Annual Highlights
September 2023 - August 2024
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dear Friends, It’s hard to believe that a year ago we were kicking off our first fall season in our new Little River home, with our inaugural Project Room show by Jen Clay, who was our first studio artist-in-residence with us for six months fabricating the elements of her Eyes of the Skin exhibition.
Over the past year we continued to celebrate many firsts in what is our fourth and largest home to-date.
When we took on the long-term lease for the space, we knew that doubling in size would be challenging, but also knew it would be a vital investment in expanding the ways we support artists in pushing their practice and serve as a community hub for activating conversations on new art and ideas.
As we continued to grow into our space and expand our resources for artists, we also found room to welcome community nonprofits as a partner venue for their workshops and events bringing new audiences to our space.
Founded by artists 26 years ago, we put our mission in motion to MAKE ART HAPPEN by serving as the only space in Miami to invite artists to dream big and experiment on a large-scale. We support vital career sustaining resources like incubator grants and pro bono legal services, and each summer we turn our space over to the next generation with Locust Art Builders. We deeply appreciate all who make our annual programming possible, including our Board of Directors for their vision and leadership, and all the donors who support us through annual donations. Equally essential is the annual support we receive from foundations, and local, state, and federal government providing vital programmatic and operating support.
As we launch our new fall season, we are thinking a lot about the “ripple effect” and the impact of art and the actions of individuals – each and every person who gives, attends, and champions what we do has had a profound ripple effect at Locust Projects - and we are immensely grateful.
Warmly,
Lorie Mertes | Executive Director
$75,000+ to artists for exhibitions, programs, performances and panels
$48,000+ to artists for % of benefit auction art sales
$60,000 in incubator grants to Miami artists
$500,000 + in pro bono legal fees and services to Miami artists
Kerry Phillips, The patience of ordinary things, 2024. Photo by World Red Eye.
EXHIBITIONS
Supporting local, national and international artists at all career stages, Locust Projects is the only Miami organization dedicated to producing and presenting ambitious and experimental site-specific installations by local, national and international artists.
We are distinct in supporting artists in creating largescale installations and providing them with curatorial guidance, artist fees, production budgets, and two to ten week residencies.
We foster connections to Miami’s arts community and the public through free public programs and free admission. Locust Projects has presented more than 215 commissioned projects by over 500 local, national and international artists.
Jen Clay, Eyes of the Skin, 2023. Photo by
Jen Clay: Eyes of the Skin
September 16November 4, 2023
Jen Clay: Eyes of the Skin was funded in part by a Knight New Work Grant awarded to the artist in 2022 by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The exhibition’s realization at Locust Projects is presented as part of Knight Digital Commissions.
WATCH NOW! Behind the Scenes with the Artist
In loving memory of Nancy Ancrum
“I wanted to create public programming to bring in people who would never feel comfortable in a museum and attract people that may have not come to the space otherwise.”
— Jen Clay
ARTIST TALK SOFT SANITY AND RECEPTION
CUDDLE
In an energetic and passion-filled talk, Jen shared her insights and inspirations behind the project in a conversation with her project collaborators Tayina Dereville and Elise Anderson. Attendees even had accounts of firsthand sightings of some monsters from her game!
THE CHASE
Monsters from Jen Clay’s imagination came to life during a performance titled “The Chase,” where costumed performers pursued runners through the empty streets around Locust Projects. An eerie soundscape by Elise Anderson captured the sensations of anxiety and panic, with audience members cheering on the runners. Students from John Bailly’s FIU classes and other visitors participated in the event.
Tania Candiani: Waterbirds: Migratory Sound Flow
December 5, 2023 - March 16, 2024
Tania Candiani: Waterbirds: Migratory Sound Flow at Locust Projects was presented with major support provided by The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation and is a Knight Digital Commission.
