Atlantis Rising

Hi...This is Robin Hill. the host of Art 360. This coming episode on Monday at 7.30 pm on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami, is particularly intriguing for anyone interested in Architecture and Modern Design. Filmed from the Iconic precipice that defines the Atlantis Condominium along Brickell Avenue in Miami, and designed by world renowned Architects; Arquitectonica.

Originally designed in 1982, the building achieved iconic status when it was seen on the front credits of Miami Vice, which in turn helped define Architecture in Miami with a unique sense of what I would call 'geometric optimism'...not that an an architect would use those terms, but as an avid lay person, I think those two words help to sum up the style. Once up in the empty cube that hangs in the air like a room without walls, its amazing how monumental the Architecture feels.

The famed modernist Marcel Breuer referred to the feel of Architecture as the 'void you touch with your elbows' and here at the Atlantis, those words ring true with spectacular accuracy. Then there's the color!!!! Bold reds, vibrant yellows, a cobalt blue at the bottom of the Jacuzzi. Combine that with South Florida's legendary blue skies and you have a saturated masterpiece on your hands. There's the swirling Red staircase, which when you ascend, leaves you with the tricky sense that you're actually stepping outside the super structure of the building. Its either unnnerving or exciting depending on your fear factor.

Now, I think its wonderful that Miami has the Atlantis and other Architectural landmarks, but its frustrating that this is a private gated singular building. What Miami is missing is a coherent sense of Urbanism. There's too much isolation. Walking down Brickell Avenue, one gets the feeling that people are conspicuous by their absence...that's because there's virtually no street life. Its very interesting to note that the designers of Atlantis, Arquitectonica spearheaded by Bernardo Fort Brescia and Laurinda Spear       started out with Elizabeth Plater Zyberk and Andrea Duany (often quoted as the founders of new urbanism-which is a modern attempt to bring a cohesion to the urban environment through the use of mixed use projects and mixed income residences) Currently at work on the long awaited Miami 21 project Ms Zyberk and Mr.Duany are attempting to rezone Miami, to benefit the forces of social cohesion, whilst at the same time Arquitectonica continue to design skyscrapers and condominiums generally populated by second home owners whose primary residence is not in Miami...the forces at work here are related to enormous income disparities which force the poor into one neighbourhood and the wealthy into another, with not a whole lot of interaction going on between them...now this is true of many cities...however in a city with a vibrant street life ie New York, London, Paris, Barcelona the very act of walking down the street introduces one to a plethora of different social interactions that simply have no chance of ever occurring in places like Brickell Avenue, Collins Avenue, Kendall Drive...etc....leading on from this...all the above mentioned cities are endowed with excellent and affordable public transportation...Miami's buses serve the working class poor and do an OK job of getting this group of people to and from work and back to home. Metrorail is geographically limited, metromover serves a small portion of downtown and any public transport connection to the airport sits in a chronic state of inertia. This all adds up to one big traffic jam, where people don't talk to each other (but they do scream in frustration) and sometimes at each other. Without a comprehensive public transportation plan there's not a snowball's chance in hell, that Miami will create a vibrant and functioning street life. Having said that, Thank heavens for the one place in Miami where you can interact and walk around and that's South Beach.

Other cities are leading the way, with Portland, Oregon springing immediately to mind...it takes political courage and some vision to pull it off.

Now moving along to Arno Elias who is also featured in the Art 360 coming up on Monday...a force of creativity! Not only a genuinely gifted composer, but also a painter of invention and talent. Although his paintings draw on Rauschenberg for influence and inspiration, there is also another vibe at work here and that's connected with his interest in mysticism and what i would call 'the language of the heart'. Its worthwhile to spend an extra few moments at Art Futures Gallery in Wynwood with some of his paintings and visually investigate the many themes that pull his work together...one or two of the pieces exalt a genuine spiritual power...you just have to be quiet enough in your own mind to perceive it.

We also take a quick look at Graffiti in Wynwood. Next time you're heading north on I-95 take a look to the right between about 25th and 30th streets...you may well see the 'Jesus saves' Van permanently parked there, but you will also see some cool looking Graffiti all the way along and up onto the side of the Margulies collection...photographers note...an excellent place for urban shooting...we don't know the identity of these artists, and the anonymity of it makes it rather intriguing...don't you think?

That's all for now...until next time

Cheerio