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Curated by Christopher "Jillionaire" Leacock in collaboration with Xavier Burt and Poplife, The Dog is a bar, dancehall, and art gallery rolled into one, a site-specific and immersive experience that bridges the gap between contemporary art, culture, and music.

THE DOG

An art bar by Tim Biskup. Painted inside and out in the artist's ever-shifting but always recognizable graphic style.

“When I paint, I try to destroy any resemblance with any objective reference. But if a resemblance makes itself present a posteriori, it is welcome to stay.” - Gerhard Richter 1999

THE DOG as an overall concept is open ended and alive. The name came from a painting that stared out as an abstract but suddenly contained a figurative element: a dog head. At first it was unintentional but Biskup (reminded of the aforementioned Gerhard Richter quote) let it stay and it became a part of the work. It was a lesson in resisting category and personal bias and represented an opening of Biskup's ideas about his practice. Taking that freewheeling curiosity into a traditional drinking establishment is a way to expand and challenge those ideas. Collaboration with other artists, musicians and business people pushes the boundaries even further. The result will be an inspiring pool of aesthetic bliss and a really fun place to hang out.

As part of Biskup's art bar concept, award-winning Miami bartender Julio Cabrera will create a selection of specialty Bacardí Rum cocktails inspired by The Dog's unique cultural fabric and in direct conjunction with its artists and curators.

ABOUT TIM BISKUP

Tim Biskup (b. 1967, Santa Monica, CA) is a Southern California artist whose practice is focused mainly on abstract and figurative painting, but extends into sculpture, printmaking and music. He studied fine art at Otis/ Parsons before entering the animation and illustration industries where he honed his technical skills. In 1999 he gathered a community of artists and began hosting live art auctions at bars around Los Angeles. He quickly found an audience for his personal work. His complex color and design theories pushed forward a decidedly populist aesthetic which has continued to develop and morph over the years. Now, with an established following and over a dozen solo exhibitions under his belt, he is working with Todd Oldham & Ammo Books on a mid-career monograph slated for release in September of 2017.

STEPHEN BURKS X MOGOLLON COLORFIELD

Colorfield is a collaboration between internationally recognized industrial designer Stephen Burks and graphic artists Francisco Lopez & Monica Brand of Mogollon.

Like a kind of reflected sky floating above the Dog's open air courtyard, the installation imagined attracts and unifies a diverse line up of artists, musicians and designers whose thinking is indicative of a new artistic spirit; a spirit where image, space and sound come together seamlessly without unnecessary categorical divisions under an umbrella of free expression.

In colorful pop brushstrokes and graphic woven texture, Colorfield boldly defines and envelopes the visitor in mottled light during the day and a 3-dimensional veil of reflected dancehall light at night to support all of the functions of the projects diverse program.

COLLABORATORS

STEPHEN BURKS MAN MADE

Stephen Burks is both a traveler and a designer, whose Stephen Burks Man Made project seeks to bring the hand to industry through ongoing collaborative practices in art, design and culture. Stephen Burks is the 2015 National Design Award winner in product design.

www.stephenburksmanmade.com

MOGOLLON

Francisco Lopez & Monica Brand are Mogollon, a New York City based creative studio known for their holistic approach to conceptualizing and producing work across the fields of design, film and art.

www.mogollon-ny.com

ONE FOR HUNDRED

One For Hundred is a new furniture label from Austria that produces custom made solid wood furniture. All of the wood used for production is harvested from the certified forest of the company founders and for every furniture piece that is sold, one hundred new trees are planted. The entire process - from „ tree to table“ - lies in the hands of the team at One For Hundred, making it not only transparent but guaranteeing the highest level of craftsmanship, attention to detail and uniqueness.

www.oneforhundred.com

ABOUT STEPHEN BURKS

For over a decade, Stephen Burks has dedicated his work to building a bridge between authentic craft traditions, industrial manufacturing, and contemporary design. Since 2005, Burks has consulted with nonprofits including Aid to Artisans, the Clinton Global Initiative, Design Network Africa, Artesanias de Colombia and the Nature Conservancy, uniting the artisan, the designer, and global brands in a triangle of immersive development. With his New York–based studio, Stephen Burks Man Made, Burks has produced innovative products, furniture, lighting, and exhibitions for a range of international clients including B&B Italia, Boffi, Cappellini, Dedar, Dedon, Harry Winston, Missoni, Moroso, Parachilna, Roche Bobois and Swarovski. Burks has exhibited at the Studio Museum in Harlem and the Museum of Arts and Design, as well as receiving numerous accolades including the Illinois Institute of Technology Alumni Professional Achievement Award, the Brooklyn Museum Young Modernist Award, the Architektur & Wohnen Audi Mentor Prize and the 2008 United States Artists Architecture & Design Target Fellowship Grant. Stephen Burks is the 2015 Cooper Hewitt National Design Award winner in Product Design.

ABOUT THE BACARDI® BEVERAGE EXPERIENCE

Working in partnership with Bacardi, the best bartenders in Miami will be curated to create a menu of specialty cocktails for each night. We will present an elevated cocktail and beer experience throughout the week including a collaborative bar with artist Tim Biskup, a popup courtyard bar in collaboration with Stephen Burks and a VIP bar in collaboration with Bacardi in the performance area.

ABOUT DREAM HOTELS

Dream Hotels are individually curated properties that together comprise a unique narrative. The brand is underwritten by a design philosophy that is both surreal and contemporarily chic. Located in the United States and abroad, the design of each property is informed by its locale and taken to Dream status by a pool of world-renowned architects and interior designers. The result is a stay experience well-suited to the discerning traveler who seeks comfort in a truly cosmopolitan atmosphere.

For more info contact Molly Krause Communications, molly@molly.nyc