The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery presents Two New Exhibitions, ‘Adventum Floridana: Witnessing the Layers of a Vanishing Horizon’ & ‘Of Being and Seeing’, Opening March 13th

The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery in Pembroke Pines presents two new art exhibitions running from March 13 – June 7, 2025. ‘Adventum Floridana: Witnessing the Layers of a Vanishing Horizon’, a solo exhibition by Andrés Cabrera-Garcia curated by Sophie Bonet, examining the fragile beauty of South Florida’s landscapes in a state of flux, offering viewers an opportunity to engage with the region’s shifting horizons through Cabrera-Garcia’s compelling works. And ‘Of Seeing and Being’, featuring works by Deering Estate Artists-in-Residence Giannina Dwin and Tony Fernandez, who explore themes of presence, absence, and the interplay between the visible and hidden, offering viewers an opportunity to engage with the region’s shifting horizons through Cabrera-Garcia’s compelling works. Curated by Liliam Dominguez, Head Curator and Museum and Collections Manager at Deering Estate.

Art lovers and aficionados are cordially invited to enjoy the Opening Reception for both exhibitions on Thursday, March 13th from 6 – 9pm at The Frank Gallery for an evening of art, conversation, and exploration. Light refreshments will be served; this event is free & open to the public. The Frank Gallery is located at 601 City Center Way in Pembroke Pines, Florida 33025. Guests will experience a compelling exploration of memory, perception, and the vanishing horizons of South Florida. Together, these two exhibitions create a dynamic dialogue celebrating South Florida’s rich cultural and ecological landscapes.

Cabrera-Garcia’s practice captures the tensions between nature and human intervention, translating ephemeral moments of light, texture, and urban transformation into dynamic visual narratives. His expressive brushstrokes evoke the sensory experience of South Florida—dense humidity, fading light, and the ever-present hum of development—immersing viewers in the visceral realities of a landscape in transition. Central to the exhibition is a monumental polyptych, a “Platonic Ridge,” embodying the fragmentation and cohesion of South Florida’s evolving terrain. Complemented by an array of found objects and construction debris, the gallery becomes an archaeological site, immersing visitors in the dual forces of destruction and renewal.

Curator Sophie Bonet approaches Adventum Floridana through the lens of Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology, emphasizing the active, embodied nature of perception. “This exhibition is not just about observing Cabrera-Garcia’s work,” Bonet explains. “It is about experiencing these landscapes as extensions of ourselves—an entanglement of memory, materiality, and transformation.” The result is an exhibition that challenges viewers to witness and reflect upon the tenuous beauty of South Florida’s environment and its precarious future. Cabrera-Garcia’s works are not merely representations but invitations to participate in the ongoing dialogue between nature and humanity.

The Deering Estate, in collaboration with The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery, is proud to present Of Seeing and Being, an evocative exhibition featuring works by Deering Estate Artists-in-Residence Giannina Dwin and Tony Fernandez. curated by Liliam Dominguez, Head Curator and Museum and Collections Manager at Deering Estate. This exhibition is part of the Deering Estate at The Frank program, a partnership that brings Deering Estate Artists-in-Residence to new audiences by showcasing their work in dynamic, collaborative venues beyond the Estate.

Of Seeing and Being delves into profound questions of presence, absence, and the interplay between the visible and the hidden. Drawing inspiration from Martin Heidegger’s concepts of Dasein (“Being there”) and Poiesis (the creative act of bringing forth Being), the exhibition offers a thought-provoking exploration of identity, temporality, and the human relationship with the environment. Giannina Dwin’s practice incorporates ephemeral materials such as salt to symbolize the delicate balance between durability and impermanence. Her sculptures, inspired by mangrove roots and seeds, and her depictions of the female form in ceramic works evoke themes of memory, transformation, and resistance.

Tony Fernandez’s photographic abstractions present a poetic and cinematic interpretation of the Deering Estate’s natural landscapes. His depictions of mangroves and banyan roots transcend mere documentation, blurring the line between the seen and unseen, and inviting viewers to engage deeply with their surroundings. Complementing the exhibition are two short films created by fellow Deering Estate Artist-in-Residence Jorge Gonzalez Graupera, offering a unique lens into the practices of Dwin and Fernandez.

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For more information visit www.thefrankgallery.org

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