After Art Basel Miami Beach is Over, Art Installations Remain as a Testament to the City’s Creative Soul
“Pieces of Me” Sunreef Yachts by artist Alexander Mijares commissioned for Miami Art Week
Art is everywhere during Miami Art Week as dozens of installations, pop-ups, parties and galleries compete for attention alongside more than two dozen satellite art fairs anchored around Art Basel Miami. During the first week of December, more than 80,000 collectors, curators, and art aficionados converge in Miami for this A-list event that also draws celebrities looking to see and be seen. Smart marketers try to capture the attention of influencers, celebrities and other high-profile personalities with VIP events and installations that capitalize on this creative energy.
“Pieces of Me” Sunreef Yachts by artist Alexander Mijares commissioned for Miami Art Week
Sunreef Yachts collaborated with Miami Based Artist Alexander Mijares to wrap the hull of the 70 Sunreef Power catamaran in an artwork titled, “Pieces of Me.” Sunreef Yachts designs and manufactures of luxury sailing and power multihulls.
Miami-born artist Alexander Mijares
The company showcased its art yacht at the Fontainebleau Marina. Miami-born artist Alexander Mijares’ signature style is defined by culturally vibrant works from a colorful perspective. The self-taught artist finds inspiration in the dynamic energy of both Miami and his Cuban and Spanish roots.
Les Lalanne at The Raleigh Gardens Courtesy SHVO © Douglas Friedman
At the Raleigh Gardens staged the largest-ever public outdoor exhibition of works by the late French artist duo, Claude Lalanne and François-Xavier Lalanne. Architect Peter Marino designed the new beachfront tropical garden along with noted Miami landscape designer Raymond Jungles.
The Raleigh Gardens is part of a $200 million master plan for The Raleigh hotel and span throughout three properties: The Raleigh, South Seas and Richmond. The Garden is free and open to the public through late February with 32 statues on display in more than 25,000 square feet of garden space.
Les Lalanne at The Raleigh Gardens Courtesy SHVO © Douglas Friedman
Real estate developer and investor Michael Shvo and his partners commissioned the works of the late Claude Lalanne (1924-2019) and François-Xavier Lalanne (1927-2008), the artistic duo known together as Les Lalanne. The opening of the Raleigh Gardens marks the latest step in the restoration and renewal of the iconic Raleigh Hotel, along with adjacent properties, The Richmond and South Seas, located on Miami Beach’s famed Collins Avenue.
Pink Beasts Art Installation on view at Design Miami. The Pink Beasts and pink hammocks can be seen around the Miami Design District.
Throughout The Miami Design District, pink sisal sloths hang from trees as a public art installation, Pink Beasts, the creation of London-based Mexican designer Fernando Laposse. The Miami Design District commissioned Pink Beasts, an art installation that explores materials and techniques native to Mexico. Laposse collaborated with textile designer Angela Damman and local artisans in Sahcabá, Yucatán.
The gallery’s mission is to help shape the discussion between art and design and to further increase the presence of cutting-edge design within the larger art world. 
Functional Art Gallery works with artists and designers who push the line between aesthetics and purpose, form and function, perception and intent.
The art installation Roots called attention to “alarming changes in nature and our environment” including disappearing forests and wildlife, polluted air and oceans, rising sea levels are rising, and an increase in extreme weather phenomena. Delta Air Lines and the Sacred Space Miami presented Roots by Atelier Marko Brajovic, curated by Ximena Caminos and produced by Alberto Latorre. The idea behind the art is to stimulate cultural and artistic responses to environmental change. 
The Roots pavilion is a self-supporting aluminum branching system wrapped with fine custom-made ropes and was designed by a parametric software mimicking the natural growth of a mangrove rooting system. In the middle of the pavilion, a large deck is used as a collective space for ceremonies and for three traditional Amazonian hammocks from which visitors can experience the immersive documentary SACRED COCA.
Learn more about the artists and art objects featured at Design/Miami in new episodes of The Design Tourist filmed at Miami Art Week.
The overarching theme at both shows was about creating awareness and connecting with humanity. At Spectrum Miami, I ran into two strange-looking characters clad in rags roaming the show as social sculptures. They were wearing Ghillie Suits, camouflage garb traditionally worn by snipers outdoors to blend in with their surroundings.
