There's something about lowering the needle on a record player. Slip off the sleeve, set it on the platter, and admire the album art while your thoughts move round and around with the disc. Each listening session is an art form in itself, since the process has a way of motivating something in its audience.
This weekend, the folks at Sweat Records, and YOmiami will support this matrimony of audio and visual art with "Analog Art."
Miami-based artist WHUT has a reputation for his sticker-collaged records, CDs, and his use of vinyl as the principal medium for his work. "My first pieces were all on vinyl and I loved the idea that you can take a record no one wants and bring it back to life," he said. So he teamed up with YO, Sweat, and other supporters of the scene like Gully Art and Clubflyers.com to curate the vinyl appreciation event.
This Friday, July 12, WHUT and more than 30 different artists have created original pieces on or using the light, durable plastic that's served as a medium to record our heartaches and happiness in melody.
Among those exhibiting are ATOMIK, Luis Berros, Trek6, Bad Panda, Chy Tea Shoulin, Ivan Roque, Kazilla, Reiner Gamboa, Lorie Setton and many more. Much like YOmiami's Average Joe events, all pieces are capped at $200 max, priced by the individual artists, with profits benefiting their makers and event costs. Sweat will be selling merch at the store and hand-crafted brews will be served, courtesy of MIA Brewing Co.
"Diana Contreras will be selling her FREE LAURYN HILL T-shirts. The artist will be using the vinyl record as their canvas. They all will bring their individual styles and concepts to the table, from traditional painting styles to graphic and graffiti art," WHUT said.
Once festivities end at Sweat, there's an after party at Wood Tavern where attendees have a chance to catch up with the artists, network, and best of all, brag about their personal music tastes without looking like D-bags (let's hope).
"Analog Art" takes place Friday, July 12, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Sweat Records, 5505 NE Second Ave., Miami, for free. Call 786-693-9309. Post-show celebrations pick up at Wood Tavern, 2531 NW Second Ave., Miami. Call 305-748-2828.
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