As part of Miami Beach Culture Crawl, and to celebrate The Betsy's 11th Annual Overture to Overtown Jazz Festival, collaboARTive presents art projected onto the Betsy Orb. Images will feature the past, present, and future of the arts in Historic Overtown in Miami.

The event is free to attend and includes live jazz performances and Betsy Gallery visits.

The visual arts take center stage on April 20th as part of the Betsy’s 11th Annual Overture to Overtown (OTO) Jazz Festival with Art at The Betsy Orb from 7 pm to 11 pm, curated by Miami’s own, collaboARTive. Recognizing the significance of South Florida jazz and Overtown as a jazz mecca, the Betsy’s annual festival coincides with Jazz Appreciation Month. The ORB is a canvas seen by thousands each day in the passageway between Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue and is a top Instagram/Facebook selfie destination. The special OTO projection will explore the past, present and future of the arts in Overtown. Featuring historic photographs, images of artwork by contemporary Overtown artists and poetry, this visual montage celebrates the rich legacy and bright future of Overtown.

7 PM to 10 PM Digital Visual Art Installation

An eclectic curation of artwork, photography, and video projected onto The Betsy Orb featuring a collaboration of visual artists from across Miami.

7 PM - 8:30 PM The Biscayne Poet

The Biscayne Poet (AKA Oscar Fuentes) and his typewriter will be creating poetry magic to celebrate National Poetry Month as part of April’s Culture Crawl. His latest animated short, LIGHT, will be featured as part of the visual projections installation for the evening.

Oscar Fuentes, aka The Biscayne Poet, is a multidisciplinary artist based in Miami. He is the author of eight publications of poetry and prose: "Beautiful Women Will Never Know" (2013), "4 Nights With Betsy" (2014), "Vagabond: Selected Poems, Short Stories, and Plays" (2015), "Welcome Home: Poems inspired by 1Hotel South Beach" (2019), “For the Love of Leotards” (2022) Illustrated zine publications include: "Body Furnace" (2021), “Cock Fight" (2022), “Oscar The Clown” (2022). Oscar is represented by Eaton Literary Agency and uses typewriter tape for a mustache.

9 PM - 9:30 PM Rebecca Butterfly Vaughns

Rebecca Butterfly Vaughns is an acclaimed and award-winning poet and a Miami native. She will present her unique syncopating rhythms of poetry and spoken word as part of our celebration of poetry and jazz in Overtown. 

Rebecca Vaughns is a native of Miami, Florida. She's been writing poetry since the age of 10. This is her 26/21 year. She started on the poetry scene in May of 1997 and took the leap to be a full-time poet in August of 2002. In that time, Butterfly has released 14 studio albums, produced 9 stage shows, self-published 3 books of poetry and received numerous awards and proclamations. Her ability to freestyle poetry leaves audiences amazed. She's been referred to as the Jay-Z of poetry. She's South Florida's poetic child. Her weaved words have brought tears to the eyes of Fantasia, Keke Palmer, and Maxwell. Her slogan is: I go wherever words are desired. No special occasion is off limits. She can tailor a poem for any and every kind of event. Rebecca Vaughns is always ready with words. She definitely has no problem being put on the spot. Rapper MC Lyte called her a talented one. Singer Charlie Wilson called her a woman with words. Former Editor-in-Chief of Essence Magazine Susan Taylor told her she has a way with words and was highly impressed to learn of her being a full-time poet~spoken word artist at her 15-year mark.

ABOUT THE CURATORS

Artists Jean and Iggy Font are the masterminds behind collaboARTive, a 501(c) non-profit arts organization founded by visual artists to serve visual artists and creatives in Miami-Dade County (and globally online). We offer services that include affordable studio space in a safe and welcoming environment, a community of other creatives, opportunities to show work, information on exhibitions, calls to artists, and grant opportunities through social media and newsletter communications. Learn more at collaboARTive.org.

ABOUT THE BETSY ORB

The Betsy Orb designed by architect, Allan Shulman, is a work of public art installed to connect two architecturally significant buildings: The Betsy Ross designed by L. Murray Dixon and The Carlton designed by Henry Hohauser and now comprises The Betsy’s full footprint. Since 2016 when the sky bridge was installed, many artists and arts organizations have activated the ORB to reach new audiences - with text, images, and movement; they have included: the City of Miami Beach for Juneteenth and No Occupancy, PRIZM Art Fair, O,Miami, Diaspora Vibe, Miami Dade County Public Schools Office of Performing Arts, FIU, Exchange for Change (Prison Poet Laureate Program), Phonograph Films (Juan Carlos Zaldivar), For Freedoms (Hank Willis Thomas), Peter London Global Dance Company, and others. 

ABOUT THE 11th Annual Overture to Overtown Jazz Festival

The Betsy Hotel (thebetsyhotel.com) is proud to present the 11th Annual Overture to Overtown (OTO) Jazz Festival. Join in celebrating the historic connections between South Florida jazz and the National historic jazz circuit that brought musicians who played in New York City's Harlem to The Harlem of the South (AKA Overtown) as they made their way from club to club – across the USA. The OTO festival culminates on April 30th with special programming in commemoration of International Jazz Day. For more information and to see the full festival schedule HERE.