On Saturday, November 16, 2019, Locust Projects hosted its 21st Anniversary Benefit Dinner honoring Craig Robins and celebrating the artist Trenton Doyle Hancock and his new exhibition at Locust Projects.

This special art-inspired gathering of friends recognized honoree Craig Robins’ visionary contributions to Miami’s art and design community and specifically the role he has played in supporting Locust Project’s ten-year history in Miami’s Design District, and celebrates an exciting new installation by Houston-based artist Trenton Doyle Hancock.

Co-chaired by Locust Project’s Board Chair, Debra Scholl, and board members Jorge Garcia, vice chair, and Munisha Underhill, the sold-out event drew eighty friends and supporters of Locust Projects including major event sponsors Craig Robins, Cara and Robert Balogh, Irma and Norman Braman, Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, James Cohan Gallery, and Vivian Pfeiffer, Chairman of Phillips.

"The evening honors our friend Craig for the significant role he has played in advancing and defining Miami’s arts community, the transformation of the Design District and his outstanding vision in supporting arts organizations—especially Locust Project’s—and their 10 year-history in the Miami DesignDistrict,” says Debra Scholl, Locust Projects Board Chair

Held at Locust Projects, friends were welcomed into Hancock’s Moundverse with pink-hued cocktails made with REYKA VODKA and a preview of the exhibition with the artist in his storefront “toy store”. The intimate dinner featured an artful multicourse feast prepared by Le Basque Catering inspired by the exhibition with an “Evil Vegans” Mound Truffle main course and a “Mound” peak dessert.

Dinner was held in the Main Gallery surrounding Hancock’s ceiling-high Mound #1, (aka The Legend)—the chief protagonist in the artist’s singular epic mythological narrative that tells the story of the Mounds (gentle hybrid plant-like creatures) protected by Torpedo Boy (Hancock’s alter-ego), and their enemies, the Vegans (mutants who consume tofu and spill Mound blood every chance they get). This was the artist’s first project since opening his major retrospective at Mass MoCA earlier this spring.

“As a space that invites artists of all career stages to experiment and push their practice, we are thrilled to welcome an established artist like Trenton to take over our space and have the opportunity to experiment and play, expanding the trajectory of his ever-evolving Moundverse in new ways," says Lorie Mertes, Executive Director. “Given Craig’s longstanding support of art and artists in Miami, it’s only fitting that we honor him in an artful environment by such an incredible artist.”

Notable artists, art leaders, collectors, gallerists and arts patrons converged to support Locust Projects and the celebration, including Brian Antoni, Cara and Robert Balogh, Susan and Richard Arregui, Alex Gartenfeld, Marvin Ross Friedman and Adrienne bon Haes, Jorge Garcia and Angel Perez, George Lindemann, Diane and Robert Moss, Paula Naughton, James Cohan Gallery, New York, Jaime Odabachain, Ilona and Chad Oppenheim, Vivian Pfeiffer, Susan Richard, Victoria Rogers, Dennis and Debra Scholl, Craig Robins and Jackie Soffer, Munisha Underhill, among others. The event commemorated twenty-one years of supporting local, national and international artists with opportunities to create ambitious new work in the heart of Miami. It raised critical funds that gives artists opportunities to create ambitious new work, activates conversations around new art and ideas through public programs and advocates for Miami-based artists’ careers by supporting incubator grants for socially-engaged work in Miami neighborhoods and pro bono legal services and funds full scholarships for summer art intensives for teens, inspiring the next generation of creatives.

Special Thanks to Linda Adler, Le Basque, The Caterer, Hendrick’s Gin, Jacober Creative, Milagro Tequila, REYKA VODKA.

Images by World Red Eye