Community Spotlight on … Loft Living in WYNWOOD
By admin on Aug. 13, 2008.
“Wynwood”, founded in 2003, is also known as the Wynwood Art District. It is located north of Downtown, with NW/NE 20 Street to the south, NW/NE 36th Street to the north, I-95 to the west, Biscayne Boulevard to the east. Featuring over 40 art galleries, five museums, three collections, seven art complexes, twelve art studios, and five art fairs, Wynwood is an exciting venue for any and all artists to showcase their collections. The area promises to expand to become a modern cultural center with live/work lofts, similar to that of true New-York-style loft living, industrial warehouses, and where residents will find entertainment and excitement, all within walking distance.
Wynwood is a “must” for up-and-coming artists, writers, photographers, and musicians aspiring to define themselves and make a statement. One of the main attractions each month is the Wynwood Art District Second Saturday “Gallery Walk” between 7:00 and 11:00 p.m. With open doors, the public gets to mingle with the exhibitors, and enjoy having the featured artists discuss their works, while listening to live music and sipping their favorite refreshments.
The transformation of Wynwood into a vibrant, pedestrian-driven, art-and-entertainment hub just minutes from South Beach, Miami International Airport, and the brand-new “Midtown Miami” (as Wynwood is also known), is on its way!
From Wikipedia, Current Galleries in Wynwood include:
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Art Fairs
Aqua Art Miami
Art Miami
Miami Art Group
Scope Miami
| History “This once-desolate industrial area has come alive with galleries and young artists drawn to the neighborhood’s fringe appeal and cheaper real estate. Its artistic roots date back to 1986 with the Bakehouse Art Complex (561 NW 32nd Street), a nonprofit collective that offered affordable studio, exhibition, and classroom space in a former 1930s bakery. By 2003, there was enough of a critical mass that the area’s galleries and artists formed the Wynwood Art District Association. The Association grew from just 13 in 2003 to 73 in 2006. Unlike many art circuits, Wynwood isn’t exactly pedestrian friendly. Between the artist spaces are vast stretches of urban jungle: vacant, overgrown lots, wholesale clothing warehouses, and bungalows—some fixed up, some falling down. During the day, the streets can have a deserted feel. But an artistic pilgrimage has its rewards. Wynwood is known for nurturing experimental art often deemed too cutting edge for mainstream galleries. Among the best is MOCA at Goldman Warehouse (404 NW 26th Street), a branch of the Museum of Contemporary Art, known for mounting ambitious exhibitions. Many artists leave their studio doors open, so you can watch while they hammer away.” [excerpted from a Bonnie Tsui article in The New York Times.] |
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| The 3 main streets that run north and south offer a different perspective on Wynwood. NW 2nd Avenue to the west is a residential neighborhood that has Puerto Rican roots. Mainly a neighborhood of single family homes, there are a lot of warehouses and commercial space/business between this neighborhood, and the Wynwood shopping area. The middle of the 3 north/south avenues, North Miami Avenue is largely commercial. There is plenty of space available here! Along NE 2nd Avenue you can glimpse Biscayne Bay at the eastern end of the cross streets. The closer you are to Biscayne Boulevard, the more new construction is going on. The area is beautiful and the architecture is modern and original. There is a mix of high-rise apartments, new shopping centers, and warehouses. Believe it or not, there is still empty land available on Biscayne Bay in the neighborhood to the east of Wynwood, known as Edgewater. |
