Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden honors Adrienne Arsht

PHOTO BY MANNY HERNANDEZ

Adrienne Arsht, well known for her passion for the Arts, became a first time art collector when she purchased the piece on the spot at last year’s Art Basel on opening day. She immediately loaned it to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden to share it with the community. Fairchild recently feted her with a cocktail reception followed by a sunset tour of the impressive grounds and sculptures on display.

The most talked-about item of Art Basel 2008 was “For Whom…” the massive sculpture by Kris Martin. The bell, a 20-foot-high pendulum-free bell installed on a towering steel frame, was originally installed in a Belgian church, stolen during World War II and found in Germany in the 1950s.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden honored Adrienne Arsht for her contribution and generosity with a sunset reception that included guest friends Bruce Greer, Fairchild Board of Trustees President , United Way’s Harve Mogul, Arsht Center CEO John Richard, República’s founders Jorge Plasencia and Luis Casamayor, TotalBank’s President and CEO Bill Heffernan, Adrienne Arsht Center Foundation Board of Directors member Rob Barlick, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida market president Penny Shaffer and former Miami-Dade County Public School Board Member Evelyn Greer, among others, “For Whom…” will be on loan to Fairchild through May 31st.

National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts celebrates ‘AN AFFAIR OF THE ARTS’ gala at SoHo Studios in Wynwood

An Affair of the Arts Performance and Gala proved once again that the winning recipe for a night to remember includes one part location, one part guest list and one part programming, as the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) wrapped up its annual youngARTS Week Saturday, Jan. 12 with an elegant black tie affair for nearly 800 guests at SoHo Studios at the Wynwood Convention Center.

(photos by Manny Hernandez for MHPIXS.com CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE)

Margarita and Armando Codina chaired the event, while SunTrust Bank served as Title Presenting Sponsor and Lin Arison, AT&T, Goldman Sachs, and Merrill Lynch as Benefactors. Other attendees included NFAA Chairman-Elect James Dubin and wife, Susan; Adrienne Arsht; Don Carlin; Ella Fontanals Cisneros; R. Kirk Landon; Audre Mendel; Paul and Trudy Cejas; Woody and Judy Weiser; Sandyand Stephen Muss; Billy Cypress, Chairman of the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida; Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Dean of the School of Architecture, University of Miami; and Frank Everett, Director of Tiffany’s Bal Harbour. Also in attendance: Alberto Ibargüen president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation with wife Susana, Miami commissioner's Joe Sanchez, and Marc Sarnoff, Sanford and Dolores Ziff, Ricky Arriola, chairman of the Carnival Center board of directors and FIU President Mitch Maidique.

The evening began with a cocktail reception and silent auction, featuring spectacular items from luxury brand names such as Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue and Escada. It was followed by dinner, dancing and performances by rising star youngARTS alumni, including Nashville Star winner Chris Young, 2003 youngARTS Winner in Popular Voice and Presidential Scholar in the Arts; American Ballet Theatre soloist Sarah Lane, 2002 youngARTS finalist in ballet; Pianist Rachel Kudo, 2005 youngARTS Winner in Classical Piano; and Tenor Rafael Moras, 2006 youngARTS Silver Winner in Classical Voice and Presidential Scholar in the Arts kept the spirit of the evening strong.

(photos by Manny Hernandez for MHPIXS.com CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE)

World renowned architect and design visionary Frank Gehry was presented with the Arison Award for his contribution to the education of young artists. Critically-acclaimed dancer and American Ballet Theater Executive Director Rachel Moore, 1982 youngARTS winner in Dance and a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, received the third annual NFAA Alumni Award.

Following the Gala, the inaugural youngPATRONS Late Night Party, under the leadership of Sarah Arison and youngPATRONS committee member Ali Codina, opened its doors for more celebrating with DJ Irie and more performances, including jazz singer Grace Weber and pianist Julian Pollack, 2006 youngARTS finalists who recently cut their first CD.

“Today we are at Act One, Scene One. Are you all ready? Curtain up; let the show begin.'' -Adrienne Arsht

MIAMI’S PERFORMING ARTS CENTER RECEIVES $30 MILLION GIFT AND IS RENAMED ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
Arsht Donation Dramatically Bolters Center’s Financial Position

National business leader and philanthropist, Adrienne Arsht, made a historic $30 million donation to Downtown Miami’s performing arts center yesterday, bolstering the center’s financial position and long-term viability. In recognition of the gift, the former Carnival Center for the Performing Arts was renamed the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. Carnival Corporation graciously agreed to relinquish the naming rights in favor of this new major donation. Arsht and Foundation Chairman Emeritus, Sherwood (Woody) Weiser, announced the gift at a press conference in the Green Room of the center’s Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House.

“Now we have to say that the past is prologue,” Arsht said. “Today we are at Act One, Scene One. Are you all ready? Curtain up; let the show begin.''

Arsht, who was recently named Chairman Emerita of TotalBank, served as TotalBank’s Chairman of the Board for over 10 years. In November 2007, she sold the bank to Banco Popular Español, the third largest banking group in Spain. Under her leadership, the Miami-based TotalBank grew to over 14 locations with over $1.4 billion in assets. A community-minded power broker, Arsht has taken a leading role in cultural, business and civic efforts, promoting the growth and development of the arts and commerce in her adopted hometown of Miami and nationally.