Companies such as The 
The faux-leather finish on the ear cups is made from fungus, and the mesh over the speakers is derived from biosynthetic spider silk produced by microbes
To understand the evolution of an artist, I like to explore the backstory—where the seeds of creativity first sprouted. Brad Joffrion drew inspiration from his childhood growing up in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, along the bayou and neighboring sugar cane fields. “In high school, I was the go-to person to draw banners for different events at school. At that time, swamp scenes were sort of my specialty. I grew up fishing in the Atchafalaya Basin and was fascinated with the scenery,” says Brad, whose extended family claims several artists. 
Bard’s signature style infuses colorful epoxy into his woodworks— an aesthetic he developed by experimenting with the materials. “I started experimenting with epoxy which appealed to my left brain due to the precise nature of epoxy. There are a lot of variables that can affect the curing of epoxy such as environmental conditions, the accuracy of the two-part mixture, mixing speed, etc. There were many occasions where I stayed at the woodshop for 12 hours straight and alone. No music, just me and my creation speaking telepathically to each other.”
“My wish is to design objects for people with them in mind. For example, the recent black walnut with black epoxy dining table I designed and created. The base of the table tells a story of the couple who purchased it. The husband is a retired airline pilot and the wife was a boat captain for a large pleasure boat. Hence, the base resembles the vertical tail wing of a large passenger jet and there is a compass made of stainless steel accenting the center of the base.” 
In this northeastern region of France, you’ll find one of the biggest artificial lakes in Europe, Lac de Charmes, which is surrounded by beautiful trees boasting vibrant foliage. Although it’s not too far from Paris, Haute-Marne is still off the beaten track and truly breathtaking, full of forests, fields, rivers, and ancient towns that feature some of the quaintest autumnal aesthetics.
Located in Southern France, Limoux is covered in vineyards, which make for a splendid sight of varying shades of gold and burnt orange. You may have heard of the area for its invention of sparkling wine, and fall is the best time to come and drink it. Various small wine shops and bars allow for a lovely day of exploration and relaxation while you take in the fall air.
Capital of the Grand Est region in northeastern France, Strasbourg is full of tree-lined streets—so a midday stroll will provide you with beautiful views and wonderful memories. Head to the city’s two largest public parks, Parc Palais du Rhin and Parc de l’Orangerie, for blissful views
You may have doubts about this urban locale, but Paris is actually a marvelous haven for autumn-lovers. Strolling the streets is an option, but there are also plenty of opportunities for leaf-peeping in the city’s many beautiful parks. Some of our favorites are as follows: Jardin des Tuileries (or the Tuileries Garden), Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Bois de Boulogne, or—if you’re feeling spooky—Cimetière de Montmarte.
The charming region of Aveyron is a place full of magical villages located on high ridges, where you can get lost in the fall feel. It’s a wonderful destination for people who love painting or photography, but it also makes for a soothing vacation of long and beautiful walks where the scenery constantly changes. You’ve never seen a wider spectrum of colors than on the trees in Aveyron.
France’s Provence region is a beautiful place to behold. Hundreds of vineyards showcase their dazzling fall colors, and the various quaint towns offer some of the most quintessential French village vibes. We love the Luberon, a mountainous area in the region, for that reason as well—consider staying in a 
When you head to Playa Herradura and the beautiful Los Sueños Resort & Marina, you’ll be smack-dab in the middle of a ton of adventurous pursuits. Their 
Big Sur used to be one of California’s most remote areas, and people have long taken advantage of the Santa Lucia mountains and their famed drop into the ocean. When you plan a trip there today, you’ll find ample opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing, and more. Hike to Pfeiffer Falls or Sykes Hot Springs—there are so many beautiful things for you to explore.
Whether you go to Argentinian or Chilean Patagonia, you’re in for a vacation full of adventure and exploration. Go off-roading through the mountains, horse riding, cycling, or climbing. If you want to see the views of a lifetime, take the W Trek, which takes you through the Torres del Paine peaks, glistening lakes, and dense forests.
