Remember going on school field trips to the museum? It’s something I’d look forward to, and it had nothing to do with learning about art or history. I admit seeing prehistoric dinosaur bones at the American Museum of Natural History were pretty cool. We also visited art galleries – featuring beautiful pieces by various artists. Let’s not forget the planetarium. Viewing planets in outer space is something most kids would enjoy.
Now that I’m an adult, I’m realizing that I now view art in a completely different way. It’s as if I’m looking at it with a fresh pair of eyes – a completely different perspective. I attribute by new vision to maturity and my overall life experiences.
I recently viewing some artwork from a local Miami artist, Troy Simmons, and being impressed by his work. Simmons is a Resident Artist at the Bakehouse Artist Complex in Miami’s Wynwood Art District. Each of his pieces is sort of like a combination of an urban vibe mixed with nature and modern architecture. If you’re looking for modern and trendy architecture, you can visit a good place like Archute for more info. His massive, large-scale concrete canvases are a mix of acrylic paints and raw materials with most pieces weighing over 100 pounds.
As a kid, I’d look at his work and probably say, “Oh, cool,” then keep it moving. But as an adult, I’m actually curious at how he puts together each piece and what it means.
I’ve grown to appreciate art over the years. But by the looks of things, Princess is way ahead of the game. At four-years-old, I’m amazed at how excited she gets when learning new things. It’s something I’ve noticed as a baby. We’ve taken a few trips to local museums and she’s taken a liking to many exhibits. She’d soak up as much information as she could – asking a million questions.
Our plan is to visit the American Museum of Natural History to see the dinosaurs – something she’s been asking about for a while now. I’ve learned that when kids become curious, it’s important to nurture that curiosity. They are like sponges ready to soak up as much information as possible.
As for Simmons, he’s scheduled to showcase his new concrete work during a solo show at CONTEXT Miami Art Fair December 2nd-7th at booth #E75. He also plans to have several pieces on display at SCOPE Art Show Miami Beach. If you’re in the Miami area, Mr. Simmons is offering complimentary tickets to a VIP preview of his work. You can head over to Eventbrite for more details on how you can score some passes.