Art collector and hotelier Alan Faena was in an all white ensemble last night topped with a white hat bearing a single feather. He was at the opening of àngles veloces arcanos fugaces, an immersive disco installation by artist group assume vivid astro focus (AVAF), behind his newly opened Miami Beach hotel, in the six-block Faena arts district between 32nd and 36th Street. Although it was a sweltering night, party-goers traded in their heels and leather loafers for four orange wheels and joined the strobe-lit fray.
The site-specific psychedelic 1970s-inspired disco party, hosted by Faena Art and W Magazine, was like stepping into another time. DJs situated in the middle of the circular rink turned old school disco records as men in gold shorts juggled and roller bladed and women in matching gold jumpsuits encouraged the crowd to join them. Upon entering the party, everyone was given a jelly light up ring to encourage a communal vibe. Partygoers lounged in beach chairs and walked around barefoot in the sand.
Last year, the international artist group staged a similar installation, where they created a site-specific immersive disco roller rink for Buenos Aires Faena Arts Center as part of the 10-year anniversary of Faena Hotel in Buenos Aires.
Assume Vivid Astro Focus’s roller disco installation at Faena Art Center.
Photo: Carolina Bonfanti.
“This fantasia of music, movement and explosive color commemorates the utopian ideals of the disco era and draws on diverse imagery,” reads a description on the Faena Arts website, “such as stills from films like Xanadu with Olivia Newton-John to photos from the Roxy in New York City.”
Starting today at 12:00 p.m. the roller rink will be open for the public to enjoy, with a rotating line up of DJs, including Jamie XX and Questlove. The Faena website has a complete list of all the DJs who will be playing in the upcoming days.
Jim Genevan, Light Geometry (2015).
Photo: Courtesy of Faena.com.
Faena will also be hosting two other beach-side art installations. Jim Denevan’s illuminated performance/land art work, Light Geometry (December 1–3, 2015), an ephemeral site-specific light installation; and Sight to Behold, an installation of a large red theater curtain parallel to the beach, by Spanish artist Almudena Lobera (December 1–6, 2015).
àngeles veloces arcanos fugaces is located on Collins and 36th Street and is open to the public through December 6. Roller skates are provided but visitors are encouraged to bring their own.