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Spectral Vizcaya: An Evening of Illumination
Feb 26, 2021
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Museum admission required. Free with museum admission.
Apparitions repopulate Vizcaya for a festive night of phantom memories that return for a winter party. Illuminations on the house, throughout the garden and in the bay bring to life the history of Vizcaya as visions of light. Guests are invited to dress in their finest tropical winter wear and meet the spirits of Vizcaya for this one-night-only event!
During Spectral Vizcaya, the museum’s exterior spaces host sculptures, projections, and performances that visualize the estate’s history through caricature sketches. An illuminated gondola floats in Biscayne Bay, James Deering’s nieces perch in the gardens, and a team of smugglers infiltrate the grounds. Meanwhile, projections on the house and in a garden theater create colorful images that retell stories from the early days. Stained glass, analog projection machines, LEDs, and holiday lights create a luminous atmosphere for the audience to explore. Become a part of the show as your shadows meld with projections, and children carry lanterns along the path.
About the artist:
Sebastian Duncan-Portuondo is the lead artist, working closely with Vizcaya’s staff throughout conceptualization and implementation. Duncan-Portuondo is a Coconut Grove native, and worked with the Processional Arts Workshop in 2016 and 2017 PPA programs as the project assistant. Duncan-Portuondo creates lyrical environments that negotiate public identity and hidden histories. Committed to advancing the history of stained glass, he has developed analog projection techniques using the brilliantly colored medium to create live animation performances. He works collaboratively through workshops, and alongside dancers, musicians, and others. Duncan-Portuondo was commissioned by Vizcaya in 2015 to create a stained glass animation project as part of the Fantastical Vizcaya Basel Exhibition. Learn more about his work through his website, www.duncan-portuondo.com
Spectral Vizcaya is made possible with the support of the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.