Art With a View

Viceroy mixes art and cocktails

There’s been a ton of buzz surrounding new hotel bars. There’s LIV at the Fountainebleau, Louis at Gansevoort South, and now Club 50 at the Viceroy Hotel.
These new venues have much to offer in terms of nightlife, but if you’d like to avoid the nightcrawlers, you’re in luck, because one of them, the Viceroy, is hosting an art opening tomorrow night.

This Tuesday, conceptual artist Venessa Monokian will be screening several of her whimsical and somewhat creepy animations from 6-10.

Located on Brickell on the 50th floor, you’ve got comfortable views of the city and a posh setting. Besides a sky high pool, there are attractive elements to the decor, marble floors, yellow and turquoise sofas and chairs. It’s sort of like the Delano, but hundreds of feet above the ground.

Miami-based Monokian is an artist in residency at Art Center South Florida; she’s also a photographer and animator. Her work is informed by her less-than-pleasant experiences in the public school system. Many of her creations are critiques and examinations of the way we’re traditionally taught to learn, a system that isn’t effective for all. A desk and a chalkboard aren’t everyone’s best learning environment.

Despite earlier academic challenges, Monokian found her voice and intellectual expression by discovering something really neat to do with her hands. She creates momoges, small sculptures made from used classroom items, and then she makes them move thanks to the magic of photography and hours of hard work.

Her haunting stop motion animations demonstrate this dedication, talent and vision. While many are obsessed with “cool,” Monokian is obsessed with the quality of her work, and it shows.

This event is partially sponsored by Ruinart Champagne and proceeds will benefit Art Center South Florida on Lincoln Road.

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