Waterways was originally commissioned by the XXIII Biennale of Sydney and curated by José Roca. Locust Projects’ presentation is the U.S. premiere. Technology development: Interspecifics. Wooden structure: Juan Rosas. Clay instruments: Gilberto Chávez/Marakame.
WATCH NOW! Behind the Scenes with the Artist
Cornelius Tulloch: Poetics of Place
December 5, 2023March 16, 2024
During the Miami Art Week Meet the Artists Reception, Poetics of Place in the Project Room was actived by intermittent jam sessions held on Tulloch’s community “porch” featuring poetry by Arsimmer McCoy and Nadia Wolf, vocals by Nadirah Naima X, movement by Iyanna the Model- music by Muzelle Lee, Claudens Louis, King Friday, Inez Barlatier and Gerald Zilas.
WATCH NOW! Behind the Scenes with the Artist
TANIA CANDIANI
EVERGLADES RESEARCH
Executive Director Lorie Mertes and Tania Candiani went on a day trip to film in Shark Valley by foot and film via an airboat ride in the Everglades.
Thanks to videographers David Kaplowitz, DJ, and Captain Robbie of River of Grass Adventures, along with Amanda Bradley, who helped coordinate behind the scenes.
CORNELIUS’S CLOSING EVENT
Cornelius Tulloch’s show closed with an afternoon of storytelling, performances, and community to celebrate the closing of his exhibition “Poetics of Place”. The gathering served as a platform for participation in a storytelling session, where visitors shared their stories about Miami’s Black and Caribbean neighborhoods facing cultural erasure through climate gentrification.
Participants were asked questions about Miami’s historical context, personal anecdotes, and the future they envisioned for the city.
LOCUST PROJECTS + MIAMI ART WEEK
MAKING MIAMI FEATURING
THE TM SISTERS
Locust Projects was invited to participate in Making Miami during Miami Art Week an exhibition popup in the Design District, a book, and digital archive organized by Jayaram featuring the work and telling the story of Miami artists who lived and worked in the city between 1996—2012.
Locust Projects invited the TM Sisters (Tasha and Monica López De Victoria) to create a new installation that revisited and reflected on their 2009 WHIRL CRASH GO! kaleidoscopic installation that was Locusts’ first major activation in the Design District in an empty storefront on NE 38th Street which became it’s home from 2009 - 2012.
WHIRL CRASH GO! combined the artists’ athleticism in synchronized swimming and roller skating along with animated video projections through collaborations with Miami-bass audio composer, Otto Von Schirach, designer Karelle Levy of Krelwear, and a supporting crew of performers who came together to make an unforgettable Miami moment happen.
MAKING MIAMI PUBLICATION
The accompanying publication included a number of interviews that reflected on memories of Locust Projects over the years, including an entry by Lorie Mertes, executive director and Debra Scholl, chair. Thank you to Jayaram and all involved - learn more at makingmiami.com
Locust Projects at UNTITLED
Nicki Duval + Robbie Trocchia:
bout
Performance by Nicki and Robbie and boxers John Matos and Nick Plessett on the queering of sports.
Special thanks to Omar Lopez-Chaoud.
LOCUST PROJECTS + ART BASEL
Former Main Gallery exhibiting artist Juana Valdés (2021) and current exhibiting artist Tania Candiani participated in Art Basel Conversations. Their discussion, titled “Found in Translation: The New Languages of Art,” was moderated by Emily Butler, Conversations Curator at Art Basel, Vancouver.
Additionally, Lorie Mertes, Executive Director of Locust Projects, took part in the Art Basel Conversations panel, “Artist-Led Residencies: Nurturing Florida’s Creative Landscape” with Cathy Leff, Executive Director of Bakehouse Art Complex; Esther Park, Vice President of Programming at Oolite Arts; and Sadie Woods, Curatorial and Residency Director at Atlantic Center for the Arts, with Julia Halperin moderating the discussion.
Andrew Demirjian & Dahlia Elsayed: SK3000
March 2 - May 18, 2024
Andrew Demirjian & Dahlia Elsayed: SK3000 was presented, in part, with support from Odabashian Rugs.
