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During the few months I have been studio Artist-in-Residence, my perception of the Deering Estate has been enriched by the meaningful exchanges I have had with the naturalists, the museum staff, my fellow AIRs, and everyone I have had the pleasure to meet. I have been mesmerized by the exuberant flora and fauna of the Estate as well as by the history of human inhabitation that is present in the area. My vision has been expanded through archeological readings, site tours, and many other activities to the point that it has influenced my practice enormously.
I started painting at the Estate almost immediately upon moving into the studio. I have established a fruitful routine of at least one plein air painting daily. This compromise has honed my skills of appreciating the subtlety of light changes, adapting my ability to appreciate the natural differences in light, and my agility to apply the brushstrokes on the canvas. Meanwhile, I have also taken the time to enjoy the magnificent architecture and how it is enclaved in front of the boat basin with all the manifestations of life forms that abound in the area.
This daily exercise is an extension of the thought process of this registry I am creating of the Estate. Being at the studio reinforces this process even further; I have the ability to place side by side each document, which is the finished painting, and reflect upon the unique narrative they unfold. I can’t help but think of Charles Deering and how he invited some of his artists’ contemporaries, such as Casas and Singer Sargent, to sketch on his property. My presence at the Estate helps further that image, and I feel welcomed by all that watch me paint outdoors.
The ecosystems at the Estate are another thing that has helped me devise new themes for other series of paintings. I will continue to sketch and paint at the Estate for my residency. This practice is an exercise of self-discovery and a discipline that elevates the tradition of plein air painting and inserts it into a larger narrative which is my idea of placement and belonging to these lands.
I am honored to have been selected to exhibit several of these paintings and sketches at the Deering Estate in an exhibition titled Andres Cabrera-Garcia: Circumscribed Landscapes, curated by the Estate’s curator Liliam Dominguez. This exhibit is part of a series called Contemporary Currents, which showcases the work of Artists-in-Residence interacting with the historic homes. The show opens May 1st in the Garden Room of the Richmond Cottage and will be on view until October 31st, 2023.
Learn more about the Deering Estate’s Artist in Residence program online.
About the Deering Estate
Deering Estate, located at 16701 SW 72 Ave. in Miami, is a 21st Century house museum, cultural and ecological field station, and a national landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, owned by the State of Florida and managed by Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department. Deering Estate is designated as one of seven Miami Dade County “Heritage Parks” which have a vital role in our community’s history, environment and in providing recreational and cultural experiences.
Cultural Arts Programming at the Deering Estate is made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and The Deering Estate Foundation, Inc.
