In anticipation of December’s flurry of fairs, our partners at Commissioner co-hosted Libations, a multi-disciplinary, interactive experience created by local artist and author Octavia Yearwood. Part performative, part storytelling, Libations aimed to explore why art collecting matters to artists, to Miami, and to the world in an experiential feast to kickstart Miami Art Week.

Octavia brought together voices of artists, curators and collectors—Rosie Gordon-Wallace, Kathryn Mikesell, Jumaane N’namdi, Larry Ossei-Mensah, Anthony Spinello and Patty Suau—to share the value of art and collecting with an audio collage. Guests brought objects that “symbolize what it means to give” and then contributed them to a table installation to honor shared memory, collective experiences and community giving.

The table featured centerpieces from Miami sculptor Morel Doucet — ceramic vessels, encrusted with sea life and resembling sunken treasures that recall our natural history and the threats of climate change for our city.

“For me, Morel’s work has the ancestors within it. I always feel closer to my ancestors when I view his work,” Octavia wrote in an email interview. “Morel’s work also captures what I love and am also sometimes concerned about in regards to our world.”

Check out our Facebook video to get a look behind the scenes of Libations, and find a Q&A with Octavia on our website. You can also head here to learn more about Commissioner, a membership community to help create and foster new collectors of Miami art.

PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMISSIONER

CS50x is The Idea Center’s adaptation of Harvard University’s CS50 course, offering an introduction to the “intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming.”

THE COURSE

The 20-week course offered at Miami-Dade goes through the same curriculum that’s taught at the Ivy League university, with a bit of a Miami spin. Course instructor Ken Loomis says Miami’s tech job market is primarily web-driven, so he focuses on skills related to web development.

The class features a mix of videos from David Malan (who teaches the class at Harvard), insights from Loomis, and interactive discussions on coding and problem solving. Those with and without programming experience are encouraged to apply.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU

The goal of the class is not to prepare students for a specific job, but to help them explore opportunities across many fields. You’ll walk away knowing how to analyze a problem and how to create an efficient algorithmic solution.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Topic areas include data structures, resource management, security, and software engineering — check out the full course syllabus for more. Specialization tracks are introduced during the last three weeks of the course; options like mobile app development, introduction to game development, and web programming with Python and JavaScript help students go deeper into those fields.

Full details: Classes start Jan. 22 on MDC’s Wolfson Campus and meet Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. The 20-week course is $499. Interested? Sign up for a free class preview tomorrow night and find out more about the program.

PRODUCED BY THE NEW TROPIC CREATIVE STUDIO WITH IDEA CENTER

You may wanna leave your house earlier. As the government shutdown enters its fourth week, workers from all kinds of agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, are feeling the squeeze due to a lack of pay, and a lack of resources. Because TSA workers are refusing to clock in until they’re paid, Miami International Airport had to close Terminal G for most of the weekend to offset the dwindling workforce. The terminal reopened this morning. (Miami Herald)

And speaking of the shutdown… It’s likely the reason why your favorite craft beer brewery hasn’t opened up or can’t ship out its latest IPA or pilsner. The division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms that handles label applications and permits hasn’t been able to approve any because their employees have been furloughed. So local brewers can’t send their beers out of state, and breweries are in limbo while waiting on loan approvals so they can open up shop. (Miami Herald)

A long time coming. Gov. Ron DeSantis and his cabinet wasted little time making history last week with a huge decision in their first meeting as the state’s clemency board. They chose to pardon the “Groveland Four,” a group of black men who were wrongfully accused of raping a white woman in 1949 in Lake County. The decision was unanimous and came nearly two years after the state legislature passed a bill requesting that Gov. Rick Scott pardon the men. (Tampa Bay Times)

A new sheriff in town. Literally. After hinting at the decision for a few days, Gov. DeSantis capped off his busy first week in office by suspending Broward Sheriff Scott Israel. Israel’s faced a huge amount of criticism for the office’s response to the Parkland shooting. His interim replacement is Gregory Tony, a former sergeant in the Coral Springs police department. Tony is the first black sheriff to lead the Broward Sheriff’s Office in the agency’s history. (Miami Herald)

End of an era. The Flea Market USA, a decades-old staple to many in Miami’s black community, is closing in March. The market was a go-to spot for just about everything like haircuts, mixtapes, t-shirts to commemorate dead family members, and getting your hair and nails done. Tenants were notified that they would have to leave earlier this month and that’s when tributes began to pour out on social media. (The Miami Times, Miami Herald)

THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY

Make it a great week, Miami!

– The New Tropic