Locust Projects Hot Havana Nights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Adriana Farietta
Assistant Director, Locust Projects
305.576.8570 www.locustprojects.org
adriana_farietta@yahoo.com

LOCUST PROJECTS

4th ANNUAL SPRING FUNDRAISER
Hot Havana Nights

EVENT DETAILS:
Saturday, May 13th 8 – 11pm
Indian Creek Hotel, 2727 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Valet parking available

Tickets Available by advance purchase: $60 per person $100 for two
RSVP FOR TICKECTS: party@locustprojects.org or 305.576.8570

LOCUST PROJECTS (MIAMI, Wynwood Art District) is pleased to announce the details of its 4th Annual Spring Fundraiser. This year’s event, Hot Havana Nights will take place Saturday, May 13th, from 8 until 11pm at the Indian Creek Hotel in Miami Beach at 2727 Indian Creek Boulevard. Hot Havana Nights, a theme party event, will serve to raise funds for LOCUST PROJECTS, Miami’s leading non-profit venue for the exhibition of international and local emerging contemporary art.

The evening’s steamy, tropically flavored festivities will take place in the wonderfully enchanted hideaway garden of The Indian Creek Hotel (which is under new ownership and now beautifully renovated.) Those attending will get a chance to savor a spread of sumptuous food, prepared by one of Miami’s leading chef’s, Kira Volz, of the recently opened restaurant creek 28, which is located in the hotel. Bacardi and Miami’s newest wine purveyor, Vine, will provide the libations sure to please everyone-- with a mojito bar, full bar and a fine wine bar. Hand rolled cigars will be on offer throughout the night, courtesy of Sosa Cigars. Informal period modeling will be provided by C. Madeleine's Vintage Couture, One of the Fashion Wonder's of the World.

An eclectic blend of authentic 50’s vintage Cuban inspired music and dance will set the stage for a sultry and sexy evening, where sundresses and guayaberas are the suggested attire. A Gozar con Gonzalez, will be on hand with dancers, musicians and live entertainment to create a festive scene for dancing and romancing the night away. A raffle for some fabulous prizes (donated by the Sagamore and Standard Miami Hotels and other items) will also lend excitement to the festivities.

Tickets for the event are $60 individually and $100 for couples. Attendees will undoubtedly include many of Miami’s luminary artists, as well as some of the city’s most prominent collectors. There is an extensive Host Committee of well-known Miami professionals and philanthropists including collectors Michael and Joan Salke (Miami and Naples), Merle and Dan Weiss, David and Shari Lombardi and artist Carlos Betancourt, among many others. Those who come can enjoy an exotic and fun occasion, while supporting LOCUST, which has drawn widespread attention for its outstanding programming and shows of acclaimed art. LOCUST is a recipient of grant funding from the prestigious Andy Warhol Foundation, and has been featured in publications such as Conde Nast Traveler, New York Magazine, the New York Times, Elle, ID, and Ocean Drive.

Also taking place during this event, Locust Projects is pleased to announce the launch of its limited edition series, which will be another one of its key means to provide crucial funding for programming and special projects. Annually, Locust will present a specially commissioned limited edition art work for sale. Each year’s edition will be published with a different artist. Locust kicks off the series with an exclusively produced edition of 10 letterpress prints by Matthew Brannon. Entitled “Switching Positions,” the print is 30 x 38 inches (letterpress on paper) and is an image of the dramatically striking new façade painting Brannon made for LOCUST, now on view. The print will be unveiled at Hot Havana Nights and is available on a first come basis, ONLY to those purchasing tickets to the event. All proceeds from the sale of these prints ($2,500 individually) will benefit Locust Projects.

All proceeds from the sale of these prints ($2,500 individually) will benefit Locust Projects.
Matthew Brannon is a New York City based artist whose work explores the "unresolvable tension between decoration, design and fine art.” He has had solo exhibitions internationally and was notably included in “Greater New York 2005,” at P.S.1 Center for Contemporary Art. His work has been featured in ARTFORUM and Art in America among other publications. He is represented in New York by Frederich Petzel and has exhibited in Miami, with Kevin Bruk Gallery. His work often depicts an intersection of imagery and ideas culled from modern and vintage graphic design --recalling movie posters advertisements and other mainstream media references. His aesthetic tends to both the elegantly Baroque and macabre, in a tongue in cheek fashion, with word play an often essential element. A graduate of Columbia MFA program, Brannon is a rising star in the International contemporary art scene and will be featured this June, with a solo showing in the Statements section in ART BASEL, Switzerland.

FOR MORE INFORMATION FOR HOT HAVAVA NIGHTS AND/OR THE MATTHEW BRANNON PRINT EDIITION PLEASE CONTACT ADRIANA FARIETTA at 305 576 8570.