The Deering Estate will present an exhibit reception for ‘Mythology and Site,’ a solo show by artist Christina Pettersson, on Wednesday, October 18, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and includes a special performance in collaboration with opera singer Shanna Nolan Gundry at 7:45 p.m.
‘Mythology and Site’ responds to the Deering Estate’s ongoing interpretive theme of man’s connection to his environment and takes inspiration from founder Charles Deering’s lifelong attraction to the coast and ocean, from Biscayne Bay to the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, Deering’s decorative art collection is rich with imagery that includes fantastical beasts, ancient Greek mythological references, and Christian iconography. Many of the historic artworks, carved directly into the architecture, embed the site with myth and lore.
The show highlights recent work by Swedish-born, Miami-based artist, Christina Pettersson, a Deering Estate Alumna Artist in Residence (2011-2012). Pettersson explores resurrection and savage demise on a grand scale once reserved for history painting. Her drawings, sculptures, and most recently performances, reference classic mythology and literature, revealing a deep allegiance to the wilderness of a bygone era, the sorcery of the night, and the experience of a world in decline. It is a stage materialized from the often brutal but beautiful landscape of her hometown, which she has spent a lifetime exploring.
She writes, “As my roots in the South have grown so has the landscape. Where I am and what my unique terrain means matters more and more. It is not a backdrop. A voracious reader of local history, as well as an avid naturalist, birder, explorer and wild thing, I am most alive when I am inside the scenery, tramping the landscape barefoot and muddy. I long to restore that epic and mythological dimension, a sense of awe and reverence for the world. The fact is they are not much about my personality. I want to be a storyteller. I want to believe that life is still wild.” The exhibit features an impressive 24 foot wide drawing of architectural ruins, inspired by historical ruins like Tamarit, a Spanish fortress restored by Charles Deering in the early twentieth century.
Exhibit Reception on Wednesday, October 18, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; special performance at 7:45 p.m.
Exhibit on display from October 18, 2017 – January 5, 2018, daily, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Free with Estate Admission.
Cultural programs at the Deering Estate are made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and The Deering Estate Foundation, Inc.
Exhibit Evenings at the Deering Estate
Deering Estate offers complementary exhibit viewing nights, highlighting a variety of contemporary, historic, and visiting exhibitions inside the Historic homes. Exhibit Evenings are free of charge and offer the public a chance to interact with artists and curators and to experience a variety of exhibit tours and talks.
About the Artist
Christina Pettersson was born in Stockholm, Sweden and lives in Miami, FL. Recently, in addition to video and sculptural installations, she has curated and staged group performances and public programming throughout her native South Florida. Her last solo show focused on the mythology of the Deep South and the Civil War, and in addition to large scale drawings and sculptures, she created a weekly program of events to bring those themes to life in the community- with local tours of neighborhoods and cemeteries, guest lectures and workshops. Group performances at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, the Deering Estate, and the Coconut Grove Convention Center have allowed Pettersson’s work to become a true engagement with the community by dissolving boundaries, utilizing the talents of a variety of people and organizations with limited resources, and educating and delighting by innovative means. Her most recent shows include the Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, Girls Club, Fort Lauderdale, the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, FL, and Launch F18, curated by Site95, New York, NY.
About the Deering Estate
The 450+ acre Deering Estate is an environmental, archaeological and historical preserve. From canoe tours to bird walks and guided Historic House and Natural Areas Tours, the Deering Estate has diverse activities for the whole family to enjoy. The Estate is part of the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department, which manages the Estate on behalf of the State of Florida. Discover More art, culture, history, science, preservation, conservation and ecology at the Deering Estate today!
Deering Estate
16701 SW 72nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33157
305.235.1668
www.deeringestate.org
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