphic works of art there. The Markowicz Fine Art Gallery also features works by Pop Art legends such as Andy Warhol and Tom Wesselmann.


Design District Private Tour 2012

Story by Carissa Chesanek / Design District Magazine
Photos by Silvia Brasil and Sarah Stramel

Over the Summer 2012, the Miami Design District Marketing Council (MDDMC) partnered with Design District Magazine to give a private tour of some of the most exclusive showrooms that the artsy Design District scene has to offer. Planning and coordination was also provided by Star Services Events who helped make all of this happen.
Tour guests at Marni
In efforts to bring more foot traffic to the area and to help reach potential buyers, the MDDMC were able to bring in over 60 guests, residents of luxury condominiums thanks to the relationship built with the concierges of such buildings who fully supported the event by inviting their valuable clients. Those residents who attended were from all over the elite areas of  Miami including Icon South Beach, Icon Brickell, Portofino Towers, 1500 Ocean Drive, 900 Biscayne Bay, Continuum South, and The W Residences.
Andrea Minnucci, Director of FENDI Casa
and Sofia Joelsson, Creative Director of SOJO Design
Attending residents were picked up at their homes by specific area designated limo-buses provided by Worldwide Limousine. There were two groups of roughly over 30 people and were split between South Beach residents and Brickell with Downtown patrons.