WATCH NOW! Behind the Scenes with the Artists
SOHO HOUSE ART CLUB
Almost a year before SK3000, Locust welcomed Soho House Art Club for a talk and activity with Dahlia Elsayed and Andrew Demirjian, who were visiting from New York to plan their future exhibition.
Attendees learned about their collaborative work and participated in “Futurisms and Fictions,” a hands-on workshop designed for Soho House members, focusing on language, sculpture, and ceremony. They explored what a ritual object can look like and what it can represent, asking: What can be communicated through symbols, gestures, and form? Can we collectively envision alternative futures through objects and their intentional use?
ARTIST TALK
Dahlia Elsayed and Andrew Demirjian discussed their ideas and inspiration behind the interactive sculpture SK3000, moderated by Locust Projects’ Executive Director, Lorie Mertes.
Kerry Phillips: The patience of ordinary things
May 18 - August 3, 2024
An artist’s deeply personal exploration of senile dementia and the end-of-life journey
The patience of ordinary things is a Knight Digital Commission.
WATCH NOW! Behind the Scenes with the
Artist
CANDY MAKING WORKSHOP
Weaving a deeply personal story about caring for aging parents, Phillips’ exhibition in the Main Gallery was turned into a veritable candy-making factory in homage to her parents’ annual holiday gift-making tradition. Everyone who came was recruited – some helped make her family’s candy recipes like peanut brittle, millionaires, and “noodlies,” while others worked on cutting colorful paper shapes decorating jars to fill with candy to give as a gift. Smells of warm sugar and laughter filled the air as the sticky sweet treats were being made, tasted, and shared.
CLOSING PROGRAM
Kerry Phillips’ Artist Talk & Closing Party took place after the inaugural Little Haiti Little River Art Day, attendees returned to Locust Projects for a Locust Late Artist Talk featuring Kerry Phillips, who was joined by artist, musician, educator, and cofounder of Bridge Red Studios/Project Space, Kristen Thiele. The event celebrated the closing of Phillips’ Main Gallery exhibition, “The patience of ordinary things.” The conversation was lively, touching on topics like old junk, aging, and even cats.
Following the talk, a closing party took place, complete with cake, as it marked not only the last day of the exhibition but also Kerry’s 50th birthday.
Tyson Houseman Jessica Reisch: LAB
MFA: Rhizomorph
June 13 - July 6, 2024
LAB MFA is a commissioned exhibitions and residency annual Open Call to current MFA students nationally as part of Locust Projects commitment to supporting the next generation of artists each summer.
Tyson Houseman & Jessica Reisch: Rhizomorph is supported as part of Knight Digital Commissions.
NEXT GENERATION
Now in its 14th year, Locust Art Builders: Summer Art Intensive for Teens, aka LAB, is a unique five-week pre-college program for high school students with an interest in art, design, and exploring creative careers.
LAB promotes contemporary art and project-based learning as a means to encourage creativity, critical analysis, and problem solving, while building communication skills. LAB extends Locust Projects’ 26-year commitment as an incubator of new art and ideas, by supporting experimentation and innovation in artistic practice with the next generation of South Florida artists.
Locust Art Builders: Summer Art Intensive for Teens 2024 is made possible through lead support from The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the MiamiDade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, The Children’s Trust; Susan and Richard Arregui, Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation, The Kirk Foundation, Miami Salon Group, Cowles Charitable Trust, and the Friends of the Next Generation for their invaluable contributions.
This year’s diverse group of 20 students from 6 MiamiDade County high schools were selected through an online open call process for the opportunity to learn from Lead Artist Mentors Loni Johnson and Chire Regans among other professional artists in a dynamic five week on-site program and build an art exhibition from scratch in Locust Projects’ Project Room. Each year’s exhibition evolves as a unique and timely reflection of the current issues and ideas impacting youth today.
