THUR 6/30
Even if you have only a few moments to spare, you can immerse yourself in a multicultural mélange of contemporary video art at Miami Art Central's (5960 Red Rd., Miami) latest exhibit. "Irreducible: Contemporary Short Form Video" is a survey of international video work from artists representing more than twenty different countries. The videos are structured around a single moment, individual, or action, and range in length from 28 seconds to 7 minutes, which are perfect morsels for strolling gallery viewers. Each work shows just a snippet of an everyday or mundane moment that, in the absence of narrative, takes on deeper meaning when mixed with the thoughts and experiences of the individual viewer. Some of the works are shot in an artist's studio, simply recording that artist at work, while others are minidocumentaries capturing life abroad.
The exhibit runs through September 11 and is part of MAC's SummerFest 2005, which features a series of visual arts, music, film, and literary events. Gallery hours are noon to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is five dollars, three dollars for seniors; students and children under twelve get in free, and admission is free for everyone on Sundays. Call 305-455-3333, or visit www.miamiartcentral.org. --Lyssa Oberkreser
Meter Made
Now that's the ticket
THUR 6/30
Since its debut in July of 1935, the parking meter swindle has bloated municipal coffers, becoming the nickel-and-dime scourge of drivers everywhere. Today more than five million of these tin leeches strong-arm America's urban landscapes, many under the conspiratorial thumb of valet goons who control choice parking spots, forcing honest schmucks to pay through the nose, schlep to their destination, or risk getting their jalopies towed.
"Meter," opening tonight from 7:00 to 10:00 at ArtCenter/South Florida (800 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach) features ten local meter-bashing artists. "More than a time gauge, artists see the meter as a symbol of bureaucracy and movement control," cites curator Claire Breukel.
In David Leroi's Public Robbery Here, a nefarious meter fleeces a sheep. Jonathan Peck and Kevin Tarasuk take a stab at the enforcement end, renting pedestal time to a John Q. Public suffering from artist envy. Maria José Arjona spits in the eye of the highway larceny cabal, using saliva to erase government documents. Call 305-538-7887, or visit www.artcentersf.org. -- Carlos Suarez de Jesus
A Love of Pixies
Finding fairies at Miami Art Lab
FRI 7/1
Ever feel the urge to slip between the cracks? To indulge in the splendor of the imagined? Drop into a Kelly Tunstall painting and submerge yourself in a world of beauty and glamour. Tunstall, a talented artist who dabbles in different mediums, is known for creating exquisite depictions of the feminine. These women are not only hauntingly beautiful but also symbols of female empowerment. Complex and captivating, their eyes allude to something deeper than a pretty face. Tunstall's new exhibit, "It's a Wonder," features artwork so striking you'll forget these pixie-like beauties aren't real. The exhibit opens tonight with a 7:00 reception at Miami Art Lab, 3117 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables. Call 305-461-1443, or visit www.miamiartlab.com. --Cristina Guerra
Summer Six-Pack
FRI 7/1
The scene is ankle deep in summer group trifles that blog pundits have tagged "garage sales." If you prefer some meat over cotton candy while savoring the cattiness among art boobs, swoop by Diana Lowenstein Fine Arts (3080 SW 38th Ct., Miami) for "What's New," opening tonight from 7:30 to 10:00. The show features six of the stable's rising talents, including Carlos Betancourt, Vicenta Casañ, and Wendy Wischer. Watch your backs for those toothpicks! Call 305-774-5969. -- Carlos Suarez de Jesus
