Join us Martin Luther King, Jr Weekend
Jan 18-20, 2025
The Wolfsonian–FIU is a treasure trove of materials from the period 1850–1950, gathered from near and far. From the "frozen fountain" that once served as the facade of the Norris Theater in Pennsylvania to a Miami River bridge tender's house, many of the architectural features in the building have been repurposed to serve a new […]
Often one story tall and built of concrete block—with a large screened-in porch, Florida room (more commonly known today as a sunroom), louvered windows, and carport—the Florida House became a popular vernacular form in South Florida after the Second World War. Not simply the result of builders copying designs by known architects like Igor Polevitzky […]
Based on her just-published memoir, Dwell Time, conservator Rosa Lowinger discusses preserving modern tropical buildings in Miami and Havana. From mosaics, murals, and decorative cast stone to terracotta and ironwork, Lowinger will show how repairing the key elements of 20th-century tropical architecture serves as a metaphor for personal healing after loss, particularly the loss of one's […]
Postwar photographers such as Ezra Stoller in New York and Julius Shulman in Southern California began working closely with mid-century architects, capturing the clean lines of modern buildings, and presenting them as progressive forms for ideal living enhanced by compelling landscapes and climates. Women photographers like Dorothea Lange and Berenice Abbott were also gaining attention […]
Every great civilization, from the Ancient Greeks to the Egyptians, Sumerians, and Norse had their gods, villains, and heroes. These millennia-old stories of love, violence, honor, and betrayal passed people’s beliefs about themselves to subsequent generations. They were altered through incalculable tellings to better fit changing norms and political ends, but the core messages remained. […]
Hernando D’Escalante Fontaneda was 13 years old when he survived a shipwreck in Florida in 1549. He and his brother were sailing from their home in Cartagena to be educated in Salamanca, Spain. In his memoir, Fontaneda wrote that the Calusas enslaved him rather than martyring him, like other shipwreck survivors, because he obeyed their […]
In 1933, Batista's Cuban Revolution forced Desi Arnaz and his dad to flee to Miami, where the penniless 16-year-old arrived without the ability to speak, read, or understand English. He cleaned canary cages, laid tile, and struggled to save money by sleeping in a warehouse. At St. Patrick Catholic School, Desi learned English, practiced guitar, […]
When Walt Disney realized cheap tourist traps were enveloping Disneyland, he began a nationwide search for enough land to hold every dream he could imagine. What happened next would require a heightened degree of CIA-level secrecy for Disney's undercover team, which launched a misinformation campaign that included dummy corporations and secret transactions. However, when a […]
The City of Opa-locka is Miami-Dade County's eighth oldest municipality, founded in 1926 by American aviator and inventor Glenn Curtiss. A city built in the theme of Arabian Nights and with an architectural motif known today as Moorish Revival, a new movement has taken hold to identify, resurrect, and preserve landmarks from the past through […]
The goals of historic preservation are often at odds with efforts to protect properties from climate change. While preservation encourages maintaining a property’s historic appearance, climate change adaptation often requires change, sometimes radical change, to maintain the safety of a building and its occupants. As the impacts of flooding and intense storms are increasing in […]
The 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, the birthplace of Art Deco, introduced a groundbreaking design style characterized by bold geometric shapes, symmetry, and sleek stylization. Originating in France, Art Deco spread worldwide, evolving to reflect regional influences and aesthetics. The Wolfsonian's chief curator, Silvia Barisione, will journey us through this […]
Following the landmark 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, Art Deco blossomed, transforming everything from skyscrapers and cars to teacups and everyday objects. Art historian Madeleine Deschamps will explore a design movement mirroring a society in flux, balancing exuberance with social change in France and the United States. Organized by Wolfsonian-FIU […]
Before Art Deco took hold, the Mediterranean Revival architectural style put southeastern Florida on the map. This style, now taken for granted in Florida, was revolutionary at its introduction in the 1920s. For northerners accustomed to the Beaux Art behemoths of New York or Boston, the colorful tilework and shaded courtyards in the "magic city" […]
Take a visit back to Miami Beach's 90s with images from CANDIDS Miami and CANDIDS Miami 2 by photojournalist Manny Hernandez. Including Robin Williams filming Birdcage on Ocean Drive, Madonna walking on Washington Avenue, Gianni Versace in front of his Ocean Drive mansion and much more. Chat will be moderated by former 90s Senior Editor […]
Featured Speaker: Joel Levine The Industrial Revolution caused significant social changes to information processing and worker housing, creating a need for new types of buildings. These needs were met by the new technologies of industrialization, steel, and reinforced concrete. Architects experimenting with these materials went on to create Art Deco and other innovative styles of architecture. […]
