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. 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.

Andrés Cabrera-Garcia

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.

Andrés Cabrera-Garcia

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.

Andrés Cabrera-Garcia

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.

Giannina Dwin (2025), Untitled, Salt Installation, dimensions variable

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 (2024), Large Black Mangrove, pigment ink-print on aluminum printmount, 36″ x 54″

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.

Giannina Dwin, 'Waves at Free!', Salt Installation, dimensions variable, Photo by Diana Larrea

‘Penumbra Brew Quartet‘, an exhibition featuring Studio 18 Art Complex resident artist Carlos Solorzano, where the canvas becomes a psychological theater—a liminal space where memory, culture, and the subconscious collide. This showcase of four airbrushed acrylic works—abstract yet evocative—stand as the surviving fragments of an intense creative process, remnants of an attempt to distill the ineffable. Here, the artist functions as both alchemist and medium, transforming a turbulent inner landscape into an atmospheric brew of earthy tones and spectral imagery. This exhibition is on view from March 13th through June 7th, 2025.

The community can learn more about the City of Pembroke Pines’ latest Events by subscribing to Pembroke Pines Media on YouTube, to NewsFlash, a twice a month digital newsletter at www.ppines.com/Newsflash, by reading the city’s digital newspaper City Connect and website via www.ppines.com, checking the city’s digital signage, or by visiting the City’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cityofpembrokepines, and @cityofppines for Twitter and Instagram. Residents with Comcast can view Pembroke Pines Media programming on Channel 78.

For more information visit www.thefrankgallery.org
Follow The Frank Gallery on Instagram @thefrankpembrokepines

The Frank Gallery presents a Closing Reception for ‘Ebb & Flow’ on Saturday, February 22nd from 7 – 9pm

 

Saturday, February 22nd from 7 – 9pm The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery in Pembroke Pines invites you to celebrate the closing of Ebb & Flow! Learn more about “The House Inside My Head” from artists Rhonda Mitrani, Patricia Schnall-Gutierrez, and Marina Font from RPM Projects. Listen as they discuss the inspiration behind the installation, their artistic practices, and the themes of the exhibition in a conversation moderated by The Frank’s Chief Curator Sophie Bonet. 

Following the panel discussion there will be a Q & A with the artists.

Step into the gallery and view the installation piece up close, while RPM Projects begin their interactive performance. Record your response to the work on white linens and watch as the artists hand sew your contribution to the collaborative tapestry, becoming part of the installation.

All ages are welcome for this free event. Light refreshments will be provided.

Must-See Exhibition: ‘Ebb & Flow: Exploring The Womanhood Continuum’ at The Frank Gallery in Pembroke Pines

You still have time to see ‘Ebb & Flow: Exploring The Womanhood Continuum’ at The Frank Gallery in Pembroke Pines!

Truly a MUST-SEE exhibition, offers a space for reflection and empowerment, highlighting the complexities and diversity of feminine experiences across cultures and time. Ebb & Flow: Exploring the Womanhood Continuum is a dynamic exhibition running from November 21, 2024, to February 22, 2025, at The Frank C. Ortis Gallery in the City of Pembroke Pines. Curated by Sophie Bonet and Pamela Zee Lopez, the exhibition features nine artists exploring the fluid and evolving nature of womanhood. Through a variety of mediums, the artists engage with themes of memory, resilience, the body, and identity, challenging societal constructs of femininity while celebrating its transformative power. The exhibition offers a space for reflection and empowerment, highlighting the complexities and diversity of feminine experiences across cultures and time. All ages are welcome to enjoy this outstanding art showcase at The Frank Gallery, located at 601 City Center Way in the City of Pembroke Pines, Florida 33025.

Marina Font, Fear – Hope, 2014. Image courtesy of the artist.

Coralina Rodriguez Meyer, Mami Erzulie Dantò (Phara from Pharaohs Miramar). Image courtesy of the artist.

Amy Gelb, Seen, 2023. Image courtesy of the artist.

RPM Projects, 2407 The House Inside My Head, 2011. Image courtesy of the artist.

Experience 'Ebb & Flow: Exploring the Womanhood Continuum', a dynamic exhibition running from November 21, 2024, to February 22, 2025, at The Frank C. Ortis Gallery in the City of Pembroke Pines

 

The exhibition offers a space for reflection and empowerment, highlighting the complexities and diversity of feminine experiences across cultures and time.

