by “JJ,” MWA eye witness reporter – this is NOT fiction, people.
Shortly before 7:30 pm there are about 35 people waiting for the South Miami city council to decide if the Wallflower Gallery, a 13-year-old arts and culture venue in downtown Miami, will LIVE or DIE. The seats in the audience are straight out of a high school auditorium. I sit with them and am immediately recruited to pass around a petition which I don’t do so well since half the audience are city employees and are looking at me funny.
Prior to the meeting the Mayor addresses us to basically say we have the votes so don’t take too long with the remarks. I mean ‘less is more’ in this case folks. He asks for a “couple people who can speak eloquently” and reminds us that we’ll be “preaching to the converted.”
Manger in lieu of full presentation about the Wallflower Gallery said a few words and turned it over to those eloquent speakers. He intro’ed by describing the Wallflower Gallery as an institution and described this measure as an opportunity for the CRA to fulfill its purpose by energizing a colony of artists who’ll bring a renaissance to the City similar to what Coconut Grove saw in the 50’s. Tonight is just to give the City’s commitment [read: real negotiations come later].
As first speaker gets up in comes a “rara” text from Melanie Feliciano, president of the Miami Writers Association:
RA RA sis kumba! Go wallflower!!!
[which means deal is done at this point but I am only one who knows this].
Sara Yousuf spoke, calling Wallflower Gallery a ‘meeting space’ and ‘place of ideas’ where ‘social issues’ are discussed.
The second speaker was from Emerge Miami who said Wallflower Gallery was a place where artists get ‘equal access’ for events and called Flash an ally for activists. She also mentioned kids loitering at Sunset place with no space to go to.
Eddie Osborne, a musician from Miramar, spoke for about 8 seconds and said Wallflower Gallery is ‘an asset.’
Beth Schwartz proclaimed herself the “mother hen of the Wallflower Gallery” and reiterated that it is an all ages venue where no alcohol is served and children can come. She said Wallflower Gallery has all types of art and sets a positive example. She then had the honor of introducing “Flash the Funk Finder.”
F the FF with of course shades on, and it was noted with some satisfaction also wearing shoes, said that the Wallflower Gallery has been there for 13 years as a space where people can interact, develop, share and express themselves. He contrasted it with conventional places that offer that on the side to bring people in and make a profit [whereas that is the principle offering of the Wallflower Gallery]. It is not a bar and nothing is ‘for sale.’ They built a community in downtown where none thought it could be done. F the FF is a resident of South Miami and he wants to bring the same here.
The Manager spoke again and said he thinks the Wallflower Gallery will help the City ‘blossom’ and said again this serves the purpose of the CRA and he wants to bring a deal to the City soon.
Commissioners all make very short statements in favor. Manager suggested folks didn’t need to stay unless they wanted a lesson in how government operates. On that ‘you’ll be bored/nothing to stay for’ queue the Wallflower Gallery contingent got up and walked out, congratulating Flash and team in the hallway on the way out! I was on my way home by like 8:05p.
So that was the B by B on F the FF in the “City of Pleasant Living.” Do you feel like you were there?
