Viva la Vinyl

In the digital age, vinyl records are pretty much museum pieces. With even CDs obsolete, those old black circular slabs can seem downright prehistoric. Still, there’s something about the satisfying crackle and pop of a record. And in today’s cool-kid culture of considering everything old to be new again, it’s no surprise that vinyl is enjoying a new renaissance. But beyond bands putting out more music and fans snapping it up, vinyl has served as a new reference point and source of inspiration for scores of visual artists. It’s a phenomenon thoroughly traced in “The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl,” a show that has run through the spring at Miami Art Museum. The traveling exhibition sprawls across multiple galleries and features everything from works on paper to video art, all involving a take on the record. Fittingly, the museum has programmed a number of related fun events, from record swaps to DJ battles. If you haven’t made it out to any of them, you have one final chance this Saturday, when the museum will host a closing party for the exhibition from 6 to 9 p.m. The event is another DJ battle, this time featuring all the crate-diggers from previous parties. On the wheels of steel is a roster of Miami heavyweights: DJs Le Spam, Mr. Brown, Induce, and Oly. All boast encyclopedic knowledge of basically every genre known to man, so head to MAM (101 W. Flagler St., Miami), party, and get schooled. The bash is included in your museum admission ($8 for adults, $4 for seniors, and free for children under 12, members, and students). Get there early and see the exhibition, or browse between tracks — the galleries will be open late.
Sat., June 9, 6-9 p.m., 2012