How to Win Friends & Influence People
The title of the artwork was appropriated from Napoleon Hill's seminal business book “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. Invited to participate in an exhibition titled “This is Not America”, the artist recreated the model home from Levittown and set it ablaze on the Feast-day of Saint Barbara, December 4th, 2018. The new elements that distinguished this project from the “American Falla” in 2013 are listed below:
PIANO PERFORMANCE: Mateo Oliva-Bosch celebrated his 13th birthday on December 4th, 2018, and performed a solo piano recital for an audience of approximately 400 people before the house was set on fire. Mateo grew up in Cuba, the son of Otari Oliva and Laura Bosch, who owned and operated the art gallery known as 'Cristo Salvador' from their home in Havana. The gallery, critical of the Cuban government and the Castro dictatorship, was eventually closed, prompting Mateo and his parents to relocate to Miami due to concerns over civil liberties and their safety.
“This is Not America” was curated by Zoe Lukov
Piano Performance by Mateo Oliva-Bosch
Pyro-Master: Jeff Rolfe, PYRO “n” FX
Photography & Video: Barron Sherer, Humberto Guiterrez, William Keddell, Oriol Tarridas, Carlos Espiga, Kris Tamburello
Thank You: Marianna Pariani, Matt Buser, Miami Beach Police Department, Miami Beach Fire Department, Laura Bosch, Otari Oliva, Cristo Salvador Gallery, Havana, Cuba.
The above and below pictures are of the construction of the “Cristo Salvador” sign that would go into the house for “How to Win Friends & Influence People” the night it was burnt, December 4th, 2018.
