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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla. —Known for its brightly colored buildings and art deco architecture, Miami has been a leader in the international design community for decades. The Harn Museum of Art will celebrate Miami’s contributions to American modernism with the opening of Promises of Paradise: Staging Mid-Century Miami, a groundbreaking exhibition devoted to the architects, designers and urban planners of mid-20th-century Miami. The exhibition opens Oct. 11, 2008 and is on view through Jan. 25, 2009.

Promises of Paradise showcases the architectural designs, furniture, textiles and decorative arts of some of South Florida’s most talented and innovative designers, such as Alfred Browning Parker, Morris Lapidus, George Farkas, Frederick Rank, Ken Treister and Kay Pancoast. The works included illustrate the mid-century experience and the collective vision of artists who shaped the indoor-outdoor lifestyle for which Florida is known today. Visitors can browse through the thematic sections of the exhibition, which are the promise of a great escape, a great city and a great home.

“Although the architects of mid-century Miami are widely recognized, the craftsmen and designers of decorative arts have been largely forgotten,” said Dulce Román, Harn Curator of Modern Art and coordinator of the exhibition. “Promises of Paradise is the first to showcase the efforts of these designers.”

Through a selection of more than 200 extraordinary objects from 60 lenders, the exhibition incorporates input from a wide range of interdisciplinary fields, such as architecture, history of design, city planning, historic preservation, historical studies and tourism management.

Related events include Family Day on Oct. 25 from 1 to 4 p.m., where visitors will learn about design in the 1950s by touring the exhibition. Afterward, they can design their dream homes for the next century with guest architect Michael Pellett. In addition, a family guide will be available in the galleries, providing interactive activities for families viewing the exhibition.

The Harn Museum of Art and the University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning’s Historic Preservation Program are partnering with the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation and the Florida Historical Commission to present “Evaluating Resources of the Recent Past in Florida” on Nov. 6-9. The three-day workshop will include discussions, lectures and related events with the goal of producing a document that will be specific to Florida and outline the criteria for the designation of historic sites for official national and state recognition. Additional information and reservations can be obtained by e-mailing Leanna Varner at lvarner@dcp.ufl.edu or by visiting http://conferences.dce.ufl.edu/CRRP.

Allan Shulman, FAIA, LEED AP, will give a lecture during Museum Nights on Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. He will discuss his curatorial role in this exhibition and what it meant to be modern in Miami during the post-World War II decades. Visitors will have the chance to examine works by Alfred Browning Parker as the internationally renowned, locally based architect engages in an informative and enlightening talk against the backdrop of this exciting exhibition on Nov. 9 at 3 p.m.  A reception will follow this gallery talk.  On Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. Curator of Modern Art Dulce Román will give a gallery talk discussing Miami’s three great promises of the post-World War II decades as interpreted through the works on display.

Members can be the first to view the exhibition at the Harn’s member pARTy on Oct. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m. Those who attend the member pARTy will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, wine, music and the opportunity to view Harn exhibitions. The Harn Museum of Art offers memberships beginning at $50 a year. Visit the membership section of the Harn’s Web site for additional benefits and information about how to join.

Promises of Paradise: Staging Mid-Century Miami is organized by the Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, and is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The exhibition is sponsored locally by ERA Trend Realty.

Admission to the Harn is free. For more information call 352-392-9826 or visit www.harn.ufl.edu.

Related Program List

Family Day, “Everyday Art,” Oct. 25, 1 - 4 p.m.
Learn about everyday design from the 1950s by touring the exhibition. Afterward, design your dream home for the next century with guest architect Michael Pellett in the classrooms.

Workshop, “Evaluating Resources of the Recent Past in Florida,” Nov. 6 - 9
Reservations and more information can be obtained by e-mailing Leanna Varner at lvarner@dcp.ufl.edu
or by visiting http://conferences.dce.ufl.edu/CRRP

Lecture, Allan Shulman, FAIA, LEED AP, architect and curator, Nov. 6, 6:30 p.m. during Museum Nights
Shulman will discuss his curatorial role in this engaging exhibition and what it meant to be modern in Miami during the post-World War II decades. This event is co-sponsored by the Historic Preservation Department.

Gallery Talk, Al Parker, architect, Nov. 9, 3 p.m.
Examine works by Al Parker as the internationally renowned, locally based architect engages in an informative and enlightening talk about this exciting exhibition. His talk will be followed by a reception in the Galleria. This event is co-sponsored by the Historic Preservation Department.

Gallery Talk, Dulce Román, Curator of Modern Art, Nov. 16, 3 p.m.
Explore themes from this engaging exhibition as Román discusses Miami’s three great promises of the post-World War II decades as interpreted through the works on display.

Member pARTy, Oct. 10, 6 - 9 p.m.
Become a Harn member and be the first to view the exhibition. Must be a Harn member to attend. Join online or at the Harn on the evening of the event for as little as $50 a year.

Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art
The Harn Museum of Art at SW 34th St. and Hull Rd. is one of the largest university art museums in the country with nearly 7,000 works in its collection focusing on African, Asian, modern and contemporary art and photography. The museum enhances the activities of the University of Florida and serves a culturally diverse audience through educational programming. Admission is free. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Parking is free on weekends. The Camellia Court Café is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum and café are open until 9 p.m. Thursdays for Museum Nights during the UF Academic calendar due to the generous support of UF Student Government. For more information call 352-392-9826 or visit www.harn.ufl.edu.

Media contacts:
Tami Wroath, Interim Director of Marketing and Public Relations
352.392.9826 x116
twroath@harn.ufl.edu