“The Ripple Effect” Locust Projects Benefit Dinner

Miami, FL – November 23, 2024 – Locust Projects hosted its Benefit Dinner: The Ripple Effect honoring Sheldon & Florence Anderson and Diane & Werner Grob, and the ripples of impact they have had — on both Locust Projects and on Miami — as generous champions of the arts and inspiring civic leaders. The evening, held at Locust Projects, was hosted by Event Chairs Ximena Caminos; Marianne and John Devine, Debra Scholl and Dennis Scholl.

Placing art and artists at the center of their events since 2019, 120 guests gathered within a captivating immersive installation in the Main Gallery by internationally-acclaimed artist, Alexandre Arrechea, inspired by the gesture of a stone skipping across water as a metaphor for the impact of our actions. Award-winning Miami-based artist, Alba Triana’s kinetic sound installation capturing the power of unseen, dynamic forces that initiate motion premiered in the Project Room.

Arrechea and Le Basque collaborated to create a uniquely “Locust” dining experience of art, food, and a convivial gathering of guests who wore varying interpretations of Serenity Chic attire mixing neutrals inspired by nature, clean lines and understated elegance. Guests were seated at “wave” tables designed by the artist placed among suspended “ripple” sculptures and surrounded by projections of the artist’s son standing by a lake skipping stones across the water. At dinner guests enjoyed Japanese-inspired creative dishes and captivating moments choreographed by Le Basque including the placement of a hot stone in soup causing ripples and stone-shaped desserts delivered with small hammers to crack the delicate shell. Dry Farm Wines accompanied the evening.

The night included a lively Art Auction with works donated by Alexandre Arrechea, Alba Triana and Ximena Caminos and The ReefLine donating a prototype by Carlos Betancourt and Alberto Latorre followed by a Paddle Raise to support Locust’s Summer Art Intensive for Teens. At the end of the night, guests received a memento designed by the artist for everyone to hold within their hand – a stone engraved with ripples echoing the sculptures from the artist’s Herramienta desnuda (Bare Tool) installation.

Sheldon & Florence Anderson, Diane & Werner Grob, Sarah Arison/Arison Foundation; Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald; Diane & Werner Grob; and Diane and Robert Moss were among the evening’s notable supporters with María Bechily and Scott Hodes as presenting sponsors of Arrechea’s exhibition and Knight Foundation supporting both exhibitions. In addition to the honorees,Event Chairs, and Executive Director, Lorie Mertes and Deputy Director, Munisha Underhill, guests included, Theresa and Juan Alonso, Susan and Richard Arregui, María Bechily, Tracey Robertson Carter and Christopher Carter, Marianne and John Devine, Elizabeth Green, Diane and Alan Lieberman, Luisa Lignarolo and Sergio Cernuda, Anna Mora, Alejandra and Luke Palacio, Hal Philipps and Greg Kendall, Amy and Richard Pollack, Faye and Jeffrey Roth, Franklin Sirmans, and Todd White and Cameron Carani.

Proceeds from the celebratory event help Locust Projects sustain their 26-year mission as an incubator of new art and ideas supporting local, national, and international artists in experimenting and making large-scale new work in bold and inventive ways.