THE MIX

AVENTURIST

COVETABLE FINDS, HOT HAPPENINGS, AND MUST-ATTEND EVENTS

Mujer con flores, 1967

THE MIX MEMORIES OF MARIANO

Roosters, life in the countryside, tropical fruits, fishermen, and more are on display at the Perez Museum of Art in Miami (PAMM) in “Mariano: Variations on a Theme,” which pays tribute to Cuban artist Mariano Rodríguez (1912-1990). Known in the art world by his first name, Mariano was a part of the island’s avant-garde art scene, the second generation of modernists who used their talents to present a vision of Cuba’s identity on the heels of revolution. He studied under Mexican painter Manuel Rodríguez Lozano in 1936, lighting an ember of national pride. As showcased throughout his portfolio, Mariano sprinkles el gallo, or the rooster, in his paintings—imagery of a peasant woman embracing the bird on her lap, or a fowl proudly strutting his crimson comb. Mariano’s works range from abstract expressionism to grotesque imagery, with his six-decade career spanning almost the entirety of the Cuban modernist movement. The exhibition runs through January and is organized by the McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, in collaboration with the Fundación Mariano Rodríguez. Pescador, 1955 (pamm.org) —Christiana Lilly

Mujer con Gallo, 1941

AVENTURIST

TRENDING THE IT BAG

As a kid, Anca Barbu was a troublemaker who would paint on everything—including household items. As an adult, she’s turned that mischievousness into a business. Now the owner of Custom Bag Designs and Anca Barbu Bags, she marries her love for fashion and art by painting on purses, from envelope clutches to top-handle bags; one of her most coveted designs is the cheeky “This is Not a Birkin” bag. She’s sold her work to more than 500 stores throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, St. Barts, and Monaco. Here, Barbu shares more about creating these iconic accessories. (custombagdesigns.com) —C.L.

Anca Barbu has designed countless handbags, including her sought-after “This is Not a Birkin.”

AVM: Where do you draw inspiration?

Barbu: I get my ideas from anything I see that I fi nd beautiful. It may be a piece of art in a museum or an art book, a nice view, landscape, building, fl ower, plant, animal, design, or pattern I see during a trip.

How long does it take to complete a bag?

It takes several hours. It’s a complex process since all bags have multiple layers of paint and most designs have multiple colors, and I have to wait for the paint to dry in between layers and colors.

What made you want to expand to create bags under your own line?

Some bags are not “paint friendly” due to either the material, fi nish, or size and shape of their design. So, I decided to create and manufacture my own bags, which I design myself.

Any exciting news to share?

I’m very excited to announce my new fall collection of baroque and luxurious metallic designs and for my couturier shows in Las Vegas and New York City. I’m also in the process of manufacturing a new bag that will be unique in its design and features, like no other bag in the current market‚ but this is a surprise for Art Basel.

Out on the TOWN

MEETING FOR DRINKS WITH YOUR CREW IS FUN, BUT WHY NOT MIX IT UP WITH THESE UNIQUE ACTIVITIES INSTEAD?

MIAMI MINING CO.

Yani Mora, Breigel Leiva, and Gigi Gomez make a point to mine for gems on trips, and they wanted Miamians to be able to do the same at Miami Mining Co. As you sift through your screen box, be on the lookout for quartz, pyrite, amethyst, aventurine, obsidian, rose quartz, and more. The team also off ers mining buckets for at-home mining as well as an online crystal, fossil, mineral, and gem jewelry shop. (miamiminingco.com)

OCISLY

Tap into your inner Demi Moore from Ghost at OCISLY (Of Course I Still Love You), located in the backyard of Wynwood’s Casa Mida creative space. Cristina Hermida founded the ceramics studio with her partner after discovering the art during quarantine. “It gives you a chance to play with clay and get dirty,” she says. Named after Elon Musk’s drone ship, the studio off ers courses for beginners as well as bachelorette and birthday parties. Peep their calendar for special events like Sonnets and Ceramics, nude sculpting, and full moon pottery sessions. (ocislyceramics.com)

CANDLE LAND

If you’ve got a candle for every occasion and mood, then gather your friends to make your very own at Candle Land. With locations in Wynwood and Coral Gables, the Instagramfriendly studio sets up guests with everything from a rainbow of candle vessels, more than a dozen scents, soy candle wax, and dried fl owers and glitter to top it off . Stop by for a birthday party followed by dinner or the next time you and your gaggle are searching for something creative to get into. (candlelandmiami.com) —C.L.

AVENTURIST

NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE All Eyes on the Ironside

Is it a neighborhood, a complex, or a shopping center? Whatever you want to call it, the Ironside is the hub of Miami’s Buena Vista. Featuring a collection of beauty salons, boutiques, art studios, cafés, wellness centers, and restaurants, the mixed-use space is the vision of Ofer Mizrahi, who was at the forefront of such hugely popular neighborhoods as Wynwood and the Miami Design District. The Ironside also offers event space and hosts yoga classes and theater. As you walk through the art-adorned walls, don’t forget to peek at the Pollinator’s Corridor, lemon grove, and arboretum. Not sure what to explore first? Discover some of the Ironside’s gems below. (miamiironside.com) —C.L.

FINE FRENCHIE

Valeria Krasavina may be the founder of the fashion and lifestyle brand Fine Frenchie, but the CEO is her French bulldog, Rabby. The pup’s likeness adorns coasters, candles, scarves, art prints, and greeting cards, with Rabby taking on the persona of icons from the art, fashion, and music worlds. Think: a Frenchie with Grace Jones’ boundary-pushing fashion, Andy Warhol’s platinum wig, or Princess Diana’s revenge dress. In Krasavina’s boutique you’ll also find pieces from her eponymous fashion label, a collection of tulle looks fit for rocker ballerinas. (finefrenchie.com)

IRONSIDE PIZZA

Make your way through the garden for dishes at Ironside Pizza, a whimsical indoor-outdoor restaurant with BYOB. It serves up Neapolitanstyle pizza alongside other delicious bites including fresh-made pasta, involtini, artichoke salad, paninis, and a to-die-for tiramisu. Schedule a cooking class for date night, enjoy a bottle of wine in the alfresco Verde lounge, or host your next company happy hour in La Sala. (pizzaironside.com)

MERCY POTTERY

Celebrating its first year in business, Mercy Pottery is the brainchild of Mercedes “Mercy” Gavazzi, a furniture-designer-turned-ceramic-entrepreneur who was drawn to the Ironside’s sense of community. Here, beginner clay throwers can try their hand at the craft, creating everything from mugs to vases and plates. But most importantly, Gavazzi wants visitors to discover the therapeutic nature of the spinning wheel. (mercypottery.com)

KREL

It doesn’t get more locally made than Krel, where Karelle Levy makes size-inclusive clothing on-site with her knitting machine, affectionately named Maggie. With a wall filled with cotton, bamboo, and Tencel spools, the designer can pull whatever color or fiber she desires to make dresses, rompers, hot shorts, cover-ups, sets, tops, and more in an array of colors, including pops of metallic. Her pieces are deceivingly light and stretchy, allowing a range of sizes to wear them from the pool to the swankiest eateries. (krelwear.com)