MIAMI, FLA.- To kick off its tenth anniversary celebrations, the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum FIU presents the premiere of Deconstruction: A Reordering of Life, Politics and Art featuring the work of twelve Miami artists: Eddie Arroyo, Zachary Balber, Frida Baranek, Christopher Carter, Leyden Rodriguez-Casanova, Yanira Collado, Gonzalo Fuenmayor, Pepe Mar, Glexis Novoa, Sandra Ramos, Jamilah Sabur and Frances Trombly.

"Some say Miami's vibrant art scene can be overshadowed by the art fairs that descend upon our destination every December, and the question looms large: what is the real visual arts landscape like in Miami during the other 51 weeks of the year? As this city experiences a major growth boom, working artists in Miami have a broadening range of opportunities and challenges," said Dr. Jordana Pomeroy, the Director of the Frost Art Museum FIU. "For this major exhibition celebrating the 10th anniversary of our spectacular building, these twelve Miami artists boldly confront current global issues."

All of the artists in the exhibition live and work in Miami
These 12 artists hail from all over the country and the world, and now make Miami their home. Many have been exhibited at some of the most prominent museums and galleries nationwide and throughout Europe, Latin America and Asia.

These works examine the theme of deconstruction - from current events in the frenetic social media stream to cross-cultural awakenings these artists have experienced in Miami. The subtitle of the exhibition is derived from prophetic messages in Guy Debord’s 1967 book The Society of the Spectacle that warned about a future world where social interactions become too influenced by images that would prevent us from direct personal contact.

More than fifty years ago, Debord foreshadowed our reliance on isolating hand-held technology and the twenty-four-hour news cycle that dominates our times. The different ways these artists interrogate deconstruction in their artworks open a window allowing us to step back and take a long, hard look at our world today.

As we recognize the 10th anniversary of this architectural jewel-in-the-crown, the Frost Art Museum FIU is pleased to dedicate our Grand Galleries to Miami-based artists,” said Dr. Jordana Pomeroy, the museum’s Director.

“When this beautiful building was constructed on campus ten years ago, few could have imagined the cultural beacon the Frost Art Museum FIU would become for our community. Now, as the museum enters its next decade we continue elevating our mission to new heights: helping to define Miami's arts and culture evolution through a global perspective that celebrates the vision of Florida International University," adds Dr. Jordana Pomeroy.

Four of these Miami artists created new works for this exhibition celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Frost Art Museum FIU: Christopher Carter, Yanira Collado, Gonzalo Fuenmayor and Pepe Mar.

Gonzalo Fuenmayor created a monumental charcoal drawing with a total width of 20 feet, titled Happy Hour.

Pepe Mar created a large-scale site-specific installation that is an homage to the late artist Craig Coleman, who died tragically of complications related to AIDS/HIV in 1994. Coleman is fondly remembered for his drag alter ego Varla from South Beach’s renaissance years of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

This new exhibition is Amy Galpin’s curatorial debut at the Frost, and showcases her extensive studio visits throughout Miami after recently being selected as the museum’s new Chief Curator.

“These twelve celebrated Miami artists are keenly aware of the world we are living in,” said Amy Galpin, PhD., the Chief Curator of the Frost Art Museum FIU. “Their mutual starting point is Miami itself—as their artistic home and creative community, Miami serves as the catalyst for this new exhibition."

"By deconstructing and re-ordering objects and imagery in disparate ways, they disrupt our conventional ways of seeing, opening our eyes to new possibilities,” adds the Curator of this exhibition, Amy Galpin.

Deconstruction: A Reordering of Life, Politics and Art features more than 20 works including acrylic on canvas, digital C- prints, found objects, photography, mixed media, engraving and installations.