The Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation Inc.’s (“OLCDC”), Art of Transformation (AOT) is making a bold return to Opa-locka from December 1st - 4th, 2022, on the occasion of Miami Art Week, Art Basel Miami Beach 2022 and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Art of Black Miami, 2022.
Three exceptional art exhibitions: This Here Place: Africa and the Global Diaspora, A Beautiful Human Love and The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born will greet visitors in the City’s center on Ali Baba Avenue from the Historic Train Station, the ARC, to the Hurt Building on 490 Ali Baba Avenue, Opa-Locka, FL 33054.
The four-day, three-block event which boasts free admission to the public, connects Africa and Europe to the Americas through re-imagined, re-purposed and transformed spaces, pop-up street parties and concerts; a Culinary Trip to Africa at the Historic Train Station, and the grand finale block party with live music and performances, Miami Art Week Exodus to Opa-Locka Festival, scheduled for Sunday, December 4th, 2pm-10pm.
“We are excited to be able to bring the Art of Transformation to our diverse community,” stated Willie Logan, President and CEO of OLCDC. “Our audiences deserve this type of high quality, world class programming,” continued Logan. “We strongly believe that the arts can serve as a cornerstone for economic development and they are the embodiment of a community’s structure of value, the basis of a people’s worldview and how they see themselves and their place in the universe.”
For Alfonso Brooks of AFRIKIN®, the team behind The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born, “this is a unique opportunity to showcase the best of African and African Diaspora arts and cultures during Miami Art Week and Art Basel Miami Beach 2022.” Brooks concluded: “Our aim is to have people walking away saying “wow, just wow!”
"The City of Opa-Locka is thrilled to partner with OLCDC, soon to be known as the Ten North Group, to present the Art of Transformation, a 4-day celebration of contemporary art from Africa and the African Diaspora all happening during Miami Art Week in the heart of our beautiful Moorish designed City”, commented Veronica Williams, Mayor, City of Opa-locka. “This opportunity to view the best the art world has to offer will enthrall our residents and visitors, and inspire and educate our youth, as we partner with schools to share our collective love of art with the them", added Mayor Elect John Taylor, City of Opa-locka.
The Art of Transformation will also feature Special Conversations among artists, curators, scholars and collectors conceived to address issues in politics and aesthetics and their resonance in the contemporary era, including the very special Africa Becoming Panel Discussion scheduled for Saturday, December 3, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon at the ARC, which is a featured event on the official Art Basel calendar and which includes African masters Abdoulaye Konaté from and Viyé [Vita] Diba from Senegal: Africa Becoming Panel Discussion | Opa-locka Community Development Corporation (artbasel.com).
The Art of Transformation locations
The Historic Opa-locka Train Station at 490 Ali Baba Avenue, Opa-locka, Fl, 33054
The ARC at 675 Ali Baba Avenue, Opa-locka, Fl. 33054
The Hurt Building at 490 Opa-locka Blvd, Opa-locka, FL, 33054
Maison AfriKin at 650 Ali Baba Ave, Opa-locka FL 33054
Full schedule can be found here.
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