City shines on Friday nights as music and art take to the streetSomi Artwalk kicked off its seventh season with the beauty of art and music in South Miami’s Town Center. Held the second Friday (6-9 PM) of the month from October to March, the event brings some of the area’s finest artists and artisans to display their work at both indoor and outdoor venues.
Eileen Seitz is set up on the street near the First National Bank of South Miami. Her pleasing, colorful and highly-detailed paintings have won her numerous awards and countless commissions. For Artwalk, she brought prints of her work in the tropics, the Pacific islands, and Europe along with pillows covered in fabric inspired by her art (www.eileenseitz.com).
“My intention is to bring the viewer into the paintings, feeling the life force that nature so abundantly shares with me,” said Seitz.
Louis Prima’s “Sing, Sing, Sing” rises from the Shops at Sunset. The South Miami Middle School Jazz Band delights patrons at Brother Jimmy’s Barbecue and to those passing by, while proud parents take pictures of their chil-dren performing American jazz classics under the direction of Francisco Williams.
Near the Z Gallery on a table laden with exotic jewelry, carved wooden statues of Buddha, and silvered-covered boxes from India, stands Douglas Goodis talking about his jewelry designs. He has been designing jewelry for production for a number of years, selling both wholesale and retail through his company Eccentricity (Instagram: eccentricity_artwear).
“I design with love, sell with love so that my designs will be given in love,” said Goodis.
Other Sidewalk Showcase artists included Tabby Noorbkhsh (model, actress and artist) with her line of paintings, notecards, mugs and throws that sport her batik-inspired designs of flowers and butterflies (tabby@gmail.com) and Elynn Gayol. Gayol, who lives in South Miami, is the owner and designer of m.o.d.esign jewelry (www.modesignjewelry.com). All of her jewelry, including the findings is handmade.
“I have sold most of my bracelets right off my arm to people who stop me to talk about how much they like my jewelry,” said Gayol.
Stationed on the sidewalk near Town Kitchen & Bar was sculptor Dave Romano with an example of his exquisite bronze work. Bronze and steel are his media and most of his pieces are commissioned work (www.romanogallery.net). On Dorn Avenue, Perfect Balance hosted the paintings of Marcela Garcia Bonini (www.garcibonini.com) and South Miami Cigar and Wine hosted photographer Miquel Puldon (www.puldonvillarreal.com).
Isabel’s Find Home Accessories hosted artist Mike Tesch (www.teschart.com) and Somi, SoU Boutique featured the paintings of Neith Nevelson (www.neith-nevelson.fineartamerica.com), the granddaughter of the sculptor Louise Nevelson. The Tropical Audubon Society made the Doc Thomas House available for the exhibit, “Flora & Fauna at Audubon,” featuring Grove House Artists Perri Cox, Pauline A. Goldsmith, Sushita Oliphant, Bobbi Headder, Beth Warner, and Karen Deilke (www.grovehouseartists.net). Green Monkey, Boom Shanti and Respice featured Kirby and Richard Tiberius’ oil paintings on board (www.tiberiusart.com), hand-painted handbags by Style Addicts, and photography of Elena Ehrenwald (www.elenaehrenwald.com), respectively. The Wirtz Gallery in the First National Bank exhibited the watercolors of Terry Arroyo Mulrooney (www.terrymulrooneystudios.com).
The event is co-presented by Chamber South, the City of Miami and SOMI Magazine.
In addition to the host venues, other sponsors include: First National Bank of South Miami, Footworks, JES Communications, Massage Envy SPA, My Cotorra, Plaza 57, Sergio’s Printing, Splitsville Luxury Lanes, The Dog from Ipanema, Town Kitchen & Bar and 3ElevenMedia.
Cadets from Artwalk Ambassadors are members of the South Miami Senior High School R.O.T.C. They distributed maps and directed people to art venues. After party discounted fare was offered by Town Kitchen & Bar and Fox’s Lounge.
John Edward Smith is the event’s organizer. Through his vision and tenacity, Artwalk continues to enliven South Miami’s streets.
“I want this event to grow. My goal is to have art and music on every corner of South Miami’s downtown,” he said.
To “Get Your Art On,” go to http://artnightsouthmiami.com/
