MADA: Art, community, and social compromise

It is not, however, that there are no attempts to take on the task of reforming the art system in South Florida, but the majority of these attempts are curtailed at their base because their existence depends on a publicity that determines the appearance, the outreach and the guidelines of the Project.

Projects are thus dominated by the prevalence of zonings, capricious ghettos that make themselves with a cannibalistic look, or a “cloisonné” culture-in order to decorate suffering- that is stigmatized in this city.

To break this barrier is one of the objectives that have propelled a group of the city’s art gallery owners and dealers to found MADA (Miami Art Dealers Association). The group counts with the support and the advice of Bernice Steinbaum (MADA’s honorary President), one of the legendary figures that marked the beat of the city since 2002, since she left New York and bet on the uncertain scene that Wynwood then offered to art professionals.

The establishment of the organization was made known to the public this past November 19 at the Museum Vault, and was formally incorporated on February 23 of this year.

The voting for the new board of directors of WADA (Wynwood Art District Association) took place just a day before, on February 22. WADA was founded in 2003 with the purpose of promoting art in the area.

Unlike WADA, which includes not only galleries and artistic institutions, but also other businesses linked to the social and cultural life of the area, MADA tries to concentrate on problems specifically related to the promotion, circulation, and commercialization of art. The organization has a more extensive character when contemplating the city of Miami as a radius for action.

According to the founding statutes of the organization, MADA seeks to “promote the professional standards of art dealers, and develop art education both at a local and an international level. Through the promotion of an ethical practice, education, and its member’s knowledge, MADA’s agents are responsible, credible, and well informed in their work with artist, collectors, museums, and other dealers”.

With a vast program of action that sees education, promotion, and cultural tourism as the fundamental axes, one of MADA’s main objectives will be to create a resource center that works as a consultation center open to the public, and records all the activities developed by each of its members.

One of the main interests of MADA is building a stronger relationship with local museums. In order to achieve this, the organization is anticipating the MADA program for Museum collections acquisitions and exhibitions. Isaac Perelman, President of MADA and Director of the Dot Fiftyone gallery explains: “local artists need more representation in our museums.

The first links of this selection process are galleries. It is for this reason that the relationship between galleries and museums has to be close.”

The organization also wants to have a direct social impact in the community, encouraging the education of Young people, and collaborating with disadvantaged areas.

For this purpose, a program conceived in association with Educate Tomorrow was formed. The program is focused in the insertion of young people that get to adulthood without finding adoptive families, and that urgently need to learn skills, and to have work experience in order to integrate to social life.

“With this association- explains Andreína Fuentes, Treasurer of MADA and Director of Hardcore Art Contemporary Space- MADA will contribute to the formation of these young people, teaching them skills associated with the art sphere, such as archivists, installations and video maker, amongst other. There is also the possibility that they will then be hired by the same association”.

Membership to MADA is open to galleries and art dealers. Certain base conditions apply, such as having been an entity for at least three years, meeting the minimum number of hours of being open to the public, and having a rotating program of at least four expositions per year. Art lovers can also become part of the association with the title of Friend.

Even today, there is still a widespread stereotype that Miami is part of the cultural scene because Art Basel has its winter headquarters here. The city has grown artistically since the first edition in 1999, and various factors have contributed to the development of the city. Amongst them, the Latin American art market boom during the ‘80s, the establishment of renowned collectors with a wish to influence the cultural life of the city, the creation of a system of quality art education, such as The New World School of Arts y el Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH), as well as the successive waves of artists and intellections in general that continuously come and install themselves in the city.

MADA is a proposal welcomed by South Florida. Its success will depend, more than anything, on the visionary push of an organization that- being made up of commercial entities- seeks social and cultural insertion that will has to favor a global and inclusive vision that goes further than the specific interests of each of its members. This will be the real challenge for the new organization that today adds to the cultural scene of Miami.