The Museum of Art and Design at Miami Dade College (MOAD) recently renovated its galleries in the historic Freedom Tower (former Miami News building) and launched the strikingly improved facility with the opening of a new exhibition, By the People: Designing a Better America, now open to the general public.
The reopening of MOAD’s facility coincides with its new focus and new graphic identity.
Scott Smith, Marketing and Membership coordinator for the MOAD, is excited about the exhibits and also thinks the venue is perfect because the building is such an important part of Miami’s history.
“The museum is proud to host this exhibit (By the People) organized by Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, in New York,” Smith said. “It illustrates 60 examples taken from around the country to solve a variety of issues in communities, from restoring slums — making them more livable — essentially ways you can design a city, buildings and roads to improve people’s lives and their standing, to lift them out of poverty.
“It fits in nicely with our mission, because like the Living Together Series which is a series of performances we’re taking out into the community, its goal is to bring art to the people and help them improve their lives, essentially, and get people talking with each other.”
The extensive upgrade to the MOAD’s galleries and physical plant took a year to complete and is said to have left the Museum better positioned to bring significant exhibitions and programs to Miami audiences.
Rina Carvajal, MOAD’s executive director and chief curator, was pleased as well.
“We are very excited to reveal what we’ve been planning for so long,” Carvajal said. “MOAD is reopening with new energy and a new mission to bring art to our communities. I am very proud of the hard work done by MOAD’s staff, who have put in long hours for the big reopening. We’re also grateful for the support and encouragement of MDC’s administration as we remake the museum into a major international venue for the arts.”
By the People: Designing a Better America aims to empower visitors to see themselves as designers — not just of objects, but also of ideas, strategies and solutions that improve our daily lives. It showcases the innovative and impactful actions generated through design and inspires creative problem-solving at local, regional, national and even international levels. By the People will be on view through Sept. 30.
Bill Iverson and Robert Perez are the Preparators at the museum, setting things up and crafting the display presentation. Iverson said it was quite a job getting it all set up, but well worth the effort.
“I think this is really interesting,” Iverson said. “It really excites me. We’re delighted to have this here. It can make people aware of what’s going on around the country and inspire them to get involved.”
The Museum of Art and Design MDC is located in the National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower, 600 Biscayne Blvd., in Downtown Miami. Museum admission is $12 adults; $8 seniors and military; $5 students (ages 13–17) and college students (with valid ID); free for MOAD members, MDC students, faculty, and staff, and children 12 and under.
For updates and a full schedule of events, visit www.mdcmoad.org/.
