We’re ushering in the new year with a spectacular Art Deco Weekend!
The 47th Annual Art Deco Weekend is happening January 12-14th in Miami Beach.
Join us for three days of walking tours, live music, dancing, classic car show, and more – all amidst the endless Art Deco of Ocean Drive and Miami Beach.
You also won’t want to miss our wonderful lecture series, taking place at the Art Deco Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and outdoors.
Here’s a preview of our free lectures lineup. Be sure to plan in advance as lectures often sell out.
Major funding support is provided by the City of Miami Beach and the Original Miami Beach Antique Show, which takes place Jan 11th – 15th at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Art Deco Weekend visitors can obtain a free antique show pass using the following link: click here.
Please note: times and locations are subject to change. Always check the website for the latest info at artdecoweekend.org
Friday, Jan 12th
Advocating for Florida’s Historic Places
Join us at the Art Deco Museum on Friday, January 12 1pm for the Keynote by Melissa Wyllie, CEO and president of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, and Mike Cosden, Board President of the Florida Trust. They’ll discuss the organization’s advocacy priorities and strategies for the 2024 state of Florida legislative session, which will be kicking off just days before the Art Deco Weekend begins (January 9).
Historic Preservation in Coastal Communities of Florida
Next, at 2:30 pm, architect Rick Gonzalez will discuss “Historic Preservation in Coastal Communities of Florida,” and provide guidelines to follow to protect and preserve their uniqueness and historical context. These rules were developed by Mr. Gonzalez and will educate the listeners about ways these historic buildings and districts can be preserved. The lecture will take place at the Art Deco Museum.
Saving Special Places & Building Better Communities: Smart Growth in Florida
Then at 4:00 pm, hear from guest speaker Haley Busch who will discuss ‘1000 Friends of Florida’s‘ latest project, Sea Level 2040/2070. Haley’s lecture, “Smart Growth in Florida,” will educate us on topics such as rising sea-level trends, population growth, and ways we may safeguard our quality of life by conserving land and protecting historic and cultural resources.
The Beatles in 1964 Florida
We finish Friday‘s lecture program with a presentation by author Bob Kealing, a six-time Emmy-winning broadcast journalist, who takes us on a journey back in time to 1964, when the iconic band, The Beatles, spent two weeks in Florida. Kealing will take us through a deep dive into his new book, “Good Day Sunshine State – How the Beatles Rocked Florida.” Lecture begins at 6 pm. After the lecture, MDPL Members are invited to the Opening Night Soiree in Lummus park from 8pm-10pm!
Saturday, Jan 13th
Miami’s Secret Floating Village
The Saturday series begins at 10 am at the Art Deco Museum with “Miami’s Secret Floating Village,” an insightful lecture by award-winning speaker and author, David Bricker. Inspired by people he met while working on the Christo Surrounded Islands Project, Dave will speak on his time spent living aboard sailboats in Miami’s Dinner Key Anchorage. The Anchorage is Miami’s secret floating village, and David Bricker is living proof that adventure can be had in real life, not just in books and movies.
Deco Deep Dive
Next, at 11 am the Wolfsonian-FIU’s program starts with a “Deco Deep Dive.” Curator Lea Nickless delves into the stories of the design elements (and collectibles) found in and around 1001 Washington Avenue—where did they come from? How did they end up in Miami Beach? Lea answers these questions and more at her talk.
The Florida House, 1945-1965
A large screened-in porch, Florida room, louvered windows, and carport, — the Florida House became iconic in South Florida after the Second World War. Using colorful promotional materials and archival evidence, scholar Anna Andrzejewski explores how these efforts were so successful that within a generation, both coasts of South Florida were transformed into a sprawling suburban landscape. The lecture will be held at the Wolfsonian-FIU at 1 pm.
Dwell Time
Wolfsonian-FIU’s final program at 3 pm features conservator Rosa Lowinger, on preserving modern tropical buildings and art in Miami and Havana. Based on her just-published memoir, Dwell Time, Rosa 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 home.
Postwar Architectural Photography in South Florida and the Paradox of Pleasure
At 4:30 pm, we return to the Art Deco Museum with “Postwar Architectural Photography in South Florida and the Paradox of Pleasure.” Senior lecturer Victor Deupi discusses postwar photography and the rise of a utopian paradise.
Sunday, Jan 14th
The Miami Creation Myth: How We Tell South Florida’s Stories
We start off at 10 am at the 7th Street and Ocean Drive Tent, where Miami native Andrew Otazo will read from his book The Miami Creation Myth. Otazo’s writing immerses its readers in a universe within its own, often absurd, deities, rules, and norms—much like the city on which it is based. These modern myths use humor to delve into the wonderful richness, as well as endemic privilege and cultural misunderstandings, prevalent in one of America’s most diverse cities.
Florida’s First Travelogue: A Spanish Shipwreck Survivor’s Memoir of Enslavement with the Calusa Tribe for 17 Years
At 11 am, we sail to the Art Deco Museum for “Florida’s First Travelogue: A Spanish Shipwreck Survivor’s Memoir of Enslavement with the Calusa Tribe for 17 years.” Hernando D’Escalante Fontaneda was 13 years old when he survived a shipwreck in Florida in 1549. In this lecture, Stuart Reed takes us on an epic journey down memory lane, confessing his true story of hardship and survival.
Miami’s Desi Arnaz: Achieving the American Dream
Next up, we have a lecture at 1 pm about a famous Cuban actor that most will remember from the classic TV show, I Love Lucy. Join guest speaker Gary McKechnie at the Art Deco Museum for an interesting talk about Desi Arnaz and how his rise to stardom began in our beloved Miami Beach.
What in the World?! How Walt Created Disney World
At 2:30 pm, Gary McKechnie will give a second lecture at the Art Deco Museum that uncovers the hidden secrets of Walt Disney and his magical empire. Audiences will be amazed to learn of subterfuge, monumental innovations, and engineering feats required to create a whole new world.
Resurfacing the Moorish Magic of Opa-Locka
At 3 pm, meet at the 7th Street and Ocean Drive Tent for a lecture by Linda Stevenson PhD AIA, and Alex Van Mecl on “Resurfacing the Moorish Magic of Opa-Locka.” In 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 comprehensive surveys, education, and community engagement.
Flooding in Florida: The Bellwether of Climate Change
We cap off our Art Deco Weekend lectures series at the Art Deco Museum at 4:30 pm with “Flooding in Florida: The Bellwether of Climate Change.” Join guest speakers Dominique Hawkins and Jennifer M. Wolfe at the Art Deco Museum for an educational lecture discussing the importance of climate change adaptation to maintain the safety of a building and its occupants.
