Patricia L. Cooke, Self-Referential iii-a, 2023, Thrifted fabric, scrap wood, steel, beads, sequins, thread, 13 1⁄2 x 13 x 61⁄2 in. Photo courtesy Patricia L. Cooke.

Usually at Majorica on Lincoln Road, customers and passersby will find custom handcrafted jewelry. Now, thanks to a new initiative to bring more art into the store, visitors will also discover artwork exhibited in a dedicated gallery space.

Opening on Saturday, June 29th, “Majorica Meets Art” will present the artwork of artists Patricia L. Cooke and Luke Jenkins as a collaborative exhibition on display through Sept. 7. The two have works that perfectly suit the event space at the back of the store.

Curator Miriam Kolker, who has been a fixture on Miami’s art scene since 2020 brought the show to the Lincoln Road store after meeting with the store manager who she met through an artist friend.

“The entire process was very organic. It is unique to host a gallery show in a jewelry store but since their backspace is a dedicated event space and where they want to experiment with visual arts exhibitions, it was the perfect match,” said Kolker. “It is their intention to activate the space with cultural experiences.

Spending much of her time with artists, Kolker was thrilled at this opportunity to highlight the work of Cooke and Jenkins, each of which have a body of work that fits the space. As emerging artists, their small still works are perfect as the two work on becoming established in the art community.

Luke Jenkins, Link 4 , 2021, Baltic birch plywood, milk paint, matte lacquer, 29 x 18 x 1 in. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Jenkins is a furniture designer, but he also has plenty of wall pieces that work well for this show. While Cooke’s works are installation pieces, she too has framed works that are iterations of her larger installations.

The two artists took time to explain their work and process and what visitors to the gallery can expect to see.

Patricia L. Cooke, Self-Referential iii-b, Laser-cut paper, 14 x 11 in. Photo courtesy the artist.

Cooke says the breadth of her work is tied together via investigation of feminine-gendered materials, colors, shapes, textures, processes, and imagery. “These investigations appear as sculptures that hang on the wall; intimate compositions which are beautiful at first glance but err on the side of grotesque. Amalgamations of faux flowers or vintage lace are imbedded within substrates of odd angles and obtrusive shapes,” she said.

She goes on to explain that “The armatures of these pieces are created through woodworking and metal manipulation, both activities viewed as masculine. The marriage of materials and processes that exist throughout the spectrum of gender leads me to question that very spectrum and why humans feel the need to gender activities and inanimate objects.”

Self-Referential is a material and process-based body of work where she begins with a maximalist fiber assemblage sculpture; created from scrap wood, steel wire, thrifted clothing, and industrially produced products typically found in craft stores such as sequins and beads.

Luke Jenkins, Catenary Oval Dye, 2019, Batic birch plywood, aniline dye, matte lacquer. Photo courtesy the artist.

Jenkins explains that understanding the impact that time has on a material is his definition of sustainability. To him, “an oak board becomes a character in a narrative that spans all of its forms. From sapling to tree, to its eventual felling and processing into lumber, there is a history etched into its grain,” he says. “My work invites viewers to embark on a journey of material discovery. Acknowledging the past of a material brings consequence to its present and insight into its future.”

He uses new technologies to clarify and expose material nature. Once the nature of a material is exposed, new relationships with its environment can be created, he said. “Material truth is not hermetic; the significance of material is manifested through the lens of human interaction, environmental forces, and time.”

The sustainability factor in the work of both artists was important to the staff at Majorica.

“In today’s world, an increasing number of individuals make informed choices regarding fashion, furniture, and food products, prioritizing minimal environmental impact. As consumers, we now scrutinize the sustainability of products, the ethics of employment practices, and the sourcing of ingredients and raw materials,” said Elena Stungis VP of Sales, US, Canada, Travel Retail Americas Majorica International. “The artworks presented by Luke Jenkins and Patricia Cooke, alongside the pearl jewelry crafted by Majorica, offer you the opportunity to engage with this conscientious movement.”

WHAT: Majorica Meets Art
WHERE: Majorica, 639 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach
WHEN: Opening reception, Saturday, June 29 5-8 p.m. then open daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Saturday, Sept. 7.
COST: Free
INFORMATION: Eventbrite/MajoricaMeetsArt

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