Ebb & Flow: Exploring the Womanhood Continuum is a dynamic exhibition running from November 21, 2024, to February 22, 2025, at The Frank C. Ortis Gallery in the City of Pembroke Pines. Curated by Sophie Bonet and Pamela Zee Lopez, the exhibition features nine artists exploring the fluid and evolving nature of womanhood. Through a variety of mediums, the artists engage with themes of memory, resilience, the body, and identity, challenging societal constructs of femininity while celebrating its transformative power.

The exhibition offers a space for reflection and empowerment, highlighting the complexities and diversity of feminine experiences across cultures and time. All ages are welcome to attend an Opening Reception on Thursday, November 21st from 6 – 9pm, which will feature free entry, live music, complimentary refreshments, and hors d’oeuvres at The Frank Gallery, located at 601 City Center Way in the City of Pembroke Pines, Florida 33025. This Event is Free & Open to the Public.

The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery is a two story art gallery named after Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank C. Ortis for his decades-long commitment to the cultural arts. Lovingly known as ‘The Frank,’ this contemporary art gallery showcases multidisciplinary inclusive exhibitions that foster connections, facilitate collaborations and initiate cultural change. The gallery’s exhibition and learning space serves as a site of convergence for artists, performers, thought leaders and community members.

Located on the first floor, The Frank’s spacious galleries reflect the works of regional, national and international artists in a robust exhibition program that changes throughout the year. The Frank features two additional exhibition spaces in the form of The Frank Aisles lobby gallery and the Third Space Gallery on the second floor. The Third Space connects to a sun-filled classroom designed to host workshops and lectures in support of social engagement and artistic innovation.

The community can learn more about the City of Pembroke Pines’ latest Events by subscribing to Pembroke Pines Media on YouTube, to NewsFlash, a twice a month digital newsletter at www.ppines.com/Newsflash, by reading the city’s digital newspaper City Connect and website via www.ppines.com, checking the city’s digital signage, or by visiting the City’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cityofpembrokepines, and @cityofppines for Twitter and Instagram. Residents with Comcast can view Pembroke Pines Media programming on Channel 78.

The Frank Pembroke Pines presents The Crossings Movement Workshop on September 28th from 11am – 2pm

 

The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery in Pembroke Pines presents “The Crossings Movement Workshop” on Saturday, September 28th from 11am – 2pm. Move with choreographer Damaris Ferrer as she tells the story of “The Crossings”, and lead participants through their movement.

This workshop is part of “The Crossings: A Global Movement Experience”, a spectacular fall exhibition from September 12, 2024, through November 7, 2024 at the Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery in the City of Pembroke Pines. Amidst the constraints of physical and metaphysical borders, “The Crossings: A Global Movement Experience” transcends these limitations. Conceived by the visionary choreographer Damaris Ferrer, this project unfolds as a dynamic narrative that transcends traditional dance and performance, redefining the essence of communal storytelling through movement.

The Frank Art Gallery in Pembroke Pines presents "Soñadora" & "Imaginary Tapestries"

 

Two new exhibitions are opening this summer at the Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery from June 20, 2024, through August 24, 2024. Yuyi Morales in “Soñadora” and Aurora Molina & Stella Gaia Vandermey’s “Imaginary Tapestries”. All ages are welcome to attend an Opening Reception on June 20th from 6 – 9pm, which will feature free entry, live music, complimentary refreshments, and hors d’oeuvres at The Frank Gallery, located at 601 City Center Way. This Event is Free & Open to the Public.

The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery in the City of Pembroke Pines invites art lovers and art-goers to discover the enchanting world of Yuyi Morales in Soñadora, organized by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature. This showcase celebrates Morales’ journey and her vibrant storytelling. Soñadora comprises more than sixty mixed-media artworks from fourteen of Yuyi Morales’ books that will enliven and inspire viewers of any age.

Guests will also enjoy Aurora Molina and Stella Gaia Vandermey’s exhibition, Imaginary Tapestries. The exhibition aims to explore the intricate tapestry of familial connections, childhood memories, and the transformative power of artistic expression. The exhibition will be a multi-layered narrative, weaving together the stories of Aurora Molina, her daughter Stella Gaia Vandermey, and the diverse voices of Aurora’s Atelier Students. Through fiber art, mixed media installations, and curated works, the exhibition will offer a journey through the past, present, and future, highlighting themes of resilience, identity, and belonging.