The United States has so many national parks we could have listed, and they’re all wonderful options. We chose to put Acadia on this list for a few different reasons: it’s the only national park in New England, the fall foliage is some of the best in the world, and it has stunning ocean and mountains views. You can bike, you can hike, or you can just take a drive and enjoy the views. A relaxing adventure isn’t hard to find here.
Bigger than Germany and Belgium combined, the Yukon offers adventurous travelers some of the most pristine wilderness for exploration. Set up camp at Whitehorse, then head out for a trip full of exhilarating experiences. Glacial white water rafting has never been more exciting. Alpine climbing has never gotten you so close to wildlife. If you don’t mind heights, take a helicopter to the top of a glacier and then go for a hike—it’s an unbelievable experience.
Download the 
On Sundays, eat dinner early. The kitchens at most restaurants close early so finding a place for a late-night dinner can be challenging. My advice is to dine before 9 pm. 
As the holiday season approaches, attention turns to planning parties, events and decorations. The overarching theme for holiday decorating is authenticity and craftsmanship with a generous dose of Mother Nature. One of my favorite sources for holiday décor trends is the 
Sweet Traditions is a theme emerging from Christmasworld, a massive trade show of holiday decorations held in Germany. Christmasworld describes it as joyful and personalized with decorations of handwritten messages and hand-drawn images in fresh colors such as peach, red and berry tones. Imagine Christmas stars in various sizes, made from paper and folded, cut, glued and painted all by hand.
The color scheme includes reds, blues and gold, accented with black, pinks and purples. 
A tiny house resort in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania offers 
One of the more fascinating installations is a virtual reality book that you can “read” by downloading 
Several years ago, I was introduced to Silver Oak Cabernet as the guest of a friend at a wine tasting dinner. I instantly fell in love with its bold, black fruit character with notes of spice and vanilla and the wine’s oaky finish that comes from American White Oak barrels that the wine ages in. 
For many wine lovers, the art of enjoyment comes from the ability to decipher and appreciate a wine’s bouquet and taste. Silver Oak achieves its subtle perfection by blending the wines prior to barreling.
Jordan sells primarily to restaurants— about 70 percent of their cabs with the remaining 30 percent available in wine stores. Rob Davis, the winemaker, has handcrafted every vintage of Jordan since the inaugural 1976 and is the second-longest tenured winemaker in the US. He is known for a European style of winemaking that isn’t done much in California.
American oak is known for bringing more aggressive aromas of dill and coconut to red wines. French oak is considered more subtle, imparting spice aromas and a silky texture in part because its tannins have a strong attraction to the grape tannins. 
The original dining room was decorated in an 18th-century French style. De Sousa and his staff reimagined the aesthetic, retaining its best architectural features while introducing new design elements to reflect the chef’s culinary philosophy of bringing flavors of the surrounding countryside to the plate. “The Jordan dining room is now not only an homage to old-world France, it’s also a portrait of the surrounding estate and the chef’s philosophy,” notes Geoffrey De Sousa, proprietor of Geoffrey De Sousa Interior Design and De Sousa Hughes. 
Lunch starts with an amuse-bouche paired with NV Brut Jordan Cuvee by Champagne AR Lenoble. 
Next, I taste a 2017 Jordan Russian River Valley Chardonnay. The grapes are hand-picked at night when the fruit is cold to lock in that acidity and flavor. The fruit is then pressed immediately and fermented in French oak barrels and stainless-steel tanks for 6 months.
Chef Knoll pairs the 2017 Chardonnay with Bisque of First Peas and Favas chilled with Maine Lobster. Next, I’m served Roasted Knights Valley Lamb.
The dish is paired with Jordan’s 2015 Cab, that first release aging in only French oak barrels. “2015 was a cooler year yielding more of a French style of wine,” says Mattson. 
Chef Knoll makes sea salts and the estate grows olive trees to produce Jordan Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil, both of which are on the table to enhance the tasting experience. 
While dining, I can’t help but admire the visual metaphors that connect with the estate’s topography. Deep gray walls are painted with Benjamin Moore French Beret and accented with a forest-like patterned wallpaper called Midsummer Night from Wall & Deco, created by graphic designer Lorenzo De Grandis of Milan, Italy. 
