The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU offers stunning colorful beauty for visitors

Looking for something special to do while in Miami? Why not check out The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU in South Beach, where beauty and culture merge for a stunning display, unlike anything you may have seen before.

In a special announcement from the Jewish Museum of Florida, they revealed that they had received a major donation of artwork from Dr. Robert B. Feldman of New York. The art itself was created by Mira Lehr, an eco-feminist artist whose work includes vibrant colors and visually stunning pieces that will capture the imagination at every turn.

This particular donation to the Jewish Museum is actually an aerial sculptural installation featuring over 183 pieces hanging from the ceiling of the museum. The title of the installation is Sacred Dreams and features dramatic pieces that look to be floating above your head as you explore the museum.

Currently a “temporary loan,” this display is set to become a permanent addition to the museum’s collection in September 2021. Considering the epic scale of this work, it is truly something to behold, and knowing that many people will get a chance to appreciate what Lehr has created means something important for both the Jewish Museum and the people who actually experience this installation for themselves.

The Jewish Museum in South Beach has an art display you have to see to believe

When it comes to The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU, it is important to note that it is on the National Register of Historic Places, making it a destination in and of itself. Not only is this a place to experience stunning works of art, such as the Sacred Dreams installation, but it is also where you go to learn more about the more than 250 years of Jewish history in Florida. The Jewish Museum is a place of history, art, and culture, making it a must-visit stop for anyone who loves beauty and education in equal measure on vacation.

I had the chance to ask Mira Lehr what inspired her Sacred Dreams piece for the Jewish Museum and based on the artist’s answer, it is clear that this was a very personal and special creation. According to Lehr,

"I was asked to create a ceiling installation for the Jewish Museum of Florida. I have always loved being in places of worship since I feel a special presence there. I was thrilled to have this opportunity.When I visited the museum to access a feeling for the kind of installation I would create, I had an immediate vision of aerial pieces descending from the ceiling above the main sanctuary — filled with light that would cast reflections throughout the space. Luminous sculptures that would interact with the light cast by the stained-glass windows — an aerial garden that would transport the viewer into another realm.From that point on, the work progressed smoothly as if a hand was guiding me, and I was totally caught up in this creation. I felt the presence of Jewish history and the souls of children who had perished in the Holocaust. I felt the spirit of the congregants who had worshiped there and were discouraged from moving above 5th street in Miami Beach at that time back in the 1930s, because they were Jews. I felt the effects of prejudice and exclusion and I felt the struggles of human beings to survive.The name Sacred Dreams as the title of the ceiling sculptures came spontaneously.The effects were everything I wished for — Light, reflecting on floors and walls in colors like the stained-glass windows original to the building. Wishes, prayers and hopes of so many mingling with the Sacred Dreams installation. I was thrilled that this work has now become a permanent installation at this museum, thanks to the donation of Dr. Robert Feldman, and that I could contribute this meaningful work of art to a historic early synagogue that is now one of our nation’s architectural treasures on the National Register of Historic Buildings."

For anyone who wants to see something new and beautiful in the Miami area of Florida, I highly recommend taking the time to visit the Jewish Museum. Not only will you get a chance to experience something almost magical, but you will get to learn about the history of the Jewish people in the area as well.

These sculptures are stunning in pictures alone, but you can’t truly appreciate the beauty until you stand there and look out at the work that Lehr created for the museum.

When looking for things to do when traveling, I always recommend checking out museums in the area, especially the smaller ones that you may never have thought of visiting before. And if you are lucky enough to be in the Miami area, this is one museum you have to check out, if only just to experience Sacred Dreams for yourself.

Are you a museum lover? Do you have a favorite museum that you recommend to others? Tell us all about it in the comments.