Special thanks to workshop presenters and guest speakers: Eddie Brown, Shawna Moulton, Kerry Phillips, Laura Novoa, Cynthia Cruz, James Klynn, Tom Mickelson, and Ema Ri.
“Working with so many people started off hard because if you’re hard headed like me, you have one idea you want to stick to. However I cannot be grateful enough it happened because we made one enormous idea come to life, and it really made me realize that even if you don’t like one individual idea, it plays a beautiful role in the outcome.”
— 2023 LAB Student
The 2024 Locust Art Builders Exhibition:
HOME OF THE FREE, LAND OF THE LOST
June 13 - July 6, 2024
For the 2024 LAB students their exhibition, HOME OF THE FREE LAND OF THE LOST, provided them the opportunity to represent, deconstruct, and then criticize the American dream and its components. WATCH NOW! Behind the Scenes with the LAB students
INTERNSHIPS
As part of Locust Projects’ commitment to support and mentor the next generation of artists, we extend paid opportunities to high-school and college-level interns to support our exhibition programs. Interns are given project assignments during their time at Locust including the documentary video and interviews and content for the CLoser Look Blog.
CLICK HERE to check out the Closer Look blog posts from this year’s LAB!
From right to left: Emilio, our research intern, is a recent graduate from New World School of the Arts and the University of Florida, where he received his BFA in Graphic Design this May. Tainá, a former LAB student and current summer intern, is a rising sophomore at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, specializing in sculpture and printmaking. Dani, another former LAB student and now an amazing member of the Locust team all yearlong, is a rising sophomore studying environmental science at Miami Dade College. A’niyla, another of our summer stars, is a rising sophomore at Design and Architecture Senior High. Sofia, our talented videography intern, is a rising junior at American University in DC majoring in Business and Entertainment with a specialization in Film.
"Guided by the inspirational leadership of Chire Regans and Loni Johnson, the students were immersed in transformative group dialogues, invigorating art workshops, and enlightening presentations by local artists. These experiences shaped their creative expression, leading to the powerful culmination in their exhibition.”
- Sofia
Teaching Artist Summer Studio Residencies
June - October, 2024
For the second consecutive year, we shared our home with Teaching Artists by providing free studio space during the summer through our Summer Studio Residency program. Our residents have 24/7 access to studio space to work, produce, think, and create; all within walking distance of the creative community of Little River’s makers, cultural institutions, artist communities, and galleries. 2024 welcomed Nicole Combeau, Valentina Echeverry, and Gonzalo Hernández.
ARTIST RESOURCES
Locust Projects supports Miami-based artists with a number of resources helping to support and sustain their creative careers including incubator grants and professional development workshops and opportunities.
WAVEMAKER GRANTS
- A national regranting program of the Warhol Foundation, WaveMaker incubator grants has awarded more than $630,000 to 127 of Miami’s visionary artists since 2015 supporting new, publicly accessible projects in non-traditional spaces across Miami-Dade.
LEGALARTLINK
- Miami-based Artists of all disciplines can empower and expand their careers with support from LegalARTLink’s pro bono legal services and professional development resources including online webinars and on-site workshops totaling more than $500,000 in pro bono legal support.
The DiLL - The Knight Digital Innovation Lounge + Lab presents new, existing or works-in-progress focusing on a range of artistic practices that embrace digital innovation.
2024 WAVEMAKER GRANTEES
WaveMaker grantees receive up to $6,000 each in three categories: New Work / Projects, Long Haul Projects, and Research & Development + Implementation. In the spirit of Locust Projects’ artist-driven mission, WaveMakers experiment and take risks, creating innovative work that is shared with the public in unconventional spaces.
After a dynamic selection process among 97 applicants, the Cycle 11 WaveMakers are: New Work/Projects: Iman Clark, Amy Gelb, Jillian Mayer, and Nadia Wolff; Long-Haul Projects: Dejha Carrington, Yanira Collado, Margo Hannah, Suanay Hernandez, and Lee Pivnik; Research & Development + Implementation: Akia Dorsainvil and Christina Pettersson.
