Perez Art Museum Miami, main entrance
Address:
1103 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132
Telephone:
786 345 5643
Website:
For a New Yorker it is always a special treat to travel to Florida in the winter months. You can be sure of sunny weather in a mild climate - a perfect escape from the cold, dreary weather in New York City.
I was fortunate to be in Miami in January 2016, and was very happy to still be there when a strong blizzard hit New York City and we could not fly back due to the snow. What better place to miss out on a snowstorm than Miami!
Miami has a very lively art scene and I started to explore it by visiting PAMM in a new building in the also new Museum Park at Biscayne Bay.
About the Museum
Being situated at the crossroads of the Americas, this museum highlights Miami´s diverse community. Focusing on contemporary and modern international art of the 20th and 21st century, the museum also offers an overview of the vibrant Caribbean and Latin American art.
The new building, designed by the Pritzker prize winning architects Herzog & de Meuron, is a light and airy construction, with hanging gardens and a beautiful view of the waterfront. A roof covered terrace overlooking the landscaped gardens and an outdoor sculpture garden offer relaxation, and also a café, which can be enjoyed all year round.
Hanging gardens from the top of the picture, the terrace is to the right of the picture
Entrance and Galleries
The entrance can be reached by gently sloping ramps or stairs from the garden. The doors open into a generous lobby on the first floor of the museum. The museum is bright and spacious throughout. There is an ongoing conversation between the outside and the inside of the museum by way of cleverly shaded glass panel walls.
The ticket counter is just a few steps from the doors. To the right you will find the museum shop and the café.
At the time of my visit there was no special material available for visually impaired people (VIP). I joined the regular, daily, public tour of the current exhibitions.
We started on the second floor with an introduction about the architecture of the building. I found it very interesting that this museum had won a prize for sustainability.
All the galleries were easy to navigate. An unobstructed layout in galleries always makes it easier for me to get around. The light throughout the building was soft and beneficial for my eyes. The special shades on the windows allow just the right amount of daylight into the galleries. The artificial lights were well designed and placed and did not give off too much glare.
The only problem I encountered in the building was the spectacular staircase that leads up to the second floor. It is a wooden, very broad staircase with one rail on the right side of it (walking up the stairs). The left side of the staircase transforms into an auditorium. When I reached the top of the first set of stairs, I found myself entangled in a long curtain. This curtain is being used to create different spaces for performances: sound installations, exhibitions, etc. When it is not in use it is “parked” on the right side of the next set of stairs. These stairs are narrower than the first ones and provide a handrail on both sides of the stairs. After finding the handrail again, I felt safe once more!
The current exhibition at the time of my visit, was “Sun Splashed” by Nari Ward. He is a New York based artist from Jamaica with thought provoking installations and sculptures. I really enjoyed them very much.
Above: Sculpture "Rock, Booked, Scissor, Vice, by Nari Ward
Below: Labels to the sculpture
Labels, Audio Guide, and App
The labels in the different exhibitions were in black font on a white background. They were hard to find on a white wall, and the font was just a bit too small for me to read - as it is so often the case in museums. I took refuge in taking a photo of the label and then reading it, with my zoom on, on my phone.
There were neither an audio guide nor an app available at the time of my visit. I was very happy that I had taken the guided tour. It helped me to to experience the exhibitions much better than by myself, although the guide gave no verbal description.
Above: Painting by Firelei Báez, a young Caribbean female with a richly patterned headscarf
Below: Label to artwork
Last but not Least
I absolutely enjoyed my two visits to this museum. I found the building’s architecture very remarkable. I liked the feeling of space and lightness, and the ongoing conversation between the outside and the inside of the museum was intriguing for me, and the view of the hanging gardens was especially beautiful.
It was easy for me to access and walk through the many rooms.
The shop and the café-restaurant are worth a visit after a good art experience!
Tip
Visit the website before you actually go to the museum to check current exhibitions and changes of information.
Treat yourself to a nice walk through the beautifully designed landscape gardens of the Museum Park and walk toward the American Airlines Arena. Nearby you will find the Freedom Tower, a much-loved historic sight of Miami. It hosts the Museum of Art+Design, a small institution in interesting quarters. I saw a most delightful exhibition by William and Steven Ladd there, called “Queen of the Universe”.
Freedom Tower, Miami
"Lunch Lady", by Steven and William Ladd