Summer showers encourage our botanical bounty to grow lush and lovely. With the changing season our Gardens provide the most spectacular setting for the broad range of programming in the fall, winter and spring. This season, we promise better festivals in the Meadow, better performances on the Banyan Bowl stage and new educational programming designed to stimulate the minds of children from kindergarten through high school.
This year we will host AIRIE (Artists in Residence in Everglades) on three different occasions in our Gardens Gallery. We will host our first monumental art exhibit — four 16-foot sculptures by artist and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Philip Haas — entitled The Four Seasons that will be present in the Gardens for visitors to enjoy from November through April. We will present our seven-performance jazz series and welcome world-renowned jazz artists.
We will present three outstanding theater groups, three dance companies, opera, several orchestras, choirs and concert bands.
For children, we will offer two different movie series — one educational and one recreational — and a range of cultural and educational activities that promises to inspire creative thinking.
The Gardens are in full bloom and we welcome you all to our 2014-15 season.
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Sunday Chamber Serenade; Greater Miami Youth Symphony Chamber Orchestra, Oct. 12, 6 p.m. Your opportunity to unwind, breathe in the beauty of the Gardens, and listen to a free concert by members of South Florida’s premiere group of young musicians. Founded by Robert Strassburg in 1958 as the All-Miami Youth Symphony, the GMYS was created to foster a love of music in young people and to enrich the cultural life of the community.
GMYS has eight chamber groups going at any one time. Chamber ensembles have been coached by the Bergonzi String Quartet and former members of the Miami String Quartet.
ART
Fantastic FABRICations! (CREATIONS); Sept. 30 – Oct. 23; Awards Reception, Thursday, Oct. 16, 6-8 p.m.; Clothing is fiber and textile material worn on the body. It is a feature of human societies, although man throughout the ages has attired animals and livestock with blankets and textile articles to keep them warm in cold climates. It also has served many purposes from the practical to the decorative with all cultures and societies adapting it to meet specific needs. Primitive man and ancient societies not only used clothing for protection, but also depicted the same on cave walls and structures. Native Americans painted images and symbols on leather that was used for various purposes.
Today, modern aspects include costuming and designing that range from the imaginative to the futuristic. This show explores the elements of design in both 2D and 3D ranging from the indigenous to the modern aspects of FABRICations explored and interpreted through the best artistic talent of Miami-Dade Public School students, grades K-12.
FAMILY FRIDAY
The Lego Movie, Friday, Oct. 17, 8 p.m.; “Visuals are spectacular and the story is jampacked with so many funny lines, it’s hard to catch all the jokes that are delivered in rapid-fire succession.” — Bill Zwecker Chicago Sun- Times.
The Lego Movie is the first full-length theatrical LEGO adventure. An ordinary Lego construction worker thought to be the prophesied Special is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the Lego universe into eternal stasis. Flashlight tours begin about 7 p.m. and the movie begins about 8 p.m. Arrive early and snack on the best hotdogs and popcorn in town. General admission is $5, children under 2 enter free.
CULTURAL/BOTANICAL/EDUCATIONAL
Gardening with Craig; Preparing Your Fruit Trees for Success Next Spring; Wednesday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m.; Gardens Gallery, Hibiscus Room; Join Pinecrest Gardens horticulturist Craig Morell for a workshop that will teach you the tricks of the trade to boost the health and productivity of your home garden fruit trees. Culture tips and product sources will be provided for mango, avocado, lychee and longan trees.
Guests are encouraged to bring in samples of their fruit trees for diagnosis and suggestions. The workshop is limited to 10 people, so register for the class early by calling 305-669-6990. The workshop fee is $10.
JAZZ
South Motors Jazz Series presents Wendy Pedersen & the FIU Studio Jazz Big Band; Saturday, Oct. 18, 8 p.m. “She can steam up your contact lenses from 100 feet away.” — Doug Adrianson, Miami Herald “(The FIU Big Band) sports an explosive sound, the boldness of classic Stan Kenton, with gobs of warmth and sentiment.” — Glenn Astarita; Wendy Pedersen is one of South Florida’s favorite performers. Her high-energy vocal delivery, with deep, convincing emotion has been impacting audiences for many years. She has won many awards including Jazz Artist of the Year.
Miami New Times named her Best Vocalist saying “Wendy can shake the rafters or break your heart.” Her discography includes her debut CD Me + Three; a Holiday CD, Ho Ho Ho, and her brand new release, Under the Influence, a tribute to the many women of jazz who inspired her. Pedersen will perform with one of South Florida’s most renowned and recognized bands, the FIU Big Band, in an evening of favorite jazz standards. For information about pre-concert dining, call 305-669-6990 and for tickets call 877-496-8499.
South Motors Gen-Next Jazz presents New World School Jazz Ensemble; Sunday, Oct. 19, 6 p.m.; Join us for our newest jazz series celebrating the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow. The New World School of the Arts was created by the Florida legislature as a center of excellence in the performing and visual arts. It is an educational partnership of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami Dade College and the University of Florida. Numerous New World School of the Arts jazz students have been recognized on a national scale for their musicianship. NWSAstudents also have received Downbeat Student Music Awards, the Ella Fitzgerald Award and selected to perform with the NWSAHigh School Grammy Band in Los Angeles. Join us for this wonderful free performance.
CREATIVE CRAFTS
Perilous Pumpkin Painting — Join us on Sunday, Oct. 19, from 2-3:30 p.m. when your child will discover how art and nature comes together. They will paint creepy crawlers and ghostly ghouls on their very own pumpkin or perhaps even turn it into a mummy. They’ll also create a garden creature mask! So many wonderful creations to take home and display or wear on Halloween. During class time, parents can enjoy shopping at the Pinecrest Farmer’s Market just steps away from the crafts workshop area. All classes are taught by VSAFL’s certified teaching artist Yvette Cotera. Limited enrollment of 15 children per class. To pre-register, call 305-753-5341.