WaveMaker Grants are made possible by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts’ Regional Regranting Program, a network of 35 partner organizations across the country.
Learn more about the 2024 WaveMakers here.
WAVEMAKER SPLASH PARTY
The 2024 Splash! Party hosted by The Vagabond Hotel celebrated the 11 Miami artists awarded WaveMaker incubator grants for community-driven projects. The celebratory, invitation-only event welcomed past WaveMakers and exhibiting artists, local curators, Locust Projects Board members, and INCUBATOR donors.
Held poolside in one of MiMO’s most beautifully restored hotels, guests enjoyed music by DJ Michael Grant and “Heat Wave” crafted cocktails featuring Chawar agave and MEP juices. The first 50 guests received a limitededition beach towel designed by 2023 Wavemaker Grantee Monica López De Victoria and Sam López De Victoria.
LEGALARTLINK
Since it was founded as LegalArt in 2003, LegalARTLink has been a vital resource in supporting the artists to protect their work and empower their careers.
In the 2023-24 fiscal year, LegalARTLink handled a total of 136 cases across various legal areas totally more than $500,000 in pro bono legal services and professional development workshops to Miami-based artists. The services addressed urgent and evolving needs of our community.
Q3 2023: 33 matters
Q4 2023: 30 matters
Types of Cases Handled:
Contracts: 34% (46 cases)
Copyright: 18% (25 cases)
Business Law: 12% (16 cases)
Dispute/Litigation: 6% (8 cases)
Trademark: 6% (8 cases)
Landlord/Tenant: 6% (8 cases)
Q1 2024: 52 matters
Q2 2024: 21 matters
Immigration: 4% (5 cases)
Family Law: 2% (3 cases)
First Amendment: 2% (3 cases)
Tax Law: 2% (3 cases)
Patent Law: 1% (1 case)
Employment Law: 1% (1 case)
LegalArtConnects kicked off with a focus on Little River for a neighborhood Gallery Hop for all of our LegalArtLink pro bono lawyers who help provide legal advice and services to Miami artists and members of Miami’s legal community interested in art collecting to join a guided tour by Art Advisor and Locust Board Member, Karen Boyer.
The DiLL
The Knight Digital Innovation Lounge + Lab (DiLL) is dedicated to advancing experimentation in digital technology. As both an exhibition area and a workspace, the DiLL is an adaptable environment where artists can engage, exchange, and explore the cutting edge of creative digital production. The initiative supports a wide range of digital practices, from installation-based artworks and immersive projections to interactive technologies and collaborative workspaces, allowing for continuous innovation and experimentation.
At the core of the DiLL’s programming is Locust Late @ the DiLL, a monthly peer-to-peer skill-sharing series that facilitates the exchange of ideas among artists and technologists. Launched in 2023, this ongoing series cultivates a collaborative environment where participants can present works in progress, share knowledge, and engage in hands-on learning within the rapidly evolving landscape of digital art. Locust Late ensures that the DiLL remains an active site for both emerging and established artists to experiment and grow their technical mastery.
ACTIVATING CONVERSATIONS ON NEW ART AND IDEAS
Locust Projects believes art and artists are essential to society. We inspire curiosity in new art and the exchange of new ideas through our free public programs and partnerships with local artists and peer organizations.
TALKS MIAMI
Founded by Locust Projects in 2015, Talks provides direct access to the top curators and ideas driving contemporary art today, through a year-long series of conversations presented by Locust Projects and Oolite Arts.
Since 2018, we’ve invited 38 arts leaders to Miami to talk about their curatorial vision and practice, the art and artists that have shaped their careers, and how they support the work of artists whether in museums or non-traditional spaces. Each also visits the studios of local artists, providing feedback and visibility that can build a bridge between artists working in Miami and the international cultural community.
