THE REEFLINE PUTS CLIMATE CRISIS CENTER STAGE DURING MIAMI ART WEEK 2023 WITH INSTALLATIONS BY BEEPLE, ALISSA ALFONSO, GUIDO ELGUETA AND +X PHASE 1 OF AQUATIC SCULPTURE PARK AND ARTIFICIAL REEF WILL DEBUT SPRING 2024, UNITING ART AND SCIENCE TO SAVE THE OCEAN
“THIS SERIES OF ARTIST-DESIGNED AND SCIENTIST-INFORMED PURPOSE-BUILT REEFS WILL DEMONSTRATE TO THE WORLD HOW TOURISM, ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, AND THE CREATION OF CRITICAL HABITAT CAN BE ALIGNED. THE REEFLINE IS A SINGULAR INVESTMENT IN CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC ART, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION THAT WILL PAY DIVIDENDS OVER THE COMING DECADES AND ATTRACT ECOLOGICALLY MINDED TOURISTS AND ART LOVERS.”
– Ximena Caminos –
Founder / Artistic Director
The ReefLine, a nonprofit public art initiative spearheaded Bluelab Preservation Society Founder, Ximena Caminos, has launched a free public showcase of climate-centered art during Miami Art Week to raise awareness for the city of Miami Beach’s increasing vulnerability to climate change. The showcase, hosted in partnership with Faena Art, will take place from December 5-10 throughout the Faena Miami Beach property and will feature works by renowned artists including Beeple, Alissa Alfonso, Guido Elgueta and +X. The multi-artist showcase is a preamble to the launch of the ReefLine’s larger initiative, a sprawling 7-mile underwater sculpture park, snorkel trail, and artificial reef positioned 600 feet off the Miami Beach shoreline, set to kick-start Phase 1 installations this December.
“Miami is a city on the forefront of the climate crisis. The coastal beauty that draws people in is increasingly at risk of devastation. With Miami Art Week drawing international attention, it’s the optimal time to raise awareness for climate change and the city’s need for coastal resilience. That’s exactly what The ReefLine is doing through both our Miami Art Week showcase, and more permanently, our underwater installations that will begin next month.” – Ximena Caminos, Founder and Artistic Director of The ReefLine
Featured artworks presented by The ReefLine at Faena Miami Beach will include: Beeple’s S.2122, a kinetic sculpture integrating blockchain technology, digital video, and a three-dimensional sculptural form to provide a sci-fi-inspired contemplation on climate change and our role in an envisioned future; Alissa Alfonso’s “Nature’s Medicine” sculpture series made from sewn discarded fabric and repurposed found objects that celebrate the enduring beauty and resilience of nature; and Soulmaker, a collaborative digital artwork by Guido Elgueta and +X. S2.122 by Beeple will be on display in the Faena Cathedral from December 5-10; “Nature’s Medicine” by Alissa Alfonso will be on display at the Tierra Santa Spa at Faena from December 5-10; and Soulmaker by Guido Elgueta and +X will be available for viewing exclusively online at Artsy.
“I have always been fascinated by art’s ability to captivate people. With the growing realities of climate change on the horizon, we need art now more than ever to command attention. I am excited to partner with The ReefLine this Miami Art Week because they’re not only using art to raise awareness, they’re also leveraging it as part of the solution for ongoing change.” – Beeple
The production of artworks for Phase 1 of The ReefLine, launching in December 2024, will mark a significant leap towards the realization of the first-ever aquatic sculpture park and artificial reef of its kind. The ReefLine’s artificial reef construction will provide a critical habitat for endangered organisms, promoting biodiversity and enhancing coastal resilience in the face of climate change, rising sea levels and warming ocean waters – and will serve as an educational initiative for visitors and local Miami residents alike. This critical milestone for The ReefLine follows the innovative project’s receipt of a $5 million grant last November through General Obligation Bond approved by Miami Beach voters. The ReefLine’s initial phase will showcase sustainable underwater masterpieces by internationally acclaimed artists such as Leandro Erlich, Petroc Sesti, and Carlos Betancourt. These creations will function as artificial reefs, contributing to the promotion of a more sustainable future for Miami’s local marine ecosystem and enhancing the cultural landscape of Miami Beach.
The artists, together with Ximena Caminos (Founder and Artistic Director, The ReefLine), Shohei Shigematsu (ReefLine Collaborator and OMA NY Director) and Brandi Reddick (newly appointed Executive Director, The ReefLine) will celebrate the Miami Art Week showcase and unveil the ReefLine’s Phase 1 installation plans at a private event taking place on December 5. Select works from the showcase will also be available at international non-profit Oceanic Global’s forthcoming “Art for the Ocean” auction, the details of which will be revealed at the private event.
NOTES TO EDITORS
As part of Miami Art Week 2023 public programming, The ReefLine, in partnership with Faena Art, will present S.2122 by Beeple in the Faena Cathedral from December 5 – 10. Alissa Alfonso’s sculptures will also be on view in the Tierra Santa Spa at Faena. Address: 3201 Collins Avenue, Faena District, Miami Beach FL 33140. Soulmaker by Guido Elgueta and +X will be available to view on Artsy.
About The ReefLine
Founded by Ximena Caminos, the ReefLine is a 7-mile underwater public sculpture park, snorkel trail, and artificial reef which will provide a critical habitat for endangered reef organisms, promoting biodiversity, and enhancing coastal resilience. The ReefLine serves as a powerful reminder of the urgency in conserving our oceans and shorelines, highlighting the profound impact of climate change on these ecosystems through an awe-inspiring marine art concept off the coast of Miami Beach. The first phase of The ReefLine will debut in Spring 2024. www.thereefline.org
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About Ximena Caminos
Ximena Caminos is a distinguished cultural entrepreneur and globally renowned curator best known for her steadfast commitment to public art and her pivotal role in shaping two expansive cultural districts in North and South America. Recognized as a cultural agitator, she has pioneered innovative discussions on contemporary art and cultural manifestations. Caminos is the Founder of The ReefLine Miami Beach. Her influential leadership roles span the development of Faena Group in Miami Beach and Buenos Aires, where she served as founder and chair of Faena Art. Additionally, she was appointed as the Artistic Visionary planner for the masterplan of The Underline, the largest public art project in the United States. Caminos’ work consistently revolves around themes such as community-building, urban development, climate change, and ocean conservation, reflecting her deep commitment to the sustainability and preservation of oceans through the transformative power of art and culture.
About Beeple
Michael Joseph Winkelmann (b. 1981), known professionally as Beeple, is an American digital artist, graphic designer, and animator known for selling NFTs. In his art, he uses various media to create comical, phantasmagoric works that make political and social commentary while using pop culture figures as references. The NFT associated with Everydays: the First 5000 Days, a collage of images from his “Everydays” series, was sold on March 12, 2021, for $69 million in cryptocurrency.
About Faena Art
Founded in 2011, Faena Art is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that produces and presents post-disciplinary and time-based artist-led experiences year-round. A catalyst for innovative, site-specific, and immersive creative practices, Faena Art bridges the popular and the experimental, making art accessible to all. Faena Art fosters new models for social interaction transcending the traditional boundaries of art, science, philosophy, and social practice.