The dining room’s original high-back chairs were restored and reupholstered with intricate chair embroidery by a renowned, haute-couture artist based in London. Each embroidery pattern is distinct and inspired by the vibrant, moss-carpeted rocks and lichen found across Jordan Estate. 
French Beaux Arts-inspired lighting illuminates the room selected by San-Francisco based designer Jonathan Browning Studios. Floor-to-ceiling drapes in gold leaf, frame large windows that take in panoramas of the golden hills visible across Jordan’s estate. Dining tables congregate around a bronze fireplace hearth by Sonoma County metalsmith Randell Tuell of Tuell + Reynolds. 
I also learn more about Jordan’s sustainable and holistic practices. The vineyard uses a plant substance called Dust Off on its roads to reduce dust and a clay-based sunscreen on the grapes to prevent sunburn. 
“We take into account the impact every viticultural and winemaking decision has on the native ecosystems under our care. Jordan’s electrical use is carbon neutral, with roughly 90 percent of our electricity coming from hillside solar arrays behind the winery and the rest from renewable resources through the Sonoma Clean Power program,” says Mattson.
Lunch culminates with a Tupelo Honey Baked Alaska featuring spring bee pollen from the Jordan estate apiary and several locally-made artisan cheeses plated with a 2013 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley.
The meal crystalizes a certain synergy that exists in Sonoma County between its many different artists and winemakers who share a common passion for high-quality food made to complement local wines. Jordan, like many local wineries, promotes locally made foods and products with guests. 
Guests at Jordan’s Estate Tour and Tastings can appreciate custom-made serving plates by a ceramic-making husband-wife team, 
My tour ends with a visit to one of the guest suites located in the chateau available
Once a consumer spends $500 with Jordan, she/he becomes a Silver member and gains access to booking Private Tables in the dining room and at the Gold and Platinum levels, overnight stays in the guest suites. For more on booking tastings and tours, go to 
Quivira’s winegrowing program is a collaboration between winemaker Hugh Chappelle and viticulturist Ned Horton, the vineyard manager who aligns the property’s farming practices for fine winemaking. 
For this writer and bibliophile, I had planned the ideal morning. The 
Writers toil alone and words aren’t particularly selfie material. I wondered how the founders managed to fill an entire museum with something others want to see and experience sans the social media lure of competing attractions? The museum supersedes the visual limits of words by capturing the behind-the-scenes struggle— a writer’s daily summoning of the personal muse in hopes of entering that ethereal dimension of creative flow where all sense of time is lost as the words pour forth.
On the Road became a defining work of the Beat Generation, a loose collaborative of artists and writers who rejected the mainstream in favor of the experimental and spiritual. 
My other favorite exhibit was Mind of a Writer. This walls of this inspirational gallery are filled with quotes from famous writers about their creative process and craft. 
The gallery offers insights into how a writer thinks as well as the daily discipline and habits necessary to get the work done. 
I was intrigued by the raw honesty in many of the quotes that capture a writer’s self-doubt and fear that they will never be published— that lurking dread that they have gambled away their time on a manuscript that no one reads. 
Another highlight of my visit was the First Lines exhibit, a wall of handwritten first sentences of novels written by accomplished authors. 
Many of these authors crafted their first lines for stories that have yet to be written.
Whether you consider yourself an author, a journalist, a creative writer or diarist, we all have a shared experience that is made tangible among the museum’s galleries and personified through the literary greats featured. I highly recommend a visit to the American Writers Museum to experience Chicago’s literary treasure. 
I cap off the evening taking in the light show on the surface of the Beacon and Code Wall overlooking the town center. 
The community took root in 1996 when Tavistock purchased Lake Nona Golf and Country Club and began building out its master plan, along the way curating an impressive collection of public art. Today, Lake Nona is home to approximately 15 thousand residents and growing. In 2018, Lake Nona sold 750 homes with 550 families moving in. Most of the community’s
Today, Medical City encompasses more than 2.6 million square feet of clinical, institutional and laboratory buildings. The University of Central Florida has a strong presence in Medical City with the UCF Health Sciences Campus that includes the College of Medicine, the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, and the University of Central Florida (UCF) Lake Nona Cancer Center, which recently moved into a 175,000-square-foot facility vacated by the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. 
Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute recently relocated into a larger, new 35,000-square-foot facility double the size of its previous Lake Nona building. In 2020, UCF Lake Nona Medical Center is set to open as a UCF/HCA Healthcare teaching hospital.
Lake Nona also is a living lab for human performance with a Sports & Performance District, anchored by the USTA National Center, the largest tennis campus in the world with 100 courts in a 270,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility on 64 acres.
Sprinkled throughout the community are retail venues including Lake Nona Village, Lake Nona Plaza, Vickrey Place, Laureate Park Village Center and Lake Nona Creekside which opened in 2019. Soon, residents will be able to use an app to summon a self-driving shuttle to the many nearby amenities. 
The 15-passenger, the battery-powered vehicle has no driver, no steering wheel, no gas pedal, and no brake pedal. Once in operation, they will be the first-ever autonomous public transit vehicles in Central Florida. Launched by the company Beep, headquartered in Lake Nona, and manufactured by Navya, a French company, these autonomous shuttles are marked with decals that read “go-beep.com” and “MOVE NONA.”
Created by 
Anchoring Lake Nona is a mammoth 
“The latest tile trends comprise the most nuanced and interesting design language we have ever had at our disposal. Tiles tell stories through the spaces we create for them. Ceramics this year are daring us to express ourselves and providing all the technical and aesthetic solutions to do so 
Simple and sleek steps aside for the more-is-more design language of Maximalism, expressed in tile with bold colors and contrasting patterns.
Maximalism brings a vibrancy to interior design that in recent years has been zombified with minimalism. Tile designs in clashing prints are expressed as graphic interruptions in contemporary living spaces without overpowering.
Maximalism, on the trend radar since 2018, gains traction as the leading design ethos with decadent textures, colorful tones and pattern clashes.
Self-expression in living spaces becomes playful with asymmetrical, randomized looks in the latest tile styles. Urban inspired designs such as graffiti also lighten up a living space. 
Popular cartoons illustrated on ceramic with Del Conca’s Felix the Cat and pop art inspired graphics take tremendous creative license to experiment with color, size and patterns to create one-of-a-kind surfacing for architects and designers. 
Some of t
One example is Dash by Raw Color with its grid-like pattern, random ever-changing rectangular compositions that combine different shades and different lengths. 
Modern interpretations of Art Deco, the Roaring 20s and organic art nouveau styles are gaining traction in living spaces. Tile designs draw influences from all of the aspects of the era, from fashion to lighting, architecture to jazz and a bohemian spirit in literature, photography, and theatre.
Tile styles reference Cubism, organic floral textiles of the period and geometric 
At the Coverings show, blue made a strong showing in tile designs with blue hues layered on floors and walls.
Expect to see a lot of c
Ceramic Wallpaper
Large porcelain slabs with minimal grout lines create the effect of wallpaper with the technical benefits of ceramic. 
These patterns are digitally printed on large ceramic surfaces that can be used as furnishing elements.
Dramatic Veins
Stone looks are making strong statements with dramatic veining amping up common varieties of stone including carrara, statuario, and travertine. “Popular aggressive stone looks include marble, granites, onyx and quartzite with dramatic veins and patterns,” says Fasan.
Dark marble looks with large swaths dominate this stone-inspired tile category according to Tile Council of North America. Also expect to see more tone on tone larger veins and intense contrast veining.
I saved the best for last. The following tile styles are my favorite picks at Coverings 2019. They rank at the top of my design radar for their fresh designs, fascinating textures and innovative technologies. My best in show pick is The Foundry Collection because it embodies all of the latest trends in tile: imperfectly perfect styling with its timeworn, weathered surfaces, strong use of blue, and mix of textured tile in random patterns. It really encompasses all that is happening at the forefront of design at the moment.
Also, I spotted several collections worth of show stopper status including this worn blue jean inspired tile with a texture that mimics the feel of denim.
My final show stopper pick is this modern interpretation of Terrazzo with geometric accents and large flecks. 
