Since the Faena District is currently under construction, the Group wanted to offer a glimpse of their artistic vision through an innovative series of works at nearby Casa Claridge’s. Though this historic hotel has numerous spaces to install art (from walls to a striking atrium), the Faena Group decided to turn to the humble elevator as the literal vehicle for their current project, aptly titled ELEVATE. Since the project’s inauguration for Miami Beach Art Basel 2014 three artists have been given carte blanche to take over the elevator at Casa Claridge’s. Working within this confined space Cristina Lei Rodriguez and Consuelo Castañeda—the first two artists—have recreated a ritzy mine and a Mexican baroque cathedral, respectively. The elevator’s current incarnation is in the hands of
ELEVATE evokes the discrete nature characteristic of elevators, especially in historic buildings. These are first and foremost utilitarian spaces meant to be hidden, occupying a minimal footprint in the overall design of a building. This discreteness makes the impact of Typoe’s installation even greater as all the color, texture, and spirit of the piece is truly contained in contrast to site-specific works that have all the room in the world in which to stretch themselves out, like the piece hanging in the atrium by Manuel Ameztoy.
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The ELEVATE series is the type of project that both sparks and feeds off energy. The kind of intimate, yet collaborative participation elicited by in the work has a way of establishing place. The elevator at Casa Claridge’s is a creative way to hint at the type of ground the Faena Group will be breaking (literally and figuratively) in the not-too-distant future.
Casa Claridge is located at 3500 Collins Ave, Miami Beach. For more information, visit Facebook.