Lost Spaces and Stories of Vizcaya

“Lost Spaces and Stories of Vizcaya” is a two-part exhibition on view from May 2016 through October 2017, in conjunction with Vizcaya’s centennial.

Phase I of “Lost Spaces” is on view through October 2017 and features projects that relate to Vizcaya’s Moat, Map Racks, Staff Life and Lost Decorated Rooms. Phase II, on view from November 2016 through October 2017, will focus on four recreational spaces and highlight elements of Vizcaya’s original design intent that no longer exist. These include the Casba, South Property, the Casino and Basement Recreational Rooms. The Casba is a small, exotic pavilion that was originally part of Vizcaya’s southern gardens and is now on the grounds of the Archdiocese of Miami.

Commissioned artists and their works for Lost Spaces include:

Phase I
Juraj Kojs’ “Moat of Sound” presents a soundscape of in the historic Moat that runs below Vizcaya’s ticket booth. Also in the Moat, Duane Brant introduces a minimal “white stripe” to indicate the extent of the space. Lucinda Linderman produced a series of soft felted maps depicting South Florida in the 1920s, now and 50 years from now, thus referencing the original function of the now-empty Map Racks in the Main House. David Rohn produced portraits of former staff, placing them in the spaces they would have served. Frances Trombly designed pulls for the historic bell pulls that summoned staff throughout the Main House. Amanda Keeley’s installation features a neon sign translating the Latin quote on the east façade of the Main House, “Accept the gift of pleasure when it is given. Put serious things aside.” Magnus Sigurdarson created a telenovela alluding to the stories that in the Enclosed Loggia and East Loggia might have witnessed. These are two spaces whose furnishings are no longer on display.

Phase II
Leyden Rodriguez-Casanova’s piece will create a reference to the Casba that appears as either unfinished or deconstructed, depending on the viewer’s perspective. Mira Lehr and Yara Travieso’s installation will personify Vizcaya as Queen Dido, the first queen of Carthage according to ancient Greek and Roman writers. Their work will be activated through performances, and evoke the exotic wildlife that once existed on the South Property. Kerry Phillips will create an installation for the winding white marble staircase in the Shop and Café area that once served as quick access for Deering and his guests from the East Loggia to the recreational rooms. The project will consist of found furniture installed with a sense of movement suggesting that the pieces are rushing down the stairs. Brookhart Jonquil is developing a piece for the two rooms in the Casino, or small house, on the Garden Mound. This piece will focus on the original fixtures in the rooms, while using architecture and light as a bridge between the physical and immaterial. His work will also speculatively reference the daily activities that might have taken place in those spaces.