Celebrate Women’s History Month: The Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami Offers New Exhibitions

On view through April 16th, 2023, “Kanaval” is a survey by Photographer, Filmmaker, Curator and Writer Leah Gordon that documents twenty years of Carnival in Haiti. Curated by MOCA Curator Adeze Wilford, the exhibition consists of a series of black-and-white photographs taken on a mechanical medium format camera. The images are contextualized by a series of oral histories relayed by various troupe leaders, who also oversee the design of the costume and generate the narratives surrounding Carnival. Their stories reflect the wealth of invention, fable and self-generated mythology prevalent in much of Haitian culture. The photographs will be accompanied by a new feature-length documentary on the Carnival providing a kinetic counterpoint to the portraits.

Also, on view through April 16th, 2023, “Didier William: Nou Kite Tout Sa Dèyè” is the largest solo presentation of Didier William’s career. Translated as “We’ve Left That All Behind,” the show presents an in-depth look at the Haitian-born, North Miami-raised Artist’s career and memory among the very neighborhood where he once grew up.

In a blend of personal reflections, biographical anecdotes, art historical moments, some of the works in the show recontextualize historical iconographies and ideas, stripping them of their “known” truths and transforming each into something entirely new. By doing so, William playfully and unapologetically reclaims autonomy over a fragmented record of history, engaging his personal connection to the complexity of immigrant narratives and queer identity to create opportunity for investigation and redemption.

MOCA’s March programming includes:

MOCA Makers Printmaking workshop with Vinicius De Oliveira will be Saturday, March 11th, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. MOCA Makers are a series of adult art workshops, which bring forward an artistically interested public to work with and learn from local artists in South Florida. Topics such as figure drawing, printmaking and portrait painting are hosted for all levels of participants. Art Packs are available for purchase from the MOCA Shop. This March, participants will be studying printmaking with artist and educator Vinicius De Oliveira. The event is Free and you can RSVP at: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/MOCA-Makers-11Mar2023

Virtual Conversations at MOCA will be held Wednesday, March 15th, 2023, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Experience this conversation with MOCA as it explores an intersection of identities. It is often said the Vodoun makes space for difference and that it challenges the strictures of perceived heteronormativity. But, what about Haiti and its diaspora? Drawing on Didier William’s work, how might artists develop and deploy black, queer aesthetics and sensibilities to challenge heteronormativity and dysfunctional power dynamics in Haiti and beyond? Cost: The event is Free and you can RSVP at: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/Conversations-at-MOCA-Queer-Black-and-Being--Haitian-Virtual

Impromptu, A Miami City Ballet Pop Up Performance will be Friday, March 24th, 2023 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Join MOCA on the Plaza for a special performance as part of “Impromptu: A Miami City Ballet Pop-Up Performance Series.” “Impromptu” is choreographed and performed by Miami City Ballet’s world-class professional dancers, offering audiences an accessible, fresh way to experience art in unique settings, like MOCA’s Plaza. This event is free and open to the public.

The Impromptu series was born in response to the Pandemic and the need for outdoor performances in South Florida. The pop-ups are the company’s way of saying thank you to the communities that have supported Miami City Ballet throughout the years by providing innovative art that inspires, entertains and heals. The event is Free and you can RSVP at: https://tickets.miamicityballet.org/2723/2693

Jazz at MOCA Featuring Milushka will be Friday, March 31st, 2023, seating Starts at 7:00 p.m. and the concert Starts at 8:00 p.m.

“Jazz at MOCA” is MOCA’s free outdoor concert series on the last Friday of every month. On Friday, March 31st, 2023, MOCA is pleased to present Miluhska. Miluhska is a 24-year-old singer-songwriter who began her career during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In 2020 she taught herself how to DJ and started to perform via live streams and eventually at local clubs. The singer has since collaborated with a handful of artists, mainly in the electronic dance music realm. In September, she launched her solo career with the release of her first single, "Loba," via local imprint Tigre Den. Seating for Jazz at MOCA starts at 7:00 p.m. and the performance starts at 8:00 p.m. Cost: Jazz at MOCA is free and open to the public. The gallery is open from 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. with museum admission. Admission to the museum is $10. Admission for students, seniors and visitors identifying as Disabled is $5. Admission is free for MOCA members, children under 12, North Miami residents, city employees, Veterans and caregivers accompanying people who are Disabled. For more information, please visit: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/Jazz-at-MOCA-Featuring-Milushka

Where:
Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA)
770 Northeast 125th Street
Miami, Florida 33161

MOCA North Miami presents contemporary art and its historical influences through exhibitions, educational programs and collections. Inspired by its surrounding communities, MOCA connects diverse audiences and cultures by providing a welcoming place to encounter new ideas and voices and nurturing a lifelong love of the arts.

For more information visit: https://mocanomi.org