2023-2024 SEASON
Wassan Al-Khudhairi | Independent Curator
José Carlos Diaz | Susan Brotman Deputy Director for Art at the Se -
attle Art Museum (SAM)
Denise Markonish | Chief Curator, MASS MoCA
Fatoş Üstek | Independent Curator and Writer
Community Hub
Locust Projects’ new space allows us to welcome and support our nonprofit community by serving as a presenting parter/venue to various events large and small. In the past year in our we have partnered with several nonprofit friends who needed space to host their events, including INC (International Noise Conference), O’Miami, Commissioner, Greenspace Catalyst and New World School of the Arts. We also have welcomed artists working on largescale projects in the community who needed temporary access to a space larger than their studios.
GETTING SOCIAL
22k followers
6.6k followers
227 subscribers
2.5k followers
GETTING SEEN
REBRAND
In 2023 Locust Projects rebranded with the help of Jacober Creative! A brand guide is being finilized which ensures consistent and fresh brand identity.
FUNDRAISERS AND FRIENDRAISERS
Building on our vision to provide contemporary visual artists the freedom to experiment with new ideas by creating a culture of “yes,” Locust Projects offers many opportunities to support our exhibitions and programming in impactful and direct ways.
Locust Projects relies on funding from annual fundraisers such as Spring Fling and Annual Benefit dinners, as well as from support from INCUBATORS and individual donors.
ANNUAL BENEFIT
DINNER HONORING ALBERTO IBARGÜEN
Locust Projects hosted its Annual Benefit Dinner, celebrating Alberto Ibargüen’s 18-year impact on Miami’s arts and culture as CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The celebration, hosted by Honorary Chairs Jorge M. and Darlene Pérez, and Event Chairs Dede and Robert Moss, Debra Scholl, Dennis Scholl, and Munisha Underhill, featured a reunion theme with a tribute by choreographer Jonah Bokaer, a mentee of Ibargüen’s.
Guests wore “Newsworthy” attire, dining under an installation by Tania Candiani inspired by migratory birds. The evening featured Basqueinspired cuisine, a Caribbean cocktail welcome, and a tribute performance by Bokaer and YoungArts dancers.
ANNUAL BENEFIT DINNER SUPPORTERS
MAJOR SPONSORS
John S. & James L. Knight Foundation
The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation
Dede & Robert Moss
SPECIAL THANKS
Hal Philipps & Greg Kendall
FRIENDS OF ALBERTO IBARGÜEN
Sarah Arison/Arison Arts Foundation
María Bechily & Scott Hodes
Miami Herald
FRIENDS OF THE ARTISTS
Elizabeth Bailey & Paul Kennedy
Tom Healy & Fred P. Hochberg
Diane & Alan Lieberman
Debra & Dennis Scholl
FRIENDS OF LOCUST PROJECTS
Theresa & Juan Alonso
Florence & Sheldon Anderson
ArtCare Conservation
Lisa Austin & James Hofford
Ximena Caminos
Marianne & John Devine
Diane & Werner Grob
Sydney Carpel Schaecter & David Schaecter
Northern Trust
Joan & Michael Salke
FRIENDS
Marie Angulo & Henry Zarb
Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation
Francie Bishop Good & David Horvitz
Drew Calloway
Courtney Casci
Debra & Barry Frank
Rene Gonzalez
Rosie Gordon-Wallace
Carole Hall
Jennifer & Brian Heller
Deborah Hoffman
Paul Rene Jacober & Mauricio del Valle
Avra Jain
Laura and Jeffrey Kaplan
Tanya Kramer
Jeff Krinsky
Adriana & Ricardo Malfitano
Kimberly Marshall
Stewart Merkin
Lorie Mertes
Kevin Michael
Paulette Mintz
Anna Mora
Amy & Richard Pollack
Mera Rubell
Casey Steadman
Axel Stein
Munisha Underhill
Maitejosune Urrechaga
Susie & Walid Wahab
DONATIONS
Rita Cabases Goni
Nicole Chipi & Sabrina Rishmague
Suzanne Delehanty
Elizabeth Petersen Hoelle & William Hoelle
Anita Johal
George Lindemann Jr.
