Red Bull Gala
Noah Deledda Winning Art Piece
It’s all in the Can
by Melanie C. Jordan
Oh, the joyous events that Miami Beach showcases truly are out of the box. If you ask me where can you find Drag Queens, Brazilian dancers, talented artists and the finest champagne. You will be directed to Ocean Drive and 9th street for the exhibit of Red-Bull.
“The Art of Can Exhibition” is a Red Bull exhibit. Forty-Seven original works of art has been displayed for all to see on March third to fourteenth in sunny South Beach, Miami. Three winners will be chosen by a panel that consists of; Founder Richard Arregui Gallery/Honorary Museum Trustee from North Miami, Denise Delgado, Curator of Art Services and Exhibitions, Gary Farmer ,Proprietor of Black box theater, Gean Moreno founder of Name Publications and Jill Weisberg ,Founder of Jill Art Design and Adjunct Professor at Florida Atlantic University.
The grand prize is a trip to Art Basel in Switzerland. March third the winner was chosen and host, Elaine Lancaster’s ( Drag Queen Diva) voice echoed throughout the gallery,” Noah Deledda, from Oldsmar, Florida”. As Noah approached the podium to receive his award people began to applaud. The vibration of the applauding set off a sound of a herd of running buffalo and the flashing of cameras, a shooting star effect.
I was able to talk to Lisa Beachy who was part of this Gala. I asked her why Noah won the grand prize. She stated,” His work was done by using his thumbs to indent his flower bloom effect and he also used a ball point pen”. I found that very amusing however my honest opinion I believed there were so many other great art work done.
I began to walk around the gallery and fell upon,” A Two Can Toucan”. This was defiantly one of my favorites. Artist, Forman Lauren used 8,000 Swarovski crystals across the beak, chest, legs, feet and tail. This wasn’t her first time entering the Red Bull contest. In 2006 she took home third place, I truly feel she should have taken first place this time around. I know “Black Eyed Peas” and Fergie would agree with me as well. They were featured in a music video wearing jewelry designed by Foreman. Eh, to each his own right?
Moving on, I came across this fabulous Artist, Shirlette Thompson. She shows us that the fashion industry is a unique form of art. It’s marvelous and breath- taking how she transformed Red-Bull cans into a wearable gown. When asked where her inspiration came from she stated,” by the wedding dresses of Vera Wang”. She used 500 Red-Bull cans, wire mesh, fabric, glue and glitter. She named her creation,” Deadly Couture”. I stood in front of this master piece for a good five minutes just taking in the fabulous view that stood before me.
I then glanced to the corner of the room and noticed this beautiful butterfly art piece. The wings beautifully set to a woman’s body, as if it was a fairy about to take flight. Artist, Monica M. Eddleman titled her art piece,” Energized by Wiiings”. Monica wanted to create a bikini however as she was designing the bathing suit she thought to herself, “why not go a step further”. She decided to fabricate the butterfly wings. She weaved fishing line into a grid then glued 1,200 pieces of aluminum on each wing. She covered each piece of aluminum with clear nail polish to keep the pieces in place. She made Red-Bull’s slogan,” Red Bull gives you wings to fly” a reality.
Between Artist, Shirlette Thompson’s fabulous gown and Monica M. Eddleman’s butterfly wings sat a four-foot elegant shoe. This art piece was defiantly the talk of the Gala. Countless admirers crowded this elegant shoe that I had to wait my turn to get some photographs. Artist, Robert Tabor created this shoe out of seventy Red-Bull cans. I was not lucky enough to ask him any questions however; I can see he used feathers and other material to create this elegant fish shoe. The artist titled this shoe, “Fierce Fish Stiletto”. I glanced over to look at, Elaine Lancaster and thought to myself,” I can see this Diva sporting these shoes”.
The high light of the Gala was the appearance of Mychael Knight. He is an Atlanta, Georgia based fashion designer. Mychael has designed many pieces for celebrities on television and has his own line of clothing. “I like Kitty & Dick,” a line of racy lingerie which I can’t wait to get my hands on.
Mychael designed a few gowns made out of fabric and Red-Bull cans. This stunning Miami model modeled one of his creations for all to admire. Throughout the night you would see him with a flock of beautiful woman by his side.
So there you have it. Beautiful South Beach, Miami mixed with high status profiles and the finest DJ’s playing up to date music. The rich mingle and speak about the newest art forms and fashion as the waiters refresh glasses with the most expensive champagne available to mankind. As for the winner of the Red-Bull contest well, he’s getting ready for his trip to Switzerland. hej då !
