Yesterday's list on pop culture showcased how the mass media and the world see Miami, but today's list of cultural moments of the decade focuses on the artistic forces that help Miami see the world. Few cities on any map saw such a dramatic growth spurt in culture in this decade, so let's take a look back.
2002 - South Beach Wine & Food Festival pops offThe annual epicurean wonderland has been around in some form or another since the '90s, but it was in 2002 when the festival became a weeklong event to be reckoned with in cuisine culture. The dish became so tempting that Food Network began sponsoring it and turned it into one of its marquee events.
2002 - Art Basel descends on the cityThis isn't a ranked list, but if it was, it's hard to imagine anything other than the inception of Art Basel Miami Beach taking the top spot. Since its debut in 2002, the annual art fair has emerged as a powerhouse. Not only is it the most important art fair in the Americas, but also since eclipsing its Swiss parent in size, notoriety, and scope, it has become a must-go for the world's cultural elite. With the addition of numerous satellite fairs, parties, and related events, Miami becomes the center of the art world for the first week in December.
 |
| Hernan Bas The Hero Centaurs |
2003 - Establishment of Wynwood Art District and Second SaturdayThe thing that never quite sat right with locals about Basel is the fact that, outside of exposure, it does little to actually promote our own galleries. So enter the creation of the Wynwood Art District and its art walks on the second Saturday of every month. Some might scoff it's all the free booze and party atmosphere that has drawn Miamians en masse to the streets of Wynwood for years, but believe us, we've been lots of places with free booze in this town where no one shows up. Let alone shows up every month of the year. It turns out we actually do care about our local artists and galleries.
Email to Friend
Write to Editor
Print Article
