The best things in life are free goes the old song, and Miami, given its national poverty rankings, needs all the help it can get when it comes to providing entertainment for the masses with creative aspirations and few funds. No money?
No problem, man! The Arsht Center does its fair share — I’ll let you decide whether it’s fair enough — and though there are occasional strings attached when events are offered at no charge, a fine opportunity is coming down the pike with Miami Made in the Ziff Ballet Opera House’s Carnival Theater on March 1-4.
This festival, along with the “free” Borscht Film Festival and Miami Light Project’s once free Here and Now, which recently ran in Wynwood, feature an abundance of local talent at work. This year is still free. You should be able to get in for nothing if you come early enough or buy a VIP pass for $35.
On March 2, Rosie Herrera, beloved local dancer plus more will present a new piece called Dining Alone. Expect your appetite to get challenged. You may leave hungry or maybe unable to imagine eating, but again expect your stomach to be moved. Paul Tei and Mad Cat have been presenting plays since 2000. This time, the ensemble tackles fame and the quest for what has been lost.
The TM Sisters — Tasha Lopez De Victoria and Monica Lopez De Victoria — grew up in Miami and will perform for the first time at Miami Made presenting Shimmer. With the same enterprise they offered during their G Spot Bicycle Tour, they can be counted on to come up with a little sumpin’ Miamiesque.
Musically, Miami Made has a few notes up its sleeve. Oscar Sardiñas and Alex Senf front Crown Company and channel their local take on Radiohead/Coldplay/White Stripes/Black Keys influenced tunes. Roofless Records also has a 60-minute set ready to go. Psych-eclecticism is the portrait they paint of themselves, which I deftly pickpocketed from their blog. The Hongs and their clean-licking guitar disco are also scheduled on March 3.
Other players like The Project (Theater) and Mark Della Ventura will present work, and Richard Martinez will display photos throughout the festivities.
Miami Made is totally free, but trust me; you will want to get there early if you hope to fully guarantee that you won’t be among Miami’s late arriving throngs turned away by those who will show up in droves early. Whenever something is free and good — both of which Miami Made promise — Miami’s hungry and broke art lovers will queue for hours.
Carl Rachelson has a Masters Degree in Humanities and is an English teacher at Palmer Trinity School. He may be contacted via email at <crachelson@palmertrinity. org>.
