A Hit of Happy at Sarasota Art Museum

Here's a news flash:  These are not the happiest of times. COVID-19, the political scene, social unrest, and the stress of our daily lives combine to create an anxiety-filled existence for many of us. So when you stumble upon something that makes you smile, you've gotta embrace the moment. 

And so it was during a recent visit to Sarasota Art Museum when my friend Judy Levine said, "Have you seen the mural in the second room of the bistro?" No, I hadn't. In fact, I didn't know the bistro had a second room. So off we went for a bit of exploration. 

The entire back wall of the room is vinyl-wrapped with a work entitled "Coming Together" by Jose Alvarez (D.O.P.A).  I felt like I had fallen down the rabbit hole into a gigantic garden filled with whimsical flowers. I had found my happy space.  

Jose Alvarez (D.O.P.A)'s life wasn't always as upbeat as his art. Deyvi Orangel Pena Arteaga (D.O.P.A.) was born in Venezuela, a country that -- in the 1980s at least -- was not supportive of gay rights. "It was a very violent environment for gay people," Alvarez said. "I had guns pointed to my head by the military police." His solution was to obtain a visa and travel to the United States. 

Visas expire, though, and then D.O.P.A. had a problem. He didn't want to go back to Venezuela and live in danger for his life. He obtained false papers under the name Jose Alvarez. It was intended to be a temporary fix, but time has a habit of getting away from you. 

D.O.P.A. became involved with James Randi, an illusionist of great fame. Randi was on the circuit for more than 40 years and has been compared to Houdini. D.O.P.A. participated in Randi's show by "channeling" the 2,000 year old Carlos. (Your guess is as good as mine.) The documentary "An Honest Liar" features highlights of Randi's career (including lopping off the head of Alice Cooper) and clips of interviews with icons like Barbara Walters and Johnny Carson, whose show he appeared on 32 times. The documentary also spends some time on Randi and D.O.P.A.'s relationship. (Click here to watch a trailer of the movie.) But I digress. 

D.O.P.A. and Randi had been together for 20 years when there was a knock on the door. D.O.P.A.'s deception had caught up with him. He was charged with identity theft and held at Krome Detention Center in Miami for two months. He began to draw portraits of the other detainees to tell their stories and find hope in what felt like a hopeless situation. 

Hamsa, Morocco, 25

D.O.P.A.'s case was eventually worked out, and he was permitted to stay in the United States.  He now goes by the name James Alvarez (D.O.P.A.) in recognition of both identities. The 30 portraits of detainees he created during his time at Krome were the subject of an exhibit at the Boca Raton Museum of Art in 2016.  

In an article by Monica Uszerowicz about the artist and the exhibit, she states, "It's fair to say that Alvarez humanizes border-crossers in 'Krome,' but that might imply they need humanizing in the first place." Good point. 

Alvarez himself talked about the way his portraits capture the detainees as people. He said, "For me -- and I think for them as well -- art became this kind of ultimate act of survival.  It was art not only as hope, but as a humanizer and as a savior. It became all of these things for all of us at different moments. It was a way for us to declare our own humanity, that we were not just human cargo."

To read the article in its entirety and to see more of the portraits, click here. 

While we don't have an opportunity to see the 'Krome' portraits in person, "Coming Together" is on display at the Sarasota Art Museum indefinitely. In fact, you don't even to have to pay admission to the Museum to enjoy the mural, although I do recommend a visit. But if you only have time for a bite to eat, the bistro is more than a mere museum pit stop. (The corn cookies are amazing.) And there's plenty of outdoor space where you can dine in a socially distant manner.  The entire experience is sure to bring a smile to your face.  

Be safe and stay well.