Artist Teresita Fernández is one of the recipients of the Arison Award at this year’s YoungArts Backyard Ball.
The lull of the new year ends with this month’s YoungArts Backyard Ball, the annual fundraiser for the National YoungArts Foundation, an organization that has kicked off the careers of luminaries in just about every culture field. At this year’s celebration (presented by Harry Winston), two very different creatives will be recognized with YoungArts’ top honor, the Arison Award. Terence Blanchard is a six-time-Grammy-winning jazz trailblazer who has released 20 solo albums and composed more than 50 film scores, most recently the Academy Award-nominated one for BlacKkKlansman. The other recipient is Miami’s own Teresita Fernández, an artist known for monumental works often inspired by a rethinking of landscape and informed by historical references. Her exhibition, Elemental, is currently on view at PAMM through Feb. 9, after which it will tour the country. “They are two of the most compelling and relevant artists of our time,” says Sarah Arison, YoungArts’ board chair. “We are inspired by their dedication to encourage the next generation of artists.” In addition to cocktails, dinner and black-tie mingling, this year’s ball highlight will be a multidisciplinary performance featuring past YoungArts winners created by choreographer John Heginbotham and musical director Jake Goldbas. We say bravo! Jan. 11, 6:30pm, from $1,500, National YoungArts Foundation Campus, 2100 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305.377.1140, ext. 1808
Photography by: Stephanie Mitchell
