Bal Harbour, Fla. – June 22, 2012 – The chic enclave of Bal Harbour, Fla. has announced a public art project commission, “Unscripted,” to support and challenge the artistic talents found in Miami-Dade County. Starting next month, Bal Harbour launches the first of an ongoing series of commissions geared toward providing South Florida artists with a new platform to be ambitious and contribute to the growth of the destination’s creative outlook. 

Making the artist selection will be independent curator Claire Breukel, who has served on various arts-related boards and has curated exhibitions in South Africa, New York, Miami, Vienna and El Salvador. Breukel called on 10 local arts professionals and critics to nominate a select group of artists to submit proposals for the project. In addition, she enlisted the help of a group of contemporary art experts to assist with guiding the winner along the way. Among the prominent art experts are Yvonne Force Villareal, President and Co-Founder of the Art Production Fund; artist Hernan Bas, whose works have been exhibited in various exhibitions including the Rubell Family Collection, Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Andy Warhol Museum; Solita Mishaan, a Bal Harbour resident, collector and member of the International Council for TATE London and the International Council for the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, among other board positions; and artist Hank Willis Thomas, whose work is in public collections including The Whitney Museum, the Brooklyn Museum and the Museum of Modern Art (New York). 

The first “Unscripted” winner will be announced on July 12 and the project will be supplemented with public programming including art chats, meet-and-greets, artist presentations, studio visits and more. 

Following the success of last year’s Bal Harbour’s Art Nights initiatives featuring art chats and artist installations at the illustrious Bal Harbour Shops, this new project will feature an installation within select public spaces of Bal Harbour Village and Bal Harbour Shops for up to six months. This ongoing creative program will support public art projects and other commissions throughout the year, aiming to celebrate and support the arts, as well as engage citizens and visitors alike, enhancing the Bal Harbour experience.

About Bal Harbour
A name forever associated with the ultimate shopping experience, Bal Harbour, Florida has developed into a must-visit travel destination with the addition of new hotels, gourmet restaurants, and celebrated cultural programs. With more than 100 of the most famous brands in fashion and jewelry, the open-air Bal Harbour Shops are a haven for fashionistas and well-heeled travelers. This chic enclave offers a range of stylish beachfront accommodations, including the exquisite ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa, the boutique Bal Harbour Quarzo, the iconic Sea View Hotel and the spectacular new St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort.  New additions to the bustling restaurant scene include celebrity restaurateur Stephen Starr’s Makoto restaurant, ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa’s Mister Collins and J&G Grill at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. For more details, please visit www.balharbourflorida.com.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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