It’s oft been said that Miami lacks a social problem novel. Something about this town just makes it hard for writers to tackle our poverty, race relations, immigration issues, and political corruption without turning the whole thing into a sexy crime story. Talk about loving your symptom. If anyone could be expected to break that […]

You cannot save yourself to health. That came as welcome news to the Florida arts managers, educators, and artists gathered at the Arsht Center this morning to hear super-manager Michael Kaiser. The sitting president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts shared the wisdom he has gleaned rescuing arts organizations on the brink from […]

The consensus is in: sales at Art Basel Miami Beach and her many sister fairs were grim, but not as bad as last year. Over at ABMB proper, a performance piece by Regina José Galindo captured the mood. The artist submerged herself in a bathtub until she could no longer breathe. She came up for […]

Just now, on the phone, David Rohn reminded me that performance art emerged at the height of minimalism. You know, all those people walking on pieces of broken glass for hours. It could get, in Rohn’s estimation, a bit “ponderous.” But there’s none of that when Rohn and his long-time life and art partner Danilo […]

After all the turkey, the mashed potatoes,and the gravy, what I’m most grateful for this week was having seen Vuyani Dance Theatre‘s performance of “Beautiful Me.” And for Miami Dade College’s Cultura del Lobo series that consistently brings us such artistic triumphs. Maqoma had me before “hello,” before he was even visible, with a single […]

Think you’ve got it bad with the crazy relatives this Thanksgiving? Check out South Florida author John Dufresne’s novel, Requiem, Mass. Holidays are occasions for dad to pass out, sis to walk the cat in a baby stroller, and mom to pretend her kids are alien replacements. Requiem, Mass. is a classic, codependent tale, with […]

You know the holidays are almost here when suddenly everything seems to be about the kids. This weekend you can take your tykes to see the first in the Orchestra Miami series of free children’s concerts or haul your inner child to a free show by Dan Zanes. As Orchestra Miami director and conductor Elaine […]

Used to be, Herald readers could get a steady fix of Ana Menéndez in lyrical writing and keen observations of her columns for the paper. That was before she set off on a long journey to older, if not necessarily more colorful, corners of our planet. Last weekend she touched down in MIA once again […]

It’s a few minutes before noon, and I’ve just emerged from the theater. The Playground Theatre, that is. There’s nothing like watching a full-length play on a weekday morning to make you feel like the city is alive with culture. No matter how many Sleepless Nights we spend, we just can’t pack all the art […]

Sometimes I feel like I’m having the same conversation over and over. Whether I’m talking to artists, journalists, or social service types, the theme is always the same: If we’re going to survive — if we’re going to give the public what it wants — we need to pool our limited resources. Artists and other […]