Wynwood Art Walk: Out of Control or Just a Damn Good Time?

By J.J. Colagrande Mon., Jan. 14 2013 at 8:06 AM

Luis Valle is both an artist and a gallery owner. He recently opened up the Brisky Gallery
on 24th Street between NW Second and North Miami Avenues. The space is huge, with a
large outdoor backyard; Valle says it will one day soon host high-end social events.

When asked about the lack of communication between business or gallery owners, Mr. Valle shrugged. "That's a problem, you know, but it's like the Wild West out here -- everyone's just doing their own thing."

Justin Namon

Despite the discord, 24th Street is a good example of the new Wynwood. Across the street from Brisky is the Wynwood Cigar Factory, another art event venue space, and up the road is Gramps, the neighborhood's newest bar and event space, which was packed to the hilt Saturday night with every downtown scenester and hipster socialite in this city.

Real estate developers and art gallery owners represent different creatures of business. Though they disagree on ways and means, they still want the same thing, which is to
profit and see Wynwood succeed.

Based on what we saw Saturday night, Wynwood is doing just fine. Yes, change is inevitable. The neighborhood has been evolving for years; it's unrealistic to expect it to stop now. Not every gallery will survive; not every property will prosper; not every mural will remain intact. But with the streets packed with people and more entertainment and arts venues on the horizon, one thing's for sure: Wynwood isn't going anywhere.

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Problem Kids

Need more live music at the art walk!

Mike Montero

If the city wants to get involved/help they could start by providing more trash cans and making them more visible.

Dennis Barranco

My friends and I all had a blast this past saturday. I really don't get what the problem is, get there early for the galleries, stay late for the parties.

George Hoover

gr8 time! In fact the best party in the MIA...by far!

Mike Montero

This last one was off the chain, I had a damn good time, nothing but smiles on the people dancing in the street! 2nd Saturdays are my favorite Saturdays!

PinkDucky

1 Like

This weekends Art Walk really was great! We took a virgin Art Walk friend & he loved it! The entertainment in the streets really just made it all the better. Wynwood is reminding me more and more of Brooklyn with all the artist and lively scene. Keep it coming, Miami needs this!

stopmiami.danny

@PinkDucky Exactly which neighborhood in Brooklyn does Wynwood remind you of? Because in mine, Bushwick, there are actually artists who live here. There were almost 300 artists' studios participating in the last open studio event. In Bushwick. I don't think you could even raise a minyan of artists who live or work in Wynwood. WADA exists to suck all the art and the artists out of Wynwood, and to replace it with malls and event spaces. This is another braindead article that just toes the (developers')party line. Which is about one thing-how are we gonna slice up the money pie?

Rok TheSpot

1 Like

What out of control? Its not Calle 8, relax.

Alex Anico

1 Like

oh please...you make it seem like people are being raped in the streets. The worse that happens when you go to art walk is you cant find parking and the wine is gone by the time you get to a gallery. i think the complaints are being thrown out because no one else is and the trendy thing to do is be the first to complain so you can say i was the first. Artists would kill to have such a crowd.

Miriel Robles

1 Like

I had a damn good time!

J Humberto Jimenez

all I know is that I seen something happen, and if that "something" happened in Puerto Rico, somebody would have died...

macielvarg

Meh, the sooner the galleries carry less shit art in them the sooner I'll go back down.

Maciel Vargas

It's been a fuckin circus for some time now.

Jenn EV

*are doing

Hector Chacon

holy shit Dirk is on the same wave length as me!

Hector Chacon

it's the typical Miami way : take something good, turn it in to a party excuse : ruin it it'll fade out with in the next few months like everything else does and a new hype will emerge. why are we surprised?!

Dirk DeSouza

Like everything in Miami, it's turned into a party - another excuse to get drunk, stoned, rolling, tripping, wired and unproductive. Where's the surprise?

Jenn EV

im not sure wat i dislike most.. the people who get utterly trashed out there or the trash those people throw on the streets there. on south beach its easy to blame litter on the tourists, the mainland proves its our own people fucking up the place. if u want our town to be considered a dump you hipsters as doing a fine job at it.