Arts News in Short: Jaguar Parade, Underline Shortlist, WDNA Vinyl and More

“Ecosystem” by Busy, Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 Red Road, is part of the Jaguar Parade at locations across Miami-Dade County. (Photo courtesy of the Jaguar Parade)

From a public art project arriving with the FIFA World Cup to new museum initiatives, and music programming, here’s what’s making news across South Florida’s arts community.

Jaguar Parade brings Brazilian public art to Miami

As Miami welcomes visitors for the FIFA World Cup, another international attraction is dotting the streets of the city: 11 monumental jaguar sculptures created by Brazilian artists.

Painted sculptures at locations throughout Miami, named “The Jaguar Parade Miami 2026,” transforming public spaces into an open-air exhibition while raising awareness about jaguar conservation. After the exhibition concludes, the sculptures will be auctioned, with proceeds benefiting Onçafari, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting jaguars in Brazil.

The project officially launched with a June 22 reception at Emporium B Gallery in Little River featuring participating artists, representatives from the Brazilian Consulate and two full-size jaguar sculptures that are now on display.

Where to See the Sculptures

Miami Beach

“Oblivion” by Gus Attab, Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave.

“Pantera Fractalis” by Laila Mackenzie, in front of the Cavalier Hotel, 1320 Ocean Drive

“Neon Botanica” by Lettice, in front of the Avalon Hotel, 700 Ocean Drive

“Forest Guardians” by Sophie Reiterman, In front of Sephora, 818 Lincoln Road

Sunny Isles Beach

“Inu Keneya” by Kassia Borges, 16690 Collins Ave.

“Happy Soul,” by Cintia Abravenel is in Coral Gables. (Photo courtesy of Jaguar Parade)

Coral Gables

“Preserving is Necessary” by Livia Mourao and Rui Machado, 150 Miracle Mile

“Happy Soul” by Cintia Abravanel, 150 Miracle Mile

Miami Gardens

“Full Amazon” by Vinicius Zoia, 18605 NW 27th Ave.

Pinecrest

“Ecosystem” by Busy, Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 Red Road

Wynwood

“Coexistence” by Guilherme Kramer, Casa Ronaldo, Wynwood Marketplace, 2250 NW Second Ave.

See photos and descriptions of all the jaguars here.

Costumed reading explores aftermath of Peru mining disaster

“What If Works” presents a costumed reading of “The Weight of Dust,” an original play inspired by the 1983 San Gerónimo mining disaster in Peru, at 7 p.m. on July 31 at the Westchester Cultural Arts Center.

The drama follows a company owner’s daughter and a journalist as they investigate the decades-old catastrophe, uncovering concealed safety failures, fabricated reports and the lasting impact of silence and inherited trauma. Admission is free. More information at www.whatifworks.com

The Underline’s Finalists for New Public Art Commission

Four finalists have been selected by Friends of the Underline for the inaugural Underline Plinth project, a new biennial public art initiative that will commission rotating sculptures for The Underline’s Inter Grove Gallery in Coconut Grove.

Created as part of the America250 commemoration marking the nation’s 250th anniversary, the project asked artists to respond to the question: “What does it mean to be an American today?” The shortlisted proposals are “A Forest for Many” by Carlos Betancourt and Alberto Latorre, “Growth Rings” by Robert Chambers, “A Seat at The Table” by Morel Doucet and “Still Becoming” by Kennedy Yanko.

Clockwise from left, the shortlisted artists for The Underline project are Carlos Betancourt and Alberto Latorre, Robert Chambers, Kennedy Yanko and Morel Doucet. (Photo courtesy of The Underline)

The proposals will be shared with the public later this year for community feedback before The Underline Art Advisory Council selects the winning artist. The selected work is expected to be installed in spring 2027.

Located in The Underline’s Inter Grove Gallery at 2771 SW 27th Ave., Miami, the Underline Plinth project will feature a newly commissioned sculpture by an American artist whose work reinterprets history and heritage in honor of America250.

The Underline is a 10-mile linear park, urban trail, and living art destination transforming the land beneath Miami’s Metrorail into a public space.  When complete, it will span from the Miami River in Brickell to the Dadeland South Metrorail Station in Kendall. Learn more at www.theunderline.org.

PAMM’s first digital art commissions draw global response

More than 750 artists from 50 countries applied to Pérez Art Museum Miami’s inaugural open call for digital art commissions, but only 21 projects will receive funding and production support through 2027. The initiative reflects the museum’s growing investment in artists working with emerging technologies while strengthening connections between South Florida, Latin America, the Caribbean and the African Diaspora.

The selected projects span video games, CGI films, AI-driven animation, virtual reality, immersive installations and other digital formats exploring identity, migration, memory and technology.

Two Miami artists are among the recipients: Unkle Luc, whose “MIAMI 2006” combines archival footage and AI animation to examine the city’s cultural landscape, and Sofia Valiente. Awards range from $2,500 to $15,000, with production support for works scheduled for completion by 2027.

More information and the complete list of commissioned artists at pamm.org

WDNA gives Miami’s vinyl community a weekly platform

On Friday, June 26, Miami’s WDNA-FM launched “Selector Sessions with DJ Le Spam.”

Recorded live at Reserved Hifi in Little River, the weekly program pairs selections from DJ Le Spam’s collection of Latin, funk, Miami bass, Haitian, Brazilian and jazz recordings with guest sets from local vinyl DJs and collectors. Scheduled guests include Mr Brown, Lula Rios, Ack Daddy, Djinji Brown and RicoSon.

Hosted by Spam Allstars founder Andrew “DJ Le Spam” Yeomanson, the program will air Fridays on WDNA 88.9 FM and stream worldwide.

More information at WDNAradio.org

Grammy Camp in Miami

Nearly 40 South Florida high school students spent a week immersed in the music industry when Grammy Camp Miami settled in at Art House Studios from Tuesday, June 23 and ended on Saturday, June 27.

Selected through a competitive application process, participants explored songwriting, music production, music business and performance while working alongside industry professionals. This year’s mentors included multi-platinum songwriter and producer Poo Bear, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Richard Marx and Latin Grammy-winning artist Joaquina. More information at grammymuseum.org

ProjectArt Resident Artists at Locust Projects Exhibit ‘The Places We Make’

An exhibition at Locust Projects, “The Places We Make,” brings together the work of ProjectArt’s 2025–26 Miami Resident Artists alongside artwork created by students participating in free after-school arts programs at Miami-Dade public libraries.

ProjectArt is a paid teaching artist residency that partners with public libraries to provide free arts education while supporting the professional development and artistic practices of working artists.

“The Places We Make” brings together work by 2025–26 ProjectArt resident teaching artists Nina Osoria Ahmadi, Luz Estrella Cruz, Niko Devera, Estrella Dominguez and Sofia Villalonga alongside artwork created by students during a nine-month residency in Miami-Dade public libraries.

The exhibition, on view at Locust Projects, through Saturday, July 18, reflects the collaborations that grew out of free after-school arts classes, with artists and students exploring identity, memory, community and place through a range of media.

A reception will be held at the art space from 6 to 8 p.m., on  Thursday, July 9.

Also, upcoming at Locust Projects, is the LAB (Locust Art Builders) Mentor Meet and Greet.

Artists, educators, arts and business leaders and mentors are invited to meet the LAB teen cohort, preview works-in-progress, and share insights over coffee and light bites from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, July 14 as they finalize their collaborative exhibition opening Saturday, July 18.

Locust Projects is located at 297 NE 67 St., Miami.

Information at www.locustprojects.org.

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