TAPAS. SPANISH DESIGN FOR FOOD Comes to Miami's Design District, 11/9-12/15

The first stop for Spain's new international traveling exhibition is Miami, where Tapas - Spanish Design for Food makes its U.S. premiere Nov. 9-Dec. 15 (including Art Basel Week), at The Moore Building in Miami's Design District.

Honoring the 500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de León's arrival in Florida, the exhibition is curated by designer/architect Juli Capella and is presented by Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), promoting Spanish culture and heritage worldwide.

Co-presenters are The Centro Cultural Español en Miami (CCE Miami), SPAIN arts & culture and the España Florida Foundation. For more information, visit www.accioncultural.es/en/tapas_spanish_design_for_food.

The show encompasses 8,000 square feet with more than 200 exhibits, displays and installations by Spanish chefs, designers, architects, wineries and restaurantsspanning the last 25 years of Spain's avant-garde experimental blending of design and food. Legendary Spanish culinary icons are also featured, including the paella pan, traditional wineskins and flasks, the bota, botijo and porrón.

Showcasing imagination and talent targeting the taste buds, the show features three distinct elements:
1.) The Kitchen (preparation and utensils)
2.) The Table (objects used to sample food)
3.) The Meal (food design).

"Tapas. Design for Food showcases Spanish design and food perfectly, as well as the innovation and the tradition in gastronomy," said Acción Cultural Española's CEO, Elvira Marco.

"Spain has chosen to premiere Tapas in Miami, coinciding with Art Basel Week. This new, international traveling cultural experience aims to share its design for food with the international art and design influencers converging in Miami," adds Ms. Marco.

"This exhibition is a tribute to the origins of the word Tapa," said the show's curator, Juli Capella.

Tapa also means lid in Spanish, and is derived from the ancient custom to cover (tapar) a glass of wine with a slice of bread or chilled meat to keep out dust and insects.

"During the turn of this century, Spain has led a bold, avant-garde experiment: combining high cuisine with high design," adds Capella.

"Culinary creations are matched to their containers, thus going beyond raw ingredients and cooking.

"This Spanish revolution fosters the partnership between chef and designer," said Juli Capella, curator.

The Tapas tradition best exemplifies Spain's true, social nature. When a group of friends gets together at the table to taste portions of widely varying flavors, it's more than just a way to enjoy food - it's also a great way to share an experience. This is Spain's message to today's world: bring people together for real social connections, with Tapas.

Curator Juli Capella further emphasizes the role that design plays in this exhibition, and in Spain's new design-rich culinary influences: "In a world without design, we would be sitting naked on the ground, there would be no tables and no chairs, no cameras or wristwatches."

"Design is synonymous with progress. As our different cultures engage in more permanent contact and we are all influenced by each other, the distinctive features of geographical design by countries or by regions are melting away in our inter-connected world."

"Unlike languages (Spanish vs. English, for example), design is like music: a universal idiom," said Juli Capella.

The Moore Building is located at 4040 N.E. 2nd Avenue in Miami's Design District. Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm; Saturday: 12:00 - 7:00 pm. More info: 305-606-7295.

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