Miami, a former citrus hub and home to Latin Americans seeking a better life, has in just a century become a hub for international finance, fashion and art. Neighborhoods once lined with warehouses and small shops catering to their varying inhabitants have become nuclei for high rise development and free expression. Known as one of the world's cleanest and forward thinking cities, Miami's broad range of eclectic residents have lead the city to it's nickname "Magic City" due to it's rapid rise to becoming one of the world's premier cities. The inviting atmosphere and freedom of expression are coupled with a devotion to the locals.
Two locations exemplify the above statements: Wynwood, and South Beach.
Wynwood, a 15 block stretch of warehouses and small businesses has quickly become a center for enterprise and street art. One side of Wynwood has become filled with shops while the other half is a massive urban canvas. Tony Goldman, a community revitalizer saw an opportunity in Wynwood in 2009. The large amount of windowless warehouses allowed for a massive canvas, initially started in a small section known as the Wynwood Walls. The idea quickly spread beyond the walls with art now covering over 80,000 square feet of walls. As a cityscape photographer, Wynwood was one of my most productive shoots ever. Art covers walls, garage doors, lightposts, sidewalks and every spot in between and although I captured a tremendous amount of photographs, they only represent a microcosm of what Wynwood has to offer. Wynwood also serves as a canvas of people, as a unique blend of modern Jews and hipsters comingle to create excellent food and businesses.
South Beach, part of the Miami Beach entertainment hub is known for being home to some of the world's most visited beaches, clubs and restaurants, but the immensely diverse population creates immensely diverse and thought provoking art rooted in the heritage of local residents. With a large Jewish population, a large holocaust memorial sits across from City Hall. The arts have also influenced several museums, the two shown below being the Florida International University Wolfsonian and the Bass Museum of Art.
Visit the links below for more information:
Wynwood
Wolfsonian
Holocaust Memorial & Botanical Gardens
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