Art and images of controversial Chinese dissident/artist Ai Weiwei. Perez Art Museum Miami.

A few months ago, Miami stepped up in the art world with the opening of the long-anticipated Perez Art Museum Miami.  Known as the PAMM, it is a museum of modern and contemporary art befitting a very young, progressive city.  It also lends itself to featuring prominent artists throughout the Americas – not a bad fit for a city sometimes known as the capital of Latin America. 

Modern art is not generally my cup of tea, but this museum is a great experience however your tastes run.  First of all, the building itself is beautifully put together to marry the interior with its spectacular, sparkling, bay-side setting.  Columns of live greenery hang from the rafters and the views are never hidden, but seem to be celebrated.  Ample outside terraces overlook nearby park areas and the soon-to-be finished Frost Museum of Science.

Parking was easy ($2 an hour), and an elevator was handy for those who can’t take advantage of the wide staircases leading to the entrance.  The on-site Verde Restaurant provides much better than expected, trendy fare and has become a destination on its own.

The highlight for me was the work of the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who has been a star in the art world and a thorn in the side of the Chinese government.  Currently not allowed to leave China, he was also the creative genius behind the iconic Birds Nest Stadium at the Beijing Olympics.  His sculpture and photography reveal interesting insights and social commentary.

Much of contemporary art is created to deliver a message and make a person think about things a little differently and our day at PAMM did not disappoint.

Just the Facts:

Closed Monday; open Tuesday through Sunday 10AM-6PM; Thursday til 9PM.  On the third Thursday of the month, the Verde Restaurant offers a happy hour from 6-9PM. 

At this time, second Saturdays from 1-4PM are free.  Adults are $12, Seniors (62+) and students are $8; children under 6 and active Military (with ID) are always free.

If you don’t want to drive, you can take the downtown Metromover to the Museum Park Station of the Biscayne Blvd. Trolley

For exhibit info and event schedules, visit www.pamm.org and for more about the Verde Restaurant www.pamm.org/dining

It’s pretty chilly inside – so bring a jacket or wrap.

Surroundings as part of art? Just one of the beautiful views from the new Perez Art Museum Miami (looking through some of the hundreds of bicycles re-purposed as sculpture). The facility has 120,000 ‘ interior area and another 80,000’ of terraces and exterior space.