Mad Arts
481 S Federal Hwy, Dania Beach, FL 33004
Free with RSVP, this exclusive artist talk with Edison Peñafiel takes guests on a journey through his multi-layered, multi-platform project, Arcturus and the Arsis and Thesis of Time. This ambitious project — which has been in development since 2021 with the technical support of Mad Arts — delves deep into a multiverse where realities intertwine.
During this enlightening session, Peñafiel will guide us through the genesis of Arcturus, sharing his creative process and the evolution of his ideas. Attendees will gain unique insights into the characters, themes, and the overarching concept of this intricate multiverse.
Explore how mythological personas such as the apprehensive sheep, disciplined ant, swift white bull, and clairvoyant butterfly come to life, each symbolizing deeper connections and mystical dimensions. These characters are not just figments of imagination but representations of profound themes that resonate across time and space.
Get an exclusive look behind the scenes at the technical and artistic techniques that have brought Arcturus to life. From script development to visual design, Peñafiel will reveal the intricate layers of storytelling that shape this project. Discover the challenges and triumphs encountered along the way, and how each element contributes to the overall narrative.
The multi-year development of this project has been made possible with the generous support of the State of Florida Department of Arts and Culture, and an Oolite Arts Ellies Creator Award. Their contributions have been instrumental in bringing this visionary project to fruition. This free event is sponsored by ArtSeen365.
Originally from Ecuador, Peñafiel moved to the United States in 2002. Since graduating from the Florida International University’s Fine Arts program in 2016, he concentrated his practice on numerous large-scale projects, site-specific, and immersive installation projects including Run, Run, Run Like the Wind (2023, Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, Florida), MARE MAGNVM (2021, Sabrina Amrani Gallery, Madrid, Spain and Mad Arts, Dania Beach, FL), and Ni Aquí, Ni Allá as part of the Florida Prize in Contemporary Art exhibition (2019, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, Florida). His work has been featured in numerous group exhibitions, including BIENALSUR: Punto de Fuga (2021, Centro de Arte de la Universidad Nacional de la Plata, La Plata, Argentina), Make America What America Must Become (2020, Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, Louisiana), and Life During Wartime: Art in the Age of Coronavirus (2020, USF Contemporary Art Museum, Tampa, Florida).
Peñafiel received the Florida Prize in Contemporary Art and the Knight Foundation Award (2019), the Ellies Creator Award (2021), two Individual Artist Project Awards from the State of Florida Division of Arts and Culture (2021 and 2023), and the Premio ARCO Comunidad de Madrid (2022) and participated in art residencies including Anderson Ranch (2021, Snowmass, Colorado), Oolite Arts (2022 Miami Beach, Florida), and Mass MoCA (2022, North Adams, Massachusetts). His work is part of various collections including Elsewhere Museum (2018, Greensboro, North Carolina), Oolite Arts (2022, Miami Beach, Florida), and Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo (2022 Madrid, Spain). Peñafiel’s work is represented by Sabrina Amrani Gallery, Madrid, Spain.
