Ma Exhibition Opening Soon
The Carlos and Olga Saladrigas Gallery at Belen Jesuit proudly presents Ma 間 - an exhibition of new paintings by Harumi Abe from January 24 to March 22, 2025. Abe fuses landscapes inspired by her native Japan with the tropical foliage of South Florida to create cosmic, liminal spaces that redefine home.
The exhibition will be celebrated with an opening reception in the Saladrigas Gallery on Friday, January 24th, from 7:30 to 9:40 p.m. Click here to RSVP to attend the opening reception.
In her preparations for the exhibition at the Saladrigas Gallery, the Japanese word Ma struck a chord with Abe and led to the creation of a diptych included in the exhibition. Ma 間 is a Japanese concept that signifies an interval or a pause in time. Through the lens of Abe’s brush, viewers are inspired to reflect and contemplate the hidden depths of nature. Through some of the works’ titles, we are overtly reminded of Abe’s confluence of cultures as shown through paintings such as Tomakomai and Oleta River, simultaneously referencing the largest city in the Iburi Subprefecture of Japan and a Florida urban state park. Others, such as Kampong or Meiji Echo allude to specific cultural references, although still conveyed through Abe’s glowing color palette and vision.
The public may visit the exhibition by appointment on weekdays by contacting Mr. Roberto Gonzalez at rogonzalez@belenjesuit.org.
“Ma allows for deep engagement, activating both the artwork and the viewer’s perception, said Abe. “This concept took on new meaning for me in response to the many crises we face—war, environmental degradation, and political unrest—issues that often leave me feeling powerless as an individual. Drawing inspiration from the negative space in Japanese painting, such as Tohaku Hasegawa’s Pine Trees, combined with a South Florida sensibility, I seek to create a sanctuary for reflection. In a world that rushes forward, my work urges us to pause, breathe, and recognize the fragile beauty that surrounds us.”
About the Artist
With a career spanning solo exhibitions and residencies across the country, from Vermont to Washington, D.C. and even internationally, as attested to by the Dickinson House Residency in Belgium, Abe now brings her renowned work to the Saladrigas Gallery at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School. As the audience experiences the carefully curated exhibition, may Abe’s paintings be reminders of the universality of nature and the call to protect our common home.
Exhibition proposals for the Carlos and Olga Saladrigas Gallery should be emailed to exhibitions@belenjesuit.org and contain the following material in PDF:
- Artist(s) Curriculum Vitae
- Artist(s) Statement
- Artist(s) website, including work samples
- Proposal Summary, including concept or theme, checklist (including titles, media, dimensions), exhibition layout, prospective timeline, prospective lenders and stakeholders, and a rationale explaining how the proposal aligns with the mission and audience of the Ignatian Center for Arts
- Proposals are reviewed periodically by the Ignatian Center for the Arts Programming Committee.
- Incomplete proposals will not be considered.
Upcoming Events
List of 4 events.
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Ma Opening Reception
ICA - Saladrigas Gallery - Gallery -
Spring Show
Roca Theater -
Spring Show
Roca Theater -
Spring Show
Roca Theater
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.