Not surprisingly, Forbes overlooked a few noteworthy talents to come out of the city of progress, including artist Christian Duran, whose work has been honored throughout Miami and displayed in the State Capitol Building in Tallahassee as well as in an exhibition in Spain. Durans latest exhibition "Bringing up the Dead"; showcases 14 pieces that attempt to reconcile religious iconography or as the artist puts it, truths that exist within the mind with physical or anatomical truths. The outcome ostensibly results in ominous-looking crucifixes and skulls overgrown with colorful, psychedelic shrubbery. But the dialogue created by combining fact and faith as well as issues of mortality and immortality, resonates in a larger way, meriting reflection about what makes up the human experience. Bring an open mind or LSD.
Bringing up the Dead will be on display until April 26 at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, located at 1650 Harrison St. in Hollywood. Admission costs $7 for adults and $4 for students. Call 954-921-3274, or visit artandculturecenter.org.
April 9-26, 2009