Dorothy & Aaron Podhurst
John Pinto
Wendy & Paul Rapisarda
EVENT IN-KIND SPONSORS
Miami Herald - El Nuevo Herald
Dry Farm Wines
Jonah Bokaer Arts Foundation
Merce Cunningham Trust
Jacober Creative
Candela Mamajuana
Le Basque
Hagerty Garage + Social YoungArts
Spring Fling: Casino de Monte Carlo
Locust Projects’ Casino de Monte Carlo Spring Fling was one for the books!
More than 400 guests joined Locust Projects in Little River, diving into an electricallycharged night filled with art, casino games, bar by Bacardi and guests styling in James Bond flair. Thanks to the 130+ artists who contributed to the biggest Silent Art Auction yet, and everyone who came out to support Locust’s 26-year mission to help artists make art happen! Artists received $42,000 towards their art sales!
We went 50/50 with more than 100+ local, national and international artists, with artists receiving up to 50% of the final sale - totalling more than $40K in payments to artists.
INCUBATORS SCAN TO JOIN
INCUBATORS enjoy exclusive benefits and access to unique art experiences throughout the year:
• Unique opportunities and insider access to meet Locust Projects artists at exhibition openings
• ArtVentures to private collections, galleries and artist studio visits with special activities
• Artist Dinners uniquely designed dining experiences by artists and hosts
• Wednesdays with____ + Locust Projects, our monthly invitation-only social gatherings for INCUBATORS and invited friends highlighting “tastings” of what’s new in Miami from experimental art, food and music to uncovering Miami’s latest cultural finds
• Access to Miami Art Week events and passes, and much more!
Right: ArtVenture visit to Mette Tommerup’s Studio and Collection Visit with Jack and Tara Benmeleh.
GRATITUDE
We are profoundly grateful to all the donors highlighted in this year’s ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS REPORT who believe in the work that we do!
GRANTS
In the 2023-2024 fiscal year Locust Projects received more than $600,000 in funding from grant support. At the end of the fiscal year in June 2024 we learned that the State of Florida Governor vetoed $32 million in cultural grants, including a recommended $123,000 for Locust Projects for our 24-25 fiscal year making support we receive from individuals who champion the arts even more essential. Thank you again to all who generously supported Locust over the past year!
2023-2024 Grant Highlights
• Tenth grant award from The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
• $100,000 from The Andy Warhol Foundation for WaveMaker grants
• $80,000 in Multi-year support for The Andy Warhol Foundation
• New grants from the Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation and Miami Salon Group supporting LAB
• Ongoing support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation towards the 3-year Digital Innovation Initiative
Locust Projects 2024-2025 exhibitions and programming are made possible with support from: The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts; The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the MiamiDade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, The Children’s Trust; Dede and Robert Moss; The National Endowment for the Arts Art Works Grant; Diane and Werner Grob; Susan and Richard Arregui; The Korean Arts Management Service; The Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation; Funding Arts Network; Kirk Foundation; Cowles Charitable Trust, Miami Salon Group, and the Incubator Fund Supporting Sponsors and Friends
THANK YOU FOR GIVE MIAMI DAY 2023
Locust Projects received vital support to keep our mission in motion through our core programs, raising $88,225!
With your help, Locust Projects surpassed its goal and broke last year’s record! And we finished...
