Young Painters create art at the 2023 Coconut Grove Arts Festival.
In 1963, The Beatles, Andy Warhol and Elvis Presley were all making headlines. That year – more than half a century ago – was also the inaugural year of the Coconut Grove Arts Festival (CGAF), which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this weekend.
Over that half-century plus, CGAF has grown from its “clothesline” art display to an 888,400 square-foot three-day festival over President’s Day Weekend (Saturday, Feb. 17 to Monday, Feb. 19) featuring more than 280 internationally recognized, jury-selected artists showcasing their original works of art along Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove.
“Even before Art Basel, there was the Coconut Grove Arts Festival,” says Camille Marchese, executive director of CGAF. “And this year we’re excited to see a lot of new artists and previous exhibitors who wanted to come back to celebrate the 60-year milestone with us.”
Marchese gives credit to legendary Miami publicist, Charlie Cinnamon, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 94, for his foresight in creating the festival.
Signe and Genna Grushovenko were comissioned to create the poster for the 2024 Coconut Grove Arts Festival. (Photo from the Coconut Grove Arts Festival)
“This festival has survived and thrived for over 60 years due to three things,” says Marchese. “A dedicated board of directors, an amazing outpouring of community support and so many dedicated artists, for, after all, without the artists, we wouldn’t be here.”
Two of those dedicated artists include South Carolina husband and wife artists, Signe and Genna Grushovenko, who were commissioned to design this year’s poster which pays homage to retiring long-time president, Monty Trainer, with their nostalgic image of his iconic Monty’s Raw Bar in the Grove.
In addition to the art, returning programming includes interactive activities for kids, the Young Collectors Club, revised culinary experiences and live demonstrations, Inner Artists at Regatta Park, an air-conditioned Anniversary Lounge with a panoramic view of past art festivals, The Stacks at Peacock Park, an interactive event where you can watch artists create outdoor murals, the 360 Exhibition, the Arts & Drafts Beer Garden and the VIP Collectors Club, a ticketed event at the Woman’s Club.
One of the most important and unique elements of CGAF is its Emerging Artists program, designed to teach new artists how to market, sell, set-up booths and how to integrate into the larger community of independent artists.
Last year Cindy Lerick, who has created similar programs in other cities, was brought in to facilitate the program and work with the artists year-round to prepare them for this and other art fairs around the country.
Art is fun at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival running this year over President's Day Weekend. (Photo courtesy of the Coconut Grove Arts Festival)
“As a leader in outdoor arts events, CGAF knows that the future of the industry depends on encouraging artists to experience the unconventional method of selling their work,” says Marchese. “Our festivals wouldn’t exist without the diverse group of artists that comprise our shows.”
The inaugural class of Next Generation artists began last year and those artists will have their work on display this year at the Emerging Artist Tent on Bayshore and 27th.
This year’s selection of 10 emerging arts is comprised of several FIU CGAF scholarship award recipients and emerging artists from as far away as New York.
One of those emerging artists selected for the two-year program is Miami native Miriam Rovirosa, 32, known for her portraits, landscapes and realistic oil painting images of succulents from her own garden.
With smooth, short brush strokes she creates a seamless transition between light and dark areas to capture a realistic three-dimensionality of the flowers.
Monty Trainer, President of the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Camille Marchese, executive director of CGAF, and Benjamin Frey, exhibiting artist. (Photo from the Coconut Grove Arts Festival)
Through the program, she was mentored by former emerging artists, David Oleski, Diane French and Julia Gilmore and says she is grateful for their guidance they shared for a career in the arts.
“I’m excited and grateful to have this opportunity to be selected as an emerging artist,” says Rovirosa. “Growing up here in Miami, the CCAF has always been a favorite destination for me.”
“I get inspired by watching the artists, seeing so many people being creative and having a career in the arts,” she says. “It’s been my dream to share this space with other talented artists and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”
Miriam Rovirosa, Flower Pots, 12" X 12", oil on canvas. (Photo courtesy of the artist)
Rovirosa, who earned her Studio Art degree from Rollins College in 2014, admires Caravaggio for his “masterful use of light and dark to create striking, almost three-dimensional forms.”
“It's as if he's sculpting with light,” she says. “I find it beautiful.”
Since returning home, Rovirosa joined the Miami International Fine Arts (MIFA) atelier in Miami studying the drawing techniques of 19th-century French painter Charles Bargue.
“I have a deep love for my work,” she says. “I’m obsessed and can’t see myself doing anything else.”
Continuing to perfect her technical skills and trying to make a go of being a professional artist, Rovirosa is determined to pursue her artistic dreams.
“It’s not easy to go after what you want,” she says, “So, I will try my hardest to do what I love every day.”
Engaged to be married in April, Rovirosa spends as much time in her home studio as she can, where she arrives ready to paint.
Miami native Miriam Rovirosa, 32, is one of this year's 10 Emerging Artists. (Photo courtesy of the artist)
After a morning run, and thinking about her choice of subject matter, Rovirosa has a purpose in mind.
She finds inspiration at the beach, perusing Pinterest and from the succulents in her garden. She gets up early to take photographs when the sun is rising and the dew is still visible. She plays with the images, with the light and shadow, crops them, keeping composition in mind and then uses these images to paint.
In addition to private collections, her work has been exhibited at the J.K. and Sarah Galloway Gallery in Winter Park, the Cornell Fine Arts Museum in Delray Beach, Saladrigas Gallery in Miami and Miami Dade College West Gallery.
Going forward, Rovirosa hopes to make a career from her art. She enjoys meeting and schmoozing with other artists and visitors at the fairs, but says the most joy she gets is from creating a commissioned piece of work.
“Knowing that I made someone happy through my art – that’s an accomplishment for me and makes me feel happy,” she says.
The other emerging artists for this year include: Lauren Walker, Zion Rozier, Annabella Camise, Stephan Celestin, Shareen Dookie, Sarah Ferrer, Samantha Ferrer, Christina Bernadotte and Sureily Marestein.
The Coconut Grove Arts Festival is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 18 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Feb. 19 along 2700 S. Bayshore Drive, Miami, Tickets are currently on sale at www.cgaf.com and start at $25 online. Prices will be higher at the door during the event weekend. News on Instagram @coconutgroveartsfestival.
