Vizcaya celebrates history with free art workshops

Processional Arts Workshop (PAW) returns, in celebration of Vizcaya's centennial, with collaborative art workshops, focusing on a hidden aspect of the estate: the Vizcaya Village. The fee workshops will produce a collection of illuminated objects to be featured in a culminating performance at the Vizcaya Village on June 17, 2017, creating a living storybook of the 100-year-old Village's history.

The three minute video above is the 2016 performance of the Whirl Vizcaya with Processional Arts Workshop. 

Sheltered under large banyan trees, the Vizcaya Village is a natural extension of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. The historic Village was part of the original 1916 estate, and consisted of more than a dozen buildings with the intent of making Vizcaya virtually self-sufficient. Processional Arts Workshops is a prime example of the type of engaging programming that is possible at Vizcaya through the incorporation of the Village.

THE WORKSHOPS

Led by PAW artistic directors Alex Kahn and Sophia Michahelles, the workshops offer the community an interactive artistic experience where participants of all ages collaborate to build illuminated objects for a site-specific performance. Each workshop can sample different tasks or techniques on any given day, so participants may sign up for multiple sessions if they please.

All workshops are free and open to the public and take place at the Vizcaya Village, located across South Miami Avenue from the Main House and gardens at 3250 South Miami Avenue. 

Online registration is required here:

Here is the schedule: 
Friday, June 9, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 10, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 10, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 10, 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 11, noon-4:00 p.m. [Vizcaya Village Open House]
Monday, June 12 - Thursday, June 15, 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Monday, June 12 - Thursday, June 15, 5:00-8:00 p.m.

While geared toward adults and teens, children 8 years old and up who are attending and working alongside an adult are welcome. Each workshop has a maximum capacity of 25 participants.

The objects created by workshop participants will then be used in an immersive performance retelling the story of the Vizcaya Village. Titled Bloom: A Caretaker's Diary, the performance explores the transformation of the Vizcaya Village as night descends, bringing the mobile projections to life while conjuring visions of the future of the Vizcaya Village as a cultural hub for Miami.

The performance takes place inside the Vizcaya Village at dusk on Saturday, June 17, from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for the general public and $5 for Vizcaya Members. Children under 5 years old are free. Tickets are available online.


Members of the community have the opportunity to take an active role in the Bloom performance by becoming a part of the cast. Volunteer cast members will carry the illuminated objects and walk in the processional. Although workshop participation is not required to be in the performance, all cast members must register by emailing cap@vizcaya.org and attend the rehearsal on Friday, June 16.