3rd out of 34 visual arts organizations for highest amount raised 7th out of 214 total arts & culture organizations
2023-2024 SUPPORTERS
INCUBATOR FUND DONORS
CHANGEMAKERS
Diane & Robert Moss
Susan & Richard Arregui
Diane & Werner Grob
EXHIBITIONS
Supporting Sponsors
Tyler Emerson-Dorsch & Brook Dorsch
Elizabeth Petersen Hoelle & William Hoelle
John J. Pinto
Exhibitionists
Linda K. Adler
Marie Angulo & Henry Zarb
Sydney Carpel Schaecter & David Schaecter
Marianne & John Devine
Debra & Barry Frank
Luisa Lignarolo & Sergio Cernuda
Adriana & Ricardo Malfitano
Debra & Dennis Scholl
Miles Wilkin
ARTIST
RESOURCES
Major Sponsors
María C. Bechily
Supporting Sponsors
Elizabeth Bailey
Frank Destra
Hal Philipps &
Friends
Juan Alonso
Carol Damian
Rick Mattaway
Nedra and Mark Munisha Underhill
Nick Themelis
Antonia Wright
NEXT GENERATION
Lead Sponsor
Karen H. Bechtel
Arlyn Gardner
Karen Gottlieb
Richard Master
Moiz Zilberman
RESOURCES
Sponsors
Bechily & Scott Hodes
Sponsors
Bailey & Alex Fluker
& Greg Kendall
Friends
Jacqueline Green
Anna Mora
Faye & Jeffrey Roth
CORPORATIONS and FOUNDATIONS
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
Oren
The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County
Mayor and Board of County Commissioners,
The Children’s Trust
Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs
The National Endowment for the Arts
The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation
Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation
Cowles Charitable Trust
Kirk Foundation
Miami Salon Group
JP Morgan
UBS Bank USA
IN-KIND
Arison Arts Foundation
ArtCare Conservation
Atomic Brands
Bacardi
Café Versailles
Dry Farm Wines
Elements in Play
Epoca Brewing
Gander & White Shipping Inc
Hagerty Garage + Social
I’ve Been Framed
Jacober Creative
Jonah Bokaer Arts Foundation
Justin Vineyards & Winery
Kalexy Graphics and Signs
Le Basque
Lin Projects
Liquid Death Mountain Water
Miami Herald
Odabashian
Serenergy
Soho Beach House
Topo Chico
UNTITLED, Art.
Zachary Balber Photography
54D
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Devine, chair
Linda Adler
Juan Alonso
John Anderson
Richard Arregui
Elizabeth Bailey
María C. Bechily
Karen Boyer
Tracey Robertson Carter
Westen Charles, founder
Nicole Chipi
Rafael Domenech, artist
Bette Ann Fialkov
Dawn Adels Fine
Debra Frank, secretary
Elizabeth A. Green
Diane Grob
Brian Heller
Elizabeth Petersen Hoelle
Paul Jacober
Avra Jain
Carlos R. Lago
Steven Lanster, treasurer
Christopher Lomax
Marika Lynch
Ross McCalla
LOCUST PROJECTS CURRENT STAFF
*as of September, 2024
Stewart Merkin
Anna Mora
Diane Moss
Jaime Odabachian
Amy Pollack
Andrew Reed
Debra Scholl
Mette Tommerup, artist
Elizabeth Withstandley, founder
EMERITI
Paul Berg
COOPER, founder
Jorge A. Garcia
Doreen Lima
Munisha Underhill
HONORARY
Adler Guerrier
Antonia Wright
Executive Director
Lorie Mertes
Deputy Director
Munisha Underhill
Chief Preparator & Facilities Operations Director
Tom Mickelson
Development Director
Nuria Richards
Communications Coordinator
Sid Wolf
Gallery, Program and Events Coordinator
Tony Kapel
Art + Digital Innovation Manager
Andrew McLees
LegalARTLink Director, PT
Allyn Ginns Ayers
Annual Highlights Compiled by Sid
Cover image:
Installation images September 2023 - May 2024 by Zachary Balber Photography
Installation images May 2024 - Present by Pedro Wazzan
All event images by World Red Eye and Locust Projects staff, unless otherwise specified.
Wolf.
Jen Clay, Artist Talk: Soft Sanity. Photo by World Red Eye.
