![Left to Right: Harif Guzman and Actor Hill Harper of CSI NY. Sneak peek preview of Harper and Guzman, EAST, Miami's very first artist in residency, making final touches to a collection created on prop](https://premierguidemiami.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/gI_136952_artroom-copy.png)
The newly opened EAST, Miami, a lifestyle hotel & residences at Brickell City Centre and the first U.S. hotel from Swire Hotels’ EAST brand, is hosting a sneak peek of its highly anticipated Art Room during Art Basel Miami. Officially kicking off in January 2017, the EAST, Miami Art Room will showcase a variety of highly recognized and underground local and international art exhibits with innovative programming and rotating pop-up artists in residency throughout the year.
“Swire Hotels has always been committed to the arts, investing in local, national and international artist relationships in addition to a longstanding relationship with parent company, Swire Properties, as an official sponsor of Art Basel Hong Kong,” says Brian Williams, Managing Director of Swire Hotels. “With the opening of our first U.S. outpost in Miami this year, we are thrilled to continue to support the fair and arts community worldwide. This is the first Art Basel for EAST, Miami and we are hosting over a dozen of private and public activations throughout the week involving remarkable artists and galleries, including Harif Guzman, Domingo Zapata, Art on Rivington, Art Lexing and The Morrison Gallery Hotel, to name a few.”
Originally from Venezuela, 41-year-old celebrated artist Harif Guzman, will be the first artist in residence for two weeks to kick off the 1,050-square-foot Art Room on EAST, Miami’s 7th floor. Entitled “Achilles Armor—Legend of a Mother’s Love,” the upcoming exhibition was inspired by Guzman’s passion and interest for Greek mythology. The show reflects the personal relationship and synergy between the artist and his own mother. In mythology, the sea nymph Thetis speaks to her son Achilles when he called to her in prayer. She reached out to gods including Zeus and Hephaestus for favors to build a special Armor for Achilles. The intention of this tribute is to illustrate the unbreakable bond between a parent and a child. Guzman’s work will be on display in the Art Room from December 1-4, 2016 for locals and visitors alike.
The goal of every Swire property is to give back to the community at large. Swire Hotels supports the arts community in Asia and is corporate sponsor of Art Basel Hong Kong. Locally, EAST, Miami is a proud exclusive hotel partner for The National YoungArts Foundation, which identifies and supports the next generation of artists in the visual, literary, design and performing arts; assists them at critical junctures in their educational and professional development; and raises appreciation for the arts in American society. Last month, EAST, Miami began a three-month YoungArts music residency program at the hotel, which highlights a mix of jazz and contemporary tunes. Upon opening in May 2016, the hotel has become the sole official sponsor of the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) Benefactor Dinner and recently incorporated PAMM private tours and museum tickets as a part of its special ARTEAST hotel package.
Most recently, the hotel was the official sponsor of III Points, a three-day music, art and tech festival, founded by Miami visionaries and positioned over the past four years in Wynwood – the rising star of Miami’s modern and artistic urban development. During the festival in October, III Points took over the town with lectures, labs, tech talks, concerts, gallery showcases and a fully immersive five-stage main ground. As part of its partnership, EAST, Miami hosted all talent, from M83 to Redman & Method Man, and incorporated a number of on-premise activations and private after-parties for the festival’s top artists and locals alike.
The hotel is the result of a collaboration of world-class architects, interior designers and artists who created an unprecedented multi-dynamic lifestyle experience in the heart of Miami’s financial district.
EAST, Miami has already received critical acclaim for its utilization of groundbreaking architecture by Arquitectonica and for its modernist design focused on natural interiors by Clodagh. The 40-story complex also features two distinct destination restaurants and bars, Quinto La Huella and Sugar rooftop bar and garden, designed by the celebrated Studio Collective firm.
Staying true to its brand essence, the hotel has exclusively partnered with a number of international and local organizations pertaining to the arts, entertainment, technology, design, beverages and the environment, to benefit its guests and the local community. Next year, curated programming for the hotel’s Art Room may include, but are not limited to collaborations with the following official hotel partners: The National YoungArts Foundation, PAMM, III Points, ART LEXÏNG, Whitelabel and Indiewalls, to name a few.
For reservations, please email reservations(at)east-miami(dot)com or call 305-712-7000. For more information, please visit http://www.east-miami.com/.