SKETCH-TOUR THROUGH THE ART DECO ERA
as captured in pens and colors by the Orlando and Miami
Urban Sketchers chapters
Urban Sketchers chapters
 |
| Breakwater Hotel -by Thomas Thorspecken |
 |
| Beach Patrol HQ - by Elena Montijo Capetillo |
Being relatively new chapters to the Urban Sketchers organization the two Florida's groups from Orlando and Miami has teamed up in mid-January for the first time to sketch together. The Miami-Beach ART DECO Weekend festival was the perfect occasion for such gathering to capture in our sketchbooks the essence of the 1920's & 30's architecture, the retro lifestyle and jazz vibes of time as presented in a weekend packed with events by the MDPL.
Art Deco Weekend was created nearly 41 years ago by the Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) to showcase the beautiful Art Deco buildings of South Beach, saving it for future generations. MDPL’s early work was the catalyst that created the vibrant, world-class city we documented in sketches this weekend.
On a two sunny Florida winter days and one evening, we gathered together on a sketch-walk exploration along the famous Ocean Drive and Collins Ave strips.
Rows of Art Deco hotels splashed with vibrant colors, bold design, geometric shapes and intense color schemes welcomed us. Classic cars, retro fashion, street performers and Jazz Age bands were showcasing the lifestyle of the 1920's and 1930's along the Miami Beach's beautiful Lummus Park with the world-famous Art Deco skyline of Ocean Drive as the background.
We were there to capture moments and times in our sketchbooks.
We also deepened our feet in the beautiful warm South-Beach sands to sketch the unique candy-colored Lifeguards towers dotting the shore in an array of bright colors.
Presenting our story here we choose to focus on the different angles and views of same sketching objects as captured by the individual sketchers. This is where the personality and style of each individual come to life. The Sketchbooks throwdown ceremony as practiced by urban sketchers around the world gives us the opportunity to share our work, to discuss sketching methods, the point of views as seen by each sketcher and to inspire each other. Our joint art deco sketchwalk group included people of all ages, all levels of experience and skills, all share the same passion for sketching on location, from observation and sharing quality time with like-minded people.
ESSEX HOUSE - 1001 Collins Ave
Designed by Architect Henry Hohaser and built in 1937 in the Art Deco style with Streamlined Moderne influences of that era. Its signage tower plays a repeated motif in other buildings along Miami Beach.
Stuart Taft - Miami
 |
| Noga Grosman - Orlando |
 |
| Federico Giraldo - Miami |
 |
| Robin Katz - Orlando |
 |
| Mary Hense - Orlando |
BEACH PATROL HEADQUARTERS - 1001-b Ocean Drive
Designed by Architect Robert A. Taylor in 1934. The backside of the building is a prime example of Tropical Deco - a style that mimics the lines of 1920's era oceanliners.
 |
| Elena Montijo Capetillo - Miami |
 |
| Qais Hack - Miami |
 |
| Al Carro - Miami DECO FESTIVAL eyes on the street   |
BREAKWATER HOTEL - 940 Ocean Drive
Designed by Architect Anton Skislewicz and built in 1939.
With its cruise liner-like center tower the Breakwater hotel reflects the nautical aesthetic of the Streamline Moderne style that was popular during the Art Deco era.
The Breakwater hotel has been sketched by many of us during daytime, sunset, and night.
 |
| Thomas Thorspecken - Orlando |
 |
| Qais Hack - Miami |
 |
| Elena Montijo Capetillo - Miami |
 |
| Jackson Chu - Miami |
 |
| Norberto Trobo - Buenos Aires |
 |
| Pam Schwartz - Orlando |
 |
| Al Carro - Miami |
 |
| Noga Grosman - Orlando |
 |
| Nina Benavidez - Buenos Aires |
 |
| Capt Barry - Virginia
DECO FESTIVAL
eyes on the street
  |
ART DECO at the BEACH
Miami's Candy-colored Lifeguard Towers and a Tropical Deco Vibe
Designed by architect William Lane, who began working on them more than 20 years ago.
Dotting the shore in vivid contrast to the sparkling blue ocean stands an array of bright colored lifeguard towers, each with a very unique art deco design and its own piece of history.
We might say our sketches here are just the beginning of sketch collection we hope more urban sketchers will love adding to this story when visiting the South Beach, Miami Shores.
 |
| Noga Grosman - Orlando |
 |
| Elena Montijo Capetillo - Miami |
 |
Jackson Chu - Miami |
 |
| Elena Montijo Capetillo - Miami |
 |
| Robin Katz - Orlando |
 |
| Noga Grosman - Orlando
DECO FESTIVAL
eyes on the street
  EDISON HOTEL - 960 Ocean Drive a gem among the Art Deco Designed by Architect Henry Hohaser in 1935. The urge to create medieval Spain was popularized in the 1920's and persisted into the 1930'. Carrying out this Hispanic myth, Hohauser dressed up this concrete facade with Romanesque motifs, such as the twisted columnettes. 
Margaret Gibson - Orlando
Tommy Gonzale - Miami
 
DECO FESTIVAL
eyes on the street
  
CASA CASUARINA - 1114 Ocean Drive
Designed by Henry La Pointe, 1930
Was the former home of Gianni Versace
This building was created in the full measure of the Mediterranean Style, with an open courtyard just inside the entrance. The facade has a medieval flavor with its two stories splayed “Gothic” archway. Typical of the Mediterranean Style, the building’s design is asymmetrical. Stop long enough to view the kneeling nude statue which graces the entrance of the building. The statue was cast in Los Angeles in 1928 and sculpted by V.K. Vuchinich.  
Qais Hack - Miami
 
Norberto Trobo - Buenos Aires
THE SHERBROOKE and THE WALDORF
and the list of the Art Decos goes on and on as much as the eye can see
Adolfo Montalvo - Miami
Qais Hack - Miami
Pam Schwartz - Orlando
Capt Barry - Virginia
Magaret Gibson - Orlando
LUMMUS PARK
Lummus Park was sold to the city in 1915 to be used as a public park. The beach is one of the nicest on Miami Beach.
   |
A R T D E C O F A C T S
The era where the Art Deco flourished throughout Miami Beach was known as 'Miami Beach Spring to Life'.
The new Tropical Playground developed by Carl Fisher, a far sight developer, attracted millionaires to invest and live there. Next came a wave of upper-middle-class snowbirds, but the big "block-party" and the "boom" had ended when World War 2 erupted.
Facts about the Art Deco movement:
- Born in Europe
- First introduced in 1925 at the "Exposition des Arts Decoratifs" in Paris.
- It has been flourished internationally through the 20's and 30's.
- Has influenced not only architecture but many other areas of design such as; Commercial Art; Fine Art; Home furnishing; Fashion design.
- Its pastel colors, streamlined rectilinear forms, and airbrush idealism developed out of the French Art Nouveau that preceded the Art Deco.
- Art Deco has been influenced by the ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Mayan decorative motifs. Also by Cubist painting and Machine age sensibilities.