The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery is a two story art gallery named after Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank C. Ortis for his decades-long commitment to the cultural arts. Lovingly known as ‘The Frank,’ this contemporary art gallery showcases multidisciplinary inclusive exhibitions that foster connections, facilitate collaborations and initiate cultural change. The gallery’s exhibition and learning space serves as a site of convergence for artists, performers, thought leaders and community members.

The community can learn more about the City of Pembroke Pines’ latest Events by subscribing to Pembroke Pines Media on YouTube, to NewsFlash, a twice a month digital newsletter at www.ppines.com/Newsflash, by reading the city’s digital newspaper City Connect and website via www.ppines.com, checking the city’s digital signage, or by visiting the City’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cityofpembrokepines, and @cityofppines for Twitter and Instagram. Residents with Comcast can view Pembroke Pines Media programming on Channel 78.

Kids’ Corner at The Frank in Pembroke Pines

The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery and Exhibition Hall in Pembroke Pines presents Kids’ Corner on Saturday, October 5th from 12 noon – 1pm. Join The Frank every month for storytime! Together with their caretakers, children under the age of 8 build literacy and engage in art activities related to The Frank’s exhibition, New Industry! Featured storybooks will be Boy and Bot by Ame Dyckman and Roberto: The Insect Architect by Nina Laden. This event is free to the public.

Meet KX2: Ruth Avra and Dana Kleinman, Artists & Sisters Who Create Striking Wall and Freestanding Sculpture Together

The artist/sister collaboration known as KX2 combines the strengths of Dana Kleinman and Ruth Avra. Their work was swiftly put into the public eye with an invitation to represent the United States at the 2008 Beijing Biennale at the National Museum of China, running in conjunction with the Summer Olympics. Since 2007, their work has been featured in numerous museums and galleries across the United States and abroad.

KX2: Dana Kleinman and Ruth Avra Kleinman

Perhaps it was blood, or simply a similar upbringing, that eventually led to the coming together of aesthetics. Whether arranged in group installations or solo pieces, each work involves a sense of rhythm and mathematics. Not only does this reflect nature in its patterns, but it also ties the artists together as sisters, who were undeniably influenced by their mathematician father and scientist mother.

ID SERIES: ROSALINDAluminum, Acrylic on Wood Panel 52″ x 52″

The duo recently held Spring-Summer Exhibitions at CICA Museum, Korea; Whitewall Contemporary “Water” in Delray Beach, FL; the Market Art + Design Hamptons fair in July 2019 at the Bridgehampton Museum, NY. KX2 has artwork in galleries throughout the United States and two galleries in Florida, represented by MAC Fine Art in Fort Lauderdale and Jupiter; as well as Whitewall Contemporary in Delray Beach.

Portal Series: Blue & GoldDana Kleinman & Ruth Avra Collection
New ArtRolled Stainless Steel, Powder Coated70″ x 67″ x 48″

They are currently exhibiting in the group show ‘New Industry: Contemporary Visions of the Industrial‘ at The Frank Modern in Pembroke Pines, FL. The exhibition opened on Thursday, August 29th and focuses on industrial aesthetic, blurring the lines between fine art, mechanical design and fabrication while also challenging traditional artmaking materials and techniques. New Industry is on display from August 29th through October 26th, 2019.

KX2 at The Frank Gallery in Pembroke Pines, New Industry: Contemporary Visions of the Industrial, which runs from August 29 through October 26, 2019.

From a distance, the work looks sleek and high contrast with hyper-pigmented painting and shiny metal. Yet, up close the viewer is struck by textural multilayered paintings inspired by natural surfaces.

PIPELINE SERIES: SOLAR POWER10.5″ Diameter Panels with Depth Ranging 2-4″ (angled)
Repurposed Industrial Pipe with Painting on Wood Interiors

By undermining the minimalist first impression the work brings a sense of wonder and discovery to the viewer the more time they spend. Multiple panels that shift in depth off the wall talk about boundaries and disparate parts, with geometry and color tying the pieces together and creating connection.

