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By: Dona Altemus
Edited by Ileana Lopez
Dona Altemus is a 2024 Artist-in-Residence at Deering Estate and a Miami native who fosters a richly interdisciplinary practice, creating works that span collage, sculpture, photography, and spatial interventions. Her art serves as a bridge between material and geometry, using these elements as allegories to explore ecological phenomena and the ethnographic and folkloric narratives embedded within our environments.
At the heart of her practice lies a deep engagement with space—not just as a physical construct but as a contemplative concept. Through her ephemeral structures, Altemus transforms ordinary surroundings into immersive experiences that alter perceptions, probe the evolving landscape, and illuminate its layered historical narratives. Her work asks viewers to pause and consider deeper connections tied to time, space, and the intricate relationships within an interconnected universe.
Altemus’s art emphasizes the fragile balance between inhabitants and their environments, advocating for awareness of these delicate interdependencies. By inviting audiences to slow down and engage with her pieces, she fosters a reflective experience that uncovers intrinsic links between the natural world and human existence.
Her achievements reflect her dedication and impact. In 2024 and 2022, she received the Miami Individual Artists Stipend from the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, recognizing her contributions to the local arts community. Altemus also participated in the Keyholder Residency at IS Projects in 2021, further developing her practice in a collaborative setting.
Her work has been included in notable group exhibitions, such as Draw: Point to Point at the Frost Museum of Art in 2023 and the AIM Biennial in 2020, among others. Altemus holds an MFA from the University of Delaware, where she also received the Delaware Public Humanities Institute Fellowship in 2017, deepening her engagement with critical conversations about art and society.
Through her thoughtful practice, Dona Altemus continues to challenge conventional perceptions and offer fresh perspectives on the ever-evolving relationship between people, place, and the stories that bind them.
The Deering Estate Artist-in-Residence Program (AIR) supports artists who work in various disciplines and media.
The AIR Program offers professional visual, literary, performing, and cross-disciplinary artists the opportunity to pursue innovative projects and studio work, connect with other artists, and engage the public while interacting with the historical, architectural, intellectual, archeological, and natural elements of the Estate’s inspiring environment. Since 2006, we have welcomed over 90 shared and collaborative residencies representing a broad scope of contemporary and traditional artistic practices. For more information on the Artist in Residence Program at the Deering Estate, please visit the website.
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.
About the Deering Estate Foundation
For those who treasure the Deering Estate, who advocate for its preservation and wish to invest in its future, The Deering Estate Foundation provides opportunities for individuals and corporations alike to partake in membership, signature events, and one-of-a-kind experiences, all in service of providing vital funding and support to the Deering Estate. Through these efforts, the foundation fulfills its mission to uphold the legacy of Charles Deering’s cherished 1920s-era property, to provide funding for the cultural, educational and recreational experiences it offers, as well as its significant scientific and archaeological endeavors to conserve its diverse flora, fauna and the eight native ecosystems that thrive on its 450 acres, and to ensure its longevity as a prized American heritage site. Established in 1989, The Deering Estate Foundation, Inc. is a community-based charitable 501(c) 3 Florida Corporation and the philanthropic partner of the Deering Estate.
