Their First Time
Four years ago we began production of an ongoing interview series of a wide diversity of Miami art world professionals (excepting artists). We asked each participant to remember and recount their very first cognizance of art— as something separate, special, and distinct in their life.
At every level of profession, role and responsibility, these participants are altogether shaping this city's art community, character and evolution, supporting and enabling the creation and exhibition of work by local and international artists. Some of our interview subjects have since left Miami, but their presence and influence is an indelible part of an historical narrative.
Some stories are set in early childhood, some at college; although no two are alike, they all evoke a sense of excitement, mystique and enthusiasm familiar to those who must have art in their life.
These individual interviews will become a series entitled "Their First Time" to be launched on our online wetheat.tv Channel 4, but you can watch the trailer right now, here.
Below are actual frame grabs with a caption preview of each story from all filmed interviews to date, listed alphabetically.
Richard Arregui, Co-Director of Miami's Fredric Snitzer Gallery Recalling a childhood nurtured by a creative family and filled with art, (Luis Gispert, Holstad-Mir work in background) |
Peter Boswell, Assistant Director for Programs,
Senior Curator Peter remembers when he was a child, facing the challenge (Morris Louis work in background) |
Norman Braman, collector Norman remembers 1974 in a little town in the south of France, while at the Art Basel Miami Beach 2008 opening day press conference |
Claire Breukel, former Executive Director of Locust Project Claire remembers when she was a child in South Africa,
visiting her neighbor, |
Kevin Bruk, seen here at his former gallery location in Wynwood Kevin remembers when he was 11 or 12 years old, visiting the Tate in London... (Robert Rauschenberg work in background) |
David Castillo at his eponymous gallery in Wynwood David remembers when he was a child visiting an exhibit in Miami, (Wendy Wischer, Aramis Gutierrez, Leyden-Rodriguez Casanova work in background) |
Bonnie Clearwater, Executive Director & Chief Curator, Bonnie remembers being taken to MoMA when she was 8 years old, |
Desiree Cronk, Collection Associate at World Class Boxing in Wynwood Desiree remembers a Minneapolis childhood filled with art and culture, |
Silvia Karman Cubiñá, Executive Director and Chief Curator Silvia remembers third grade, newly arrived in Puerto Rico, choosing to make her very first schoolwork a report on historic painters Oller and Campeche... (Mestre Diji work in background) |
Maggy Cuesta, Dean of Visual Arts, New World School of the Arts in Miami Maggy remembers when she was a child in Cuba a vibrant and beautiful landscape painting
that hung near her room, and the moment |
Collector Rosa de la Cruz at her home Rosa remembers her grandfather always spoke to her on a profound level (Sergej Jensen work in background) |
Former Assistant Art Director José Diaz at Diana Lowenstein Fine Arts José remembers when he was in 2nd grade in Stockton, California, and the museum in the park by his house... (Silvia Rivas and Sergio Bazan work in background) |
Brook Dorsch in his office at his eponymous gallery in Wynwood Brook remembers the moment he opened up a certain book... |
Tyler Emerson, Partner at Dorsch Gallery in Wynwood Tyler remembers when she was just a little girl, the day her parents took her (Carlos de Villasante, George Bethea work in background) |
Nina Johnson, Director of Gallery Diet in Wynwood Nina remembers when she was a teenager visiting P.S.1 in New York... (Bridget Baker work in background) |
Ruba Katrib, Associate Curator at MoCA North Miami Ruba remembers just after high school graduation visiting her
grandparents (Dave Muller work in background) |
George Lindemann, Chairman of the Board of Trustees George remembers as a child in his family's living room a Russian constructivist tabletop sculpture that was just too heavy to play with... |
Terence Riley, former Director of the Miami Art Museum Terence remembers fifth grade, that filmstrip, and a nun.. (Guillermo Kuitca work in background) |
Craig Robins, Chief Executive Officer & President, Dacra; Chairman, Dacra Global Craig remembers a painter who taught him to draw as a child, and connecting years later to paintings in Museo del Prado.. (Kai Althoff and Richard Hawkins work in background) |
Collector Debra Scholl in the main gallery space Debra remembers as a child visiting the Metropolitan in New York, (Carla Klein work in background) |
Collector Dennis Scholl in his office at World Class Boxing in Wynwood Dennis remembers starting to think about art in a different way after experiencing Lichtenstein at the Lowe Art Museum in Miami... (Francesca di Matteo, Lee Materazzi work in background) |
Art Basel Miami Beach Co-Director Annette Schönholzer Annette remembers a museum visit when she was 6 years old, |
Fred Snitzer in his office at his eponymous gallery in Wynwood Fred recalls when he was an art student visiting MoMA in New York, and an unexpected moment of humility and respect... |
Art Basel Miami Beach Co-Director Marc Spiegler Marc remembers visiting the Kunstmuseum while staying with his grandparents near Basel, and a certain stairway landing... |
Anthony Spinello at his former gallery location in Wynwood Anthony remembers when he was a child, realizing art was something that needed presentation... |
Collector Cricket Taplin in Sagamore, The Art Hotel's main lobby in South Beach Cricket remembers the night she and husband Marty visited a friend whose enthusiasm and joy about collecting art changed her life... (Pablo Cano, Massimo Vitali, Winter-Hörbelt, Shimon Okshteyn, Roxy Paine, Alyson Shotz and Alan Siegel work in background) |