Subtropics Brings Immersive Sound Art to Deering Estate

Collective jamJamStrawberry, made up of artists Sony Mao and Emile Milgrim, perform at
Subtropics 2025. “Subtropics: Audible Fields” takes place at the Deering Estate Theater over five Sundays across July, August, and September. (Photo by Barron Sherer)

Nearly 40 years ago, composer and artist Gustavo Matamoros organized a festival that elevated the then rising art form known as sound art. Subtropics Festival originated in 1989 and 37 years later, Matamoros continues to celebrate the art form.

“Subtropics: Audible Fields” takes place at the Deering Estate over five Sundays across July, August, and September. Audiences can expect work by sound collective jamJamStrawberry, radio artist Gregory Whitehead, musicians Barbara Held and Richard Garet, and composer Julio Roloff. More than 22 artists, both local and international, are participating or contributing work for Subtropics.

Organized and curated by Matamoros, one of Deering Estate’s artists-in-residence, the festival features both new work and historical pieces.

The Evolution

“Subtropics was founded by Gustavo Matamoros as a way to incorporate community-based artists that are exploring with sound, exploring with technology, that engage with visual and audio and photographic practices,” says Amaranta Bailly, the museum’s Cultural Arts Curator.

Composer, sound artist, curator, event organizer — Gustavo Matamoros does it all. (Photo by Claudia Ariano)

Every iteration of Subtropics is an an opportunity for Matamoros to both share his work and invite other sound artists to present, says Bailly, who calls him a “technology-based curator.”

When he started his residency with the Deering in 2021, he discovered a room that had the bones of a theater — it was being used more like a storage room. He asked the museum caretakers if he could turn the space into a proper theater and host a festival there. They said yes.

Matamoros shares how artist duo Richard Garet and Barbara Held reached out to him to ask about presenting some recent work. “I told them, I’ve got a theater,” he says, enthusiastically.

“Richard’s work comes from all sorts of directions. He’s just as good at doing sound as he is painting and visual art… and Barbara is more of a sound artist, like me.”

Sound artist/composer Barbara Held, a frequent performer at Subtropics, performs on Sunday, Sept. 13, during the “Audible Systems: Held / Garet + Matamoros” program at the Deering Estate Theater. (Photo by Luis Olazabal)

Garet, who splits his time between South Florida and New York, often collaborates with Barcelona-based Held. “Nine Movements,” which the duo has been performing since 2024, will be presented as part of the “Audible Systems” night on Sunday, Sept. 13. The performance features audiovisual work, flute, and other audio clips that will be paired with moving images.

Matamoros compares his practice to that of a painter who works with paint, or a sculptor who works with clay. As a sound artist, he works with sound. “There’s no mystery to it, it’s art made from sound.”

This will be the fifth year Subtropics has taken place at the museum’s newly renovated theater.

“One of the reasons, I think, that the Deering Estate became interested in my work as an artist was not only because I’m an artist practicing an unusual thing called sound art, but I’m also someone who’s presenting and involved in presenting my work,” says the artist.

Where Sound Meets Visuals

While the festival predominantly celebrates sound and gives a stage to sound artists, it also incorporates other artistic mediums that support each other. Visual art and projection as well as film and radio will all be part of the series.

“When I curate these programs, I’m never curating to try and introduce people to what sound art is. I’m more interested in providing people with experiences,” says Matamoros. He adds, “No one needs an introduction to art in order to be able to appreciate Michelangelo’s David, right?”

Throughout his career as an artist and festival organizer, Matamoros has met and befriended many fellow artists. When it came to curating the lineup for Subtropics, it was an easy feat to tap into existing contacts. In addition to the presenting sound artists, Matamoros has visual and technical support from fellow artists-in-residence Barron Sherer and Freddy Jouwayed.

The artists-in-residence program at the Deering Estate began in 2006. The museum’s cultural arts curator describes it as flexible and adaptable to each artist. They don’t rush the creative process, but rather give the artists all the resources at their disposal to encourage their creativity and creation. “We like to adapt to what the artists’ needs are, what their practice is, and what their process is,” adds Bailly.

Portrait of sound artist Olivia Block, whose work will be featured as part of the Listening Club night on Sunday, Aug. 2. (Photo courtesy of  the artist)

At any given time, there can be anywhere from 18 to 23 artists-in-residence at the Deering. Bailly notes there are currently three studio residents, 12 non-studio residences, and five programming partners.

The program is structured as an annual program, with artists encouraged to reapply yearly for up to three years, explains Bailly. However, for certain artists, like Matamoros, his practice extends to production and, therefore, is part of the museum’s programming partners residency. Part of his programming contributions to the museum is the annual Subtropics Festival.

Sound, Image and Collaboration

“I’ve known Gustavo Matamoros much longer than I’ve worked with him,”  says Sherer, a visual artist who Matamoros commissioned for a piece for a past Subtropics Festival.

The two have been collaborating in various iterations for the last 15 years. However, Matamoros has been an influence for Sherer for over two decades.

“When I first moved to Miami in the ‘90s, he was bringing these mind-blowing experimental sound artists to Miami and performing on Lincoln Road,” Sherer says.

Whereas in previous Subtropic festivals Sherer has presented his own work, this year, his participation is more of a supportive role. He’ll be collaborating with the sound collective known as jamJam Strawberry and working on visuals to accompany their sound piece.

Visual artist Barron Sherer lends his artistic eye to help enhance the work of sound artists as part of his role in Subtropics. (Photo by Barron Sherer)

The sound collective typically performs on a bare stage with just their audio equipment — like a keyboard or a synth — against a screen with trippy projections to match their sound. For Subtropics, jamJamStrawberry will be performing a new piece titled “Strawberry Sweets” with accompanying projections and visual support from Sherer and artist Freddy Jouwayed.

Sherer advises guests to be prepared to be active. “This is not a passive thing,” he says. “There’s this relationship between the performer, creator, and audience. You gotta be open-minded.”

Sound art and sound artists may be new to some, but Sherer reinforces that the active encounter may be the best introduction to the art form.

“It’s just something you need to experience.”

WHAT: “Subtropics: Audible Fields”

 WHERE: Deering Estate Theater, 16701 SW 72nd Ave., Palmetto Bay

 WHEN: 4 to 8 p.m., Sundays, July 26, Aug. 2 and 16, Sept. 13 and 27.

 COST: Free, RSVP via eventbrite.com encouraged

 INFORMATION: (305) 235-1668 or deeringestate.org

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