MIAMI BEACH, FL (September 14, 2009)―The Wolfsonian–FIorida International University will celebrate its sixth annual A Very Wolfsonian Weekend fundraiser from November 13 to 15 with “An affair on, in, and with the motor car.” Coinciding with the museum’s exhibition, Styled for the Road: The Art of Automobile Design, 1908-1948, the weekend festivities also honor museum founder Micky Wolfson on his 70th birthday. Four events comprise the weekend’s activities: a lavish cocktail party among extraordinary motor cars; a talk on car design by Chris Bangle, former chief designer of the BMW Group, and one of the most important auto designers today; a special dinner in honor of Micky Wolfson’s 70th birthday; and visits to two amazing hidden South Florida auto collections.

The funds raised during A Very Wolfsonian Weekend support the Wolfsonian’s exhibitions, education programs, publications, web-based projects, acquisitions, and other initiatives.

Below is a schedule and description of the weekend’s events:

Friday, November 13, 2009, 7-11pm
COCKTAILS AMONG THE MOTOR CARS
Sponsored and hosted by Jason and Kim Wenig, owners of The Creative Workshop Dania Beach, FL
Spirits compliments of Grey Goose

The festivities kick off with an exclusive reception at the nationally acclaimed, classic car restoration and customization firm, The Creative Workshop—offering a behind-the-scenes look into the world of forensic automobile restoration, fabrication, design, and customization. The Creative Workshop will display rare and exotic cars in all phases of reconstruction ranging from the one of a kind Ghia-bodied Abarth, the

Pebble Beach Award winning Stanguellini Bialbero, and the workshop’s most famous car, the Sport Speciale, shipped in especially for the event. Besides the cars, the workshop itself is a place of wonder. Dating back to 1936—the building’s original Dade County hardwood floors and exposed beams intermix with machinery and tools of the trade. The building houses a library, lounge, and ephemera displays creating the perfect atmosphere for a party. Although the workshop is all business, the evening will be all party—Jazz, Grey Goose Martinis and a steady flow of gourmet appetizers, all intertwined to create an unforgettable evening.

Saturday, November 14, 2009, 7-8pm
Talk by renowned car designer Chris Bangle
ART AND CARS: CARS AS ART
Co-sponsored and co-presented by Braman Motors
2060 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
Additional support provided by Continental Airlines and The Raleigh Hotel

The Wolfsonian–FIU and Braman Motors present a talk by Chris Bangle—noted car designer whose work has provoked endless discussion. Bangle is best known for his tenure as chief of design for the BMW Group, where he was responsible for bringing the designs of the BMW, Mini Cooper, and Rolls Royce into the twenty-first century. A graduate of the Art Center College of Design, Bangle began his career at Opel, and then moved on to Fiat, where he designed the brazen Coupe Fiat. In 1992, he was named the first American chief of design at BMW. No other designer has had such a far reaching impact in the automotive industry. His mandate to “strategize emotion” through design has energized the typically conservative brand, updating BMW’s classic design with bold, sculptural lines, a far cry from homogenous car design. After 28 years of pushing car design to its limits for some of the most important auto brands, Bangle is now pursuing his own design-related endeavors, focusing on new ideas and cutting-edge innovation.

Bangle will share his thoughts on car design in one of Miami’s most prestigious automobile showrooms, with examples of his former work at BMW on display.

Saturday, November 14, 2009, 8-11pm
BIRTHDAY DINNER CELEBRATING WOLFSONIAN FOUNDER MICKY WOLFSON’S 70TH BIRTHDAY; WITH SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOR, CHRIS BANGLE
8-9pm: Cocktails on the Bacardi Building Plaza, sponsored by Bacardi, USA
9-11pm: Dinner in the Braman Motors Showroom
Co-sponsored by Braman Motors

Join us as we celebrate Wolfsonian founder Micky Wolfson’s 70th birthday. Born in 1939—a pivotal year in history and one that falls within the Wolfsonian’s collecting interests—Wolfson has been one of the most influential forces in promoting the study and appreciation of the persuasive power of art and design. Tonight, joined by museum and university supporters, design enthusiasts, family, friends, admirers, and special guest Chris Bangle, we will celebrate the man who has inspired many to support the ongoing growth and development of The Wolfsonian–Florida International University.

Sunday, November 15, 2009, Noon–4pm
CAR MANIA
The Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum (1527 SW First Avenue, Fort Lauderdale) and The Dauer Museum of Classic Cars, West Broward

Join us as we visit two extraordinary automobile collections, amassed by distinct individuals Arthur Stone and Edward Dauer. Stone, and his wife Shirley, founded the Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum, home to 32 fully working Packard automobiles and thousands of ephemeral works. The Dauer Museum of Classic Cars in Sunrise is home to over 60 exquisite American automobiles that span the 20th century. Kept in a pristine environment, this private collection is rarely open to the public.

Come to one or both collections and stay as long as you like, between noon and 4pm.

TICKETS
Tickets for Friday evening’s Cocktails Among the Motor Cars are $150 per person and include a pass to Sunday’s Car Mania.
Tickets for Saturday’s Bangle talk, cocktails, and dinner are $550 per person and include a pass to Sunday’s Car Mania. Weekend tickets are $700 per person and include all events.
Museum members receive complimentary access to Sunday’s Car Mania. For further information on events or tickets, please contact Ian Rand at 305.535.2631 or ian@thewolf.fiu.edu.

About The Wolfsonian–Florida International University
The Wolfsonian–FIU is a museum and research center that uses objects to illustrate the persuasive power of art and design to explore what it means to be modern, and to tell the story of social, political, and technological changes that have transformed the world. The approximately 120,000 artifacts that comprise The Wolfsonian collection range from fine art, graphic design, and political propaganda to furniture, rare books, and ephemeral materials such as postcards and travel brochures. Since opening to the public just ten years ago, The Wolfsonian has developed and disseminated critically acclaimed exhibitions, publications, and educational programs that highlight the impact of design in shaping the modern world. Its vast patrimony of primary source materials provides unparalleled opportunities for scholarship and appreciation, making it a unique resource for local, national, and international audiences.

The Wolfsonian is located at 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL. Admission is $7 for adults; $5 for seniors, students, and children age 6 -12; and free for Wolfsonian members, State University System of Florida staff and students with ID, and children under six. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday from noon-6pm; Thursday and Friday from noon-9pm; and is closed on Wednesday. Contact us at 305.531.1001 or visit us online at www.wolfsonian.org for further information.

The Wolfsonian–FIU receives ongoing support from the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council; the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council; the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation; William J. and Tina Rosenberg Foundation; Continental Airlines, the Official Airline of The Wolfsonian–FIU; The Miami Herald; Miami.com; Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.; and Pistils & Petals.

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