The Archbishop Curley Notre Dame Prep 5th Annual Middle School Art Festival celebrates the artistic talent of 30 middle school students from Miami-Dade Catholic and private schools. The Festival begins with a private Opening Reception for students and their families on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 and the exhibit is on view to the community until the end of February at the ACND Gallery of Art at Archbishop Curley Notre Dame Prep, 4949 NE 2nd Ave., Miami, FL, 33137. Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. www.acnd.net, 305.751.8367. Free.

The Festival gives participants an opportunity to learn what artists typically have to do to get their art displayed. First, the middle school art teachers select works to represent their school and, then, the artwork is evaluated by the Jurists who provide constructive criticism about the students work and encourage them to further develop their skills. At the Opening Reception, all students receive a copy of their reviews and an award for participating.

“We are thankful for the art professionals who have volunteered their time and expertise to this great event. It is a wonderful opportunity to connect our budding artists with the vibrant cultural arts scene in Miami that is developing so close to ACND,” commented Douglas Romanik, ACND Principal. 

Sean McCormick is the Curator of McCormick Place. Identified by the venue’s exterior murals created by Stephen Gamson, Eleazar Delgado, and Derek Wilson, as well as a black and white, classic mural by students from the Ai Miami International University of Art and Design, McCormick Place is a vibrant production-based event space featuring various well known artists. Since opening its doors in September, 2012, McCormick Place has quickly become the centerpiece of Downtown Miami’s exploding art scene. Both Mr. McCormick’s father, Edward and uncle, James graduated from Archbishop Curley High School.

Giselle Delgado Buraye is Director of the Artisan Lounge in Downtown Miami -- a new and innovative artistic collective for both the young and seasoned professionals in 8,000+ square feet of studio and gallery space. She is also a professional artist and designer; Partner and Creative Director of Terna Publishing and Impulso Magazine; Creative Director of Arteaméricas and CubaNostalgia; and Co-Founder of ArtCycle -- an art event that raises awareness to the need for safer streets in Miami.

Marcelo Holzinger is a contemporary visual artist who began his career as an Art Director and Graphic Arts professor in his native Argentina. His paintings have been exhibited worldwide including: the Miami River Art Fair (Art Basel edition), Art Monaco, the Beijing International Art Exposition, and in Liège, Belgium, among others. Mr. Holzinger has been acknowledged by the City of Miami Beach for being “an extraordinary asset to the cultural life of our community, our state and our country.” He’s been featured in many popular publications, TV, and other media.

Laura Luna is a professional artist and sculptor as well as teaching artist for Arts for Learning. She now resides and works in Miami after relocating from Cuba where she studied and received one of the highest recognitions from the Escuela Nacional de Arte. As one of Miami's leading sources of arts-in-education services, A4L provides quality arts-based programs that connect the arts to other core-curriculum subjects to support academic achievement and child development.

Carmen Aguirre is an alumna of Notre Dame Academy (the girls’ school once separate from Archbishop Curley and now merged as ACND Prep.) Ms. Aguirre is an Editor for Diario las Americas, a daily Spanish newspaper that covers local news, sports, business, jobs, and community events. She also serves as board member of Arts for Learning. Although Ms. Aguirre has pursued a career as a journalist and editor, she holds a BFA from Barry University and continues to work as a professional artist.

Sandra Garcia-Pardo is Director of the ArtLink Gallery in Wynwood and a professional sculptor and welder. She was born in Barranquilla, Colombia and received her BFA from one of South America’s most prestigious art schools located in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Ms. Garcia has exhibited her work locally and abroad including: Red Dot Art Fair, Sculpt Miami; Latinamente, Rome, Italy; Giants in the City, Miami; and Florida Gulf Coast University.

Gerry Stecca is Artist in Residency at the Deering Estate at Cutler Park, an Associate Artist of the Bakehouse Art Complex, and an MFA candidate at the Savanah College of Art and Design.  Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Mr. Stecca relocated to the United States to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts and minor in Science from the University of California, San Diego.  His time is divided between sculptural installation composed of thousands of wood clothespins and painting. He has exhibited his throughout the United States and abroad. Mr. Stecca’s clothespin sculptures have been widely publicized including two episodes of HGTV’s Color.

Cuqui Beguiristain is an alumna of Notre Dame Academy. She holds a degree in marketing, but her entire professional career has been dedicated to the arts. Currently, Ms. Beguiristain is Director of MANO Fine Art Project Space (Bird Road Art District), Co-Owner of miArte Gallery (Coral Gables) and presides on the steering committee of the award-winning Bird Road Art Walk. Her husband, MANO, is a professional artist and owner of MANO Fine Art.

Jane Harris is a professional artist who works from her studio HARRISART located in the Bird Road Art District. She recently retired as Chairperson of the Fine Arts Department at Immaculata LaSalle High School in Coconut Grove. Ms. Harris was a resident artist at the South Florida Art Center on Lincoln Road on Miami Beach for 10 years. Her work has been shown in multiple South Florida venues including the Art Center, Bakehouse Art Complex, Very Special Arts of Florida, and the Graham Center at FIU, as well as abroad.

To learn more about ACND Prep’s visual art opportunities, fine arts programs, and visual and performing arts summer camp, visit www.acnd.net