little havana miami naemi viernes culturales

i have a soft spot for the mentally ill and art therapy. you and i may never truly know what it's like to battle a mental disease and the suffering that comes along with it, but i do believe that art heals and helps us grow and emerge. i've never heard of naemi before, but this looks like an interesting art exhibit. it will feature the art of the mentally ill....the exhibit opens this friday in little havana, and if you can't catch it this weekend, you should definately go next friday, november 26 during viernes culturales (little havana's art walk night)

Ramon Losa, Artist Book, 200 NAEMI,  National Art Exhibitions by the Mentally Ill invites you to their annual International Outsider Art Exhibition, Fundraising and Meeting with the Artists Obrapia Fine Arts 648 SW 8th St. Miami, Fl 33135 P: 305 646 6752 Friday November 19 from 7:30 – 9 pm

November 19 – December 3, 2010  International Outsider Art Show The National Art Exhibitions by the Mentally Ill (NAEMI) marks its 23 years of service to outsider art with and exhibition and fundraising event on November 19, 2010 at Obrapia Fine Arts Gallery in Little Havana. “With our Annual Exhibitions, we hope to bring additional attention to the struggle of those who have been diagnosed with mental illness,” said NAEMI’s Founder Juan Martin. “Our ultimate goal is to help these artists to be recognized and to fight the stigma that so often accompanies mental illness.” Featuring the works of artists from USA, Spain, Chile and Paraguay. All 30 works featured in the exhibition will be available for sale with proceeds benefiting the artists and NAEMI’s goal of helping artists with mental illness from around the world. In the past 22 years, NAEMI has been a pioneer of this field of outsider art by developing various projects, conferences, workshops and activities with experts in the visual arts, literary and mental health professions. NAEMI exhibitions have been annually shown in Miami and have circulated in various museums and art galleries throughout the United States and the world. About NAEMI:  Founded in 1988, NAEMI emerges while Juan Martin, the Executive Director, worked providing counseling to mentally disabled persons at a community mental health center in Miami. After encouraging a patient to paint as a way to escape his intense suffering, Martin remembers how he liked that art work and realized at that moment that there were probably many other talented persons in psychiatric hospitals waiting to be discovered. NAEMI have in his permanent collection near 1200 art works. Their final goal is to open a museum dedicated exclusively to the art of the mentally ill. For more information contact Juan Martín naemi@bellsouth.net  Hours of Exhibition: Monday - Friday 10 - 7 Saturday 11 - 5 P. 305 646 6751

little havana miami viernes culturales

Viernes Culturales/Cultural Fridays is an artistic, cultural, and social arts and culture fair that takes place on the last Friday of each month in the historic Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, FL, in the heart of Calle Ocho (8th St. SW between 14th and 17th Avenues). A powerful venue for talented visual artists and entertainers, the monthly festival offers an opportunity for visitors and tourists to experience an evening of culture with the diverse flavors of our Latino community.

The event consists of outdoor musical performances on a stage and along the sidewalks of Calle Ocho, art exhibits along the sidewalk and in plazas and open spaces, visits to art galleries and cultural centers, cuisine tasting at participating restaurants, and films/art exhibits/ educational programs at the historic Tower Theatre. Free walking tours of Little Havana also take place during the festival.

Within the festival area are 13 art galleries featuring work by renowned Cuban and Latin American artists; most or all galleries are open during the event.

Cultural Fridays attracts approximately 70,000 visitors and tourists a year and is expected to grow in the next few years because of its tremendous popularity and success.

The event takes place the last Friday of each month between 6:30 pm and 11 pm.

Who Visits Cultural Fridays?
Cultural Fridays is targeted to all those who enjoy arts and culture, from community members to visitors from all over the world. Our audience is multicultural and represents the ethnic diversity of our South Florida community, with the majority Hispanic (at least 90%). Our event also attracts people of all ages and economic backgrounds.