homework disrupts the Miami art scene this summer with two exhibits that call for reflection

Miami is gaining more and more momentum as the art capital of the US hosting the iconic Art Basel and satellite fairs every December, but what happens during the rest of the year when the world is not looking? 

What is known to be a slow summer season in Miami for the arts, turns out to be a busy one, at least for the nomadic art gallery homework, as they will be showcasing two pop-up shows and multiple free activations with a handful of up-and-coming artists and performers. The programming kicks off on July 7th with “Summer School,” in Little River, Miami,  followed immediately by “Retreat Volume I” at the iconic art hotel Sagamore, in South Beach.

“Summer School” is a group exhibition that dives into the philosophical concepts of leisure, reflection, and renewal through the lens of contemporary art. This show, which will run until July 22nd, seeks to challenge the prevailing belief that success is solely achieved through relentless work, encouraging a re-evaluation of our perception of rest, leading to deep contemplation and introspection, as essential components of a fulfilling life.

The pop-up exhibit will showcase the work of Andrew Arocho, Beth Rhodes, Diana Eusebio, Matt Forehand, Joaquín Stacey-Calle, Patricia Monclus, Richard Vergez, Roscoè B. Thické II, and Xavier Lujan.

“I’ve lived in three places(Ecuador, Miami, and Los Angeles) that, at one point, have been idealized and imagined as paradise, making me question my natural or artificial environment. My work always starts with a question about a material culture—painting, family photographs, domestic objects, plants, foodstuffs, architecture, etc. These are the catalysts of my work, which allow me to index a moment in time and start the deconstruction of its history.” shares  Joaquin Stacey-Calle, whose work is featured at the top of this article. “ I’m informed by historic colonial processes and their consequence in culture production. My practice digests these productions; I’m breaking down these materials so that my body can process, use them, and finally produce something new,” he continues. 

Beth Rhodes is another artist featured in the Summer School group exhibit. Her work has also been featured in homework’s previous show Salad Days. “These paintings come from time spent noticing people and an interest in stories told by their body language. The way we hold ourselves, our posture, betrays the depth of us. I’m taking the opportunity to observe and preserve that, ” explains Beth.

Andrew Arocho’s work is one of the highlights of the group show. “My latest art collection is presented to discover & reminisce. Inspired by old sailing voyage tales, I named the collection “Across the Sea” to include new heavy abstractions that will tell a story like waves in the open ocean,” says the artist. Additionally, using QR codes, he will link Google map areas that inspired each specific art piece, leaving a connection with the viewer & hopefully introducing them to a voyage tale of their own one day.

On July 29th homework will move to the iconic Sagamore Hotel in South Beach for “Retreat Volume I,” a solo exhibition by Néstor Augusto Turallas, also known as Falopapas, an Argentine visual artist born in La Plata and currently based in Miami, FL.

“Retreat Volume I” will take you on a journey through captivating large black and white sketch paintings set against muted pastel backgrounds, adorned with mesmerizing neon accents. In this body of work, Falopapas’ unique visual language captures the essence of stillness, reflection, and the delicate interplay between light and shadow.

This exhibition will continue to explore the intrinsic connection between rest, leisure, reflection, regrouping, and their pivotal roles in human growth and evolution. The activations for this show will include an epic pool party for the opening day featuring the electrifying beats of Rum & Coke Miami; as well as a guided tour of the exhibition on August 3rd, where the artist will explain in detail each of the pieces he created for the occasion. The later activity is produced in partnership with Raygun Agency and the Consulate General of Argentina and the Promotion Center.

Both exhibitions will feature multiple activations and programming, visit homework.gallery for more information.