KX2 Sculpture, ‘Birthstones Series’, 2016. 3d Powder Coated Aluminum Construction with Painting on Canvas. This work is signed (etched into the metal), each panel is 18″ x 18″ x 4″

From KX2’s Birthstones Series pictured above, the panels incorporate 3d aluminum construction with textural painting on canvas seen through cutouts in the metal. The work is bold from a distance yet engaging up close as the viewer discovers the many layers of painting textures and hues. The work is lightweight and can be installed any number of ways. 

KX2 Installation at Art Fort Lauderdale

“We tackle various themes through our different series, however the common thread is always connection and balance. We are focused on the solution, not simply illustrating the problem.” The artist duo is environmentally conscious of their material choices, using up to 50% recycled aluminum and recycled canvas.

Water Pipes, 2018Repurposed industrial pipe with paint and mixed media, 40″ x 12″ x 12″

Dana and Ruth will be hosting a workshop at The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery and Exhibition Hall on Saturday, October 12th from 10am – 12pm when The Frank presents Industrial Adornments. Under the guidance of artist duo KX2, students will discover a variety of beginner jewelry-making techniques, essential terminology and an introduction to basic tools and materials.

A jewelry designer as well as a metalsmith, Ruth Avra holds a degree in Art Jewelry from the University of Wisconsin Madison and runs her own jewelry company, Avra Inc. This event is free to the public. All materials will be provided and there is no prior experience required, ages 12yrs+.

Sterling silver open back constructed boxes are 1″ square with a depth slope of 1/8″ to 3/8″. These one-of-a-kind pieces are sealed in resin for protection from the elements, making them water resistant. Each necklace is on a sterling silver 18″ chain necklace.

To learn more about the fascinating artist duo KX2, and for information on how to purchase or commission their work, please visit www.kx2art.com and browse KX2 Jewelry to view the duo’s one-of-a-kind wearable art pieces.

The Frank presents New Industry: Contemporary Visions of the Industrial

Nestor Arenas, “Typologies: Structure No. 9”Acrylic on Canvas, 77″ x 67″

The Frank art gallery in Pembroke Pines presents New Industry: Contemporary Visions of the Industrial, an exhibition focused on industrial aesthetic, blurring the lines between fine art, mechanical design and fabrication while also challenging traditional artmaking materials and techniques. New Industry is on display from August 29th through October 26th, 2019.

The public is invited to the New Industry opening reception on Thursday, August 29th from 6-9pm. Guests will be treated to a performance by top Miami rap artist and Pembroke Pines native, Sam Stan. Admission is free.

Nestor Arenas, “Spomenik-Pok No. 3”Mixed Media on Canvas, 100″ x 54″

Curated by The Frank’s Chief Curator Joshua Carden, the new exhibition features the work of artists Nestor Arenas, Yves Gabriel, Kx2, Devora Perez and Norman Silva along with a video piece by Layne Hinton and Chris Foster. Each of the artists employ a minimalist tendency while engaging the viewer with work grounded in industrialization, gentrification and/or the notion of change through industrial materials.

Devora Perez, “Open” Concrete, wood, metal, Plexiglas, 25″ x 25″

“Oftentimes, in urban environments, the viewer is met with a combination of aesthetics and materials. New Industry seeks to contextualize this industrial aesthetic as an artistic result of urbanization,” said Carden. “We are excited to showcase the unique work that these artists have created and hope that this compelling exhibition leaves visitors with a new perspective on the world around them.”

Norman Silva, “The Weapon II”Steel and cement, 12″ x 11″ x 4″

In The Frank’s Third Space Gallery, which specifically focuses on supporting non-profit organizations, educational partners, underrepresented populations and community advocacy groups, an exhibition featuring artwork by students of Fletcher Art & Cultural Center in Pembroke Pines will be on display. Fletcher Art & Cultural Center provides year-round art, piano, guitar and drama classes for children and adults for all skill levels. As part of New Industry, The Frank also will offer free fun, engaging and educational workshops, lectures and events for children and adults. For more information, visit https://www.thefrankgallery.org/events.

The Frank in Pembroke Pines

The Frank is located in the Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines at 601 City Center Way. Admission to The Frank is free. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about The Frank, call 954.392.2120, email thefrank@ppines.com or visit thefrankgallery.org.