The New Year brings a flurry of new activities, a new look for the gardens and renewed excitement for culture and conservation.
If you are among the many people who have visited the Gardens recently, you can’t have missed the unbelievable transformation the Gardens has been going through with the renovation of its historic path shelters. The project will be completed in April, but progress is both noticeable and striking in areas that include Lakeview Terrace, our main entrance, around the Banyan Bowl and Splash ‘N Play.
Stone and woodwork artisans are now doing restoration work on the path shelters in the Colonade, that will be followed by two small areas in the lower garden. What an amazing difference this has made to the look and feel of the Gardens.
Additionally, you may have noticed that there is great progress in the renovation of Cypress Hall. Soon this room will be ready for event and party rental and for a new and unique cultural program we call The hARTvest Project; Miami’s First Art Immersion Hub. We thank all of you for your patience. Soon it will be business as usual but in a far more beautiful setting.
These next two weeks bring a wide range of music, art and educational happenings with a wonderful family movie to round out the activities.
JAZZ
South Motors Jazz Series presents Trio Da Paz with Special Guest Vocalist, Maucha Adnet on Saturday, January 14, at 8:00 p.m.
Don’t miss Brazil’s most in-demand jazz musicians. Herbie Mann has called Romero Lubambo “the best Brazilian guitarist there is.” And Antonio Carlos Jobim hailed Maucha Adnet as “a marvelous singer. Her voice is deep, rich and mysterious…a great artist.”
Trio da Paz updates the infectious spirit of jazz-oriented Brazilian music. Formed in 1990 by Romero Lubambo, Nilson Matta and Duduka da Fonseca, the Trio redefines Brazilian Jazz with their harmonically adventurous interactions, daring improvisations and dazzling rhythms. All three are seasoned masters of both jazz and Brazilian music with impressive resumes. The list of legendary musicians the members of Trio da Paz have recorded and performed with is extensive. A sampling would include guitarist Romero Lubambo’s work with Dianne Reeves, Michael Brecker, Grover Washington, Jr., and Kathleen Battle; bassist Nilson Matta’s work with Joe Henderson, Don Pullen, Yo-Yo Ma, and Paul Winter; and drummer Duduka Da Fonseca’s work with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Astrud Gilberto, John Scofield, and Tom Harrell. Trio da Paz as a group has recorded and performed with Charlie Byrd, Herbie Mann, Lee Konitz, Kenny Barron, Nana Vasconcelos, Joe Lovano, Dori Caymmi, Joyce Moreno among others.
SOUTH MOTORS GEN-NEXT JAM will again feature Trio Da Paz and the New World High School Jazz Students on Sunday, January 15 at 1:00 p.m.
Through the generosity of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and our title sponsor South Motors, select artists will participate in a special program on the Sundays following their Saturday night performances entitled Gen-Next Jam. South Motors Gen-Next Jam is an educational initiative where renowned jazz artists mentor gifted students from the New World School of the Arts High School Jazz Program under the direction of Jim Gaisor. This workshop is held in the Banyan Bowl and open to the general public for observation free of charge with general park admissions ($5 for visitors 2 years and over and $3 for seniors 65 and over) and includes full usage of park and park amenities for the day.
ART
Nadiya Shulhan will grace the Gardens Gallery with her exquisite work in felt and batik through January 15 with the official Art opening, Wednesday, January 11, 6-8:00 p.m.
Artist Nadiya Shulhan was born in Lviv (Ukraine) in 1973. As a child she realized that art was her calling and studied art and women’s fashion design throughout her college years. Following college, Nadiya began her career working in the largest Fashion House in Lviv, and in 2001 moved to Skopje , Macedonia, where she worked as a fashion designer through 2005. In 2006, Nadiya moved to Paris and enrolled at the Fashion Institute at one of the world oldest European Universities, Cite International Universite, and upon completion of her studies, moved to Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia and started her own fashion business. Since then, Nadiya has been producing two collections per year, presenting them in various fashion shows throughout Europe and Asia. Though Nadiya’s work has been primarily in the fashion industry her true passion lies in fine art. In 2010 she migrated to the USA to begin a new chapter in her life creating art through textiles that reflect the depth and beauty of European and medieval cultures.
WORLD MUSIC
The Sultans of String will perform Thursday, January 12, 8:00 p.m.
General Admission $35, VIP $65
Award-winning Sultans of String create “Energetic and exciting music from a band with talent to burn!” according to Maverick Magazine. Thrilling their audiences with their genre-hopping passport of Celtic reels, flamenco, Gypsy-jazz, Arabic, Cuban and South Asian rhythms, the group celebrates musical fusion and human creativity with warmth and virtuosity. Fiery violin dances with rumba-flamenco guitar, while bass and percussion lay down unstoppable grooves. Acoustic strings meet with electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound, while world rhythms excite audiences to their feet with the irresistible need to dance. Proceeds from this concert will benefit the Outreach Foundation; transforming lives through mission involvement.
HORTICULTURE
Our Horticulture Workshop this month is “Keeping up with your Edibles” on Wednesday, January 11, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
This class will focus on continuation of growing edibles, how to keep your harvest bountiful and maximum yield for your space. Don’t let your vegetable beds become daunting. With efficient work, you will experience beautiful rewards! We will share seeds as well as tips and tricks to keep your vegetables happy! The fee is $10 per person. That includes the hands-on workshop, supplies and a take home project. Classes are limited to twelve participants. To register for this class please call 305-669-6990.
MOVIES
Our Family Movie Night this month features The Peanuts Movie, on Friday, January 13 at 8:00 p.m.
“This is pure gold for children.” Mark Jackson Epoch Times
Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the beloved “Peanuts” gang make their big-screen debut, like they’ve never been seen before, in state of the art 3D animation. Charlie Brown, the world’s favorite underdog, embarks upon an epic and heroic quest, while his best pal, the lovable beagle Snoopy, takes to the skies to pursue his arch-nemesis, the Red Baron. From the imagination of Charles M. Schulz and the creators of the ICE AGE films, The Peanuts Movie will prove that every underdog has his day. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. with flashlight tours before the movie at 8:00 p.m.
