Renowned ‘Museum of the Moon’ art installation to shine amid lunar-themed events in Gables

Miami has always been famous for its views of the Moon. There are even songs about it. Soon, the full Moon, depicted in all its gorgeous glory, will rise in Coral Gables at a new art installation.

The experience, “Moon Over The Gables,” will bring the internationally renowned “Museum of the Moon” to Ponce Circle Park on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, March 9-25, and the presence of our closest celestial neighbor will loom over artistic, scientific, and cultural events.

The installation is presented by the Coral Gables Community Foundation and the City of Coral Gables, the same team that brought “Umbrella Sky” to Giralda Plaza.

This time, U.K. artist Luke Jerram’s traveling “Museum of The Moon” is the centerpiece of the exhibit. It has been featured all over the globe.

Measuring 23 feet (seven meters) in diameter, Jerram’s Moon features 120 dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface.

At a scale of about 1:500,000, each inch of the sculpture represents eight miles of the Moon’s surface. Over its artistic lifetime, as “Museum of the Moon” has traveled from place to place, it has gathered new musical compositions and a collection of personal responses, stories and mythologies.

“We are ecstatic to bring this world-class art installation to a world-class city, Coral Gables,” said Foundation President and CEO Mary Snow. “We are so grateful to our donors and to the city for their support in bringing this gift to the community.”

Events include live music by “Los Wizards” on opening night, an E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial screening presented by Coral Gables Art Cinema, dancing in the moonlight, yoga, a Goodnight Moon Pajama Party, Howl at the Moon night for dogs and their humans, Picnic Under the Moon, and a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration.

More at www.GablesFoundation.org Event times vary by date. The Moon will be up nine days total March 9-11, March 16-17-18, and March 23-24-25. Ponce Circle Park is at 2801 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

Student show focuses on social injustices

Now in its 18th year, Holocaust Impact Theater brings together Miami-Dade County School students to write, perform, produce and direct original works that focus on relevant social injustices and intolerance using the horrors of The Holocaust as the foundation.

“The students, who audition to be a members of the writing team, and the cast and crew, unite their energies and varied ethnic backgrounds, religions, sexual orientation, disabilities and abilities, teaching each other their points of views of social issues, and ultimately producing a script that presents these thoughts to their audiences,” said Ruth Whitman Gordon, executive producer of HIT.

After a Covid hiatus, she and her husband, Russ Gordon, decided to restart the program knowing the importance of a creative way to combat intolerance and hate. Every year, the Gordons work with the students to encourage them to ponder, question, research, and finally produce an original show that addresses topics that the students choose.

The latest show “Choices” will be 7 p.m., March 2-4 at the Robert Russell Theater at Alper JCC, 11155 SW 112 Ave. Tickets are $10 at http://alperjcc.org/hit

Girls excel in track and field

Miami’s youth is on the move. The North Dade Middle Schools’ Girls placed second in the team finish at the recent Larry Wooten Middle Schools Track and Field Invitational at Traz Powell Stadium.

This finish was the best ever NDMS performance in a countywide girls’ track and field meet in the schools’ history.

A special congrats goes to the NDMS super fast sprinters Zerriyah Taylor, Rell’Niyah Jones, Geonna Daniel, and Javariah Mills who all placed among the Top 6 sprinters in both 100-meter and 200-meter events.

In addition, the NDMS quartet swept the field by over three seconds in the 4 x 100-meter relays. A special mention goes out to Ashley Chevrin for placing second in the girls’ discus event.

Congrats to young swimmers

Sharks are fast, and the boys’ and girls’ swim teams of Miami Beach proved that when they each won their fourth straight county titles Dec, 10 at MDC North Campus Aquatic & Fitness Center. They defeated eight other schools in the process.

This marks the sixth title in the last eight years for the boy Sharks. They were runners up the two years they didn’t win. The girl Sharks have won five county titles in the last eight years and finished runner up two times.

The teams won the 200 Medley and 200 Freestyle relays. The girls’ team includes Angela Chong, Olivia Sodhi, Magladena Matovic, Stella Waldrop and Lyla Rearte. The boys’ relay team includes Oliver Lieberman, Luigi Villani, Sebastian Ramirez and Ryan Zaney.

The boys and girls also combined to win eight of the 14 individual events with Olivia Sodhi (200 Free), Alessio Santopietro (200 Free), Luigi Villani (50 Free), Maglandea Matovic (50 Fly and 100 Free), Oliver Lieberman (50 Fly and 100 Free), and Angela Chong (100 Back) all winning races. Coach Eric Marshall said he couldn’t be prouder of his team.

“Every year the older swimmers create a sense of pride and commitment for the younger swimmers to follow,” Marshall said.

Villagers host Garden Tour

The Villagers will host “Pinecrest Paradiso,” a tour of Pinecrest’s most heavenly gardens 10 a.m.- 3 p.m., March 4. Garden lovers will see lush landscaping, water features, unique plantings, and sculptures. Volunteers will be at each garden with insider details about the flora and fauna, and what makes each garden special. Tickets are $50 at https://thevillagersinc.org/gardentour/.

Pinecrest Gardens will be one of two starting points and the site of The Villagers’ Boutique with gifts, plants, “Jewel Box Gems,” angels, and breads for sale. Guests also can tour Pinecrest Gardens and the newly-renovated Upper Garden.

Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.