January 28, 2020 By: Alicia Rinaldi 6 Minute read You've seen his signature droopy eye art all over Miami's walls & peeping out the windows at Frame Art, Inc in Brickell. And I wouldn't be surprised if they started popping up in more places in Brickell, now that well-known Miami artist Ahol Sniffs Glue has moved into town. It's not every day that I get to interview an established artist, but chatting with Ahol (aka David Anasagasti) wasn't the least bit intimidating. I felt like I was just hanging out with a friend. I was mesmerized as he methodically stroked his orange markers across the canvas, creating a droopy-eyed master piece right in front of my eyes. He barely missed a beat while he told me about his life & inspiration behind his art. Who is Ahol Sniffs Glue?Ahol is a proud Cuban-American Hialeah native, but moved all around Miami and got to experience the diversity of its different neighborhoods before recently choosing to settle in Brickell. Growing up, he was always inspired by the street art he saw around town and the characters and worlds he experienced while playing video games. Though he was never one of those pesky kids with a spray bottle trespassing on railroad tracks, he was intrigued by the idea of graffiti -- "seeing how creativity can be shoved out there for people to digest it," he described. It wasn't until a friend handed him a spray bottle that he got into creating it himself, and the rest is history. So how'd he come up with that name? "Ahol stands for 'asshole,"' he told me reluctantly. Sniffs Glue is a tribute to The Ramones. "I probably should've thought that through better, but I didn't know it was gonna blow up to the size it is now. If I knew that then, I would've chosen a different name." #noragrets The Story Behind Ahol's ArtOne day while riding his moped, Ahol got run over by a car. As a result of the accident, his moped was destroyed, forcing him to ride the Miami city bus up and down Biscayne. But he wanted to look at the bright side of riding the bus; he liked that it took him right where he needed to be and that it allowed him to see his home city of Miami from a different point of view. As he met more and more ~interesting~ Miami Dade public transportation users, he made this resolution: "I'm gonna pick somebody out on the bus every day on the way to work, I'mma vibe out, and I'mma make it a mission to crank out one drawing [of them], and at the end of the day I'll at least have something that would make my day worth the while." Before he knew it, Ahol had a world full of characters--Biscayne World. So then where did the eye come from? All of his characters have this aesthetic: "They're never 3D, always 2D; never asleep but never fully awake; on idle, zonked." Ahol said. The eye was just a piece of this arsenal of style he built up, but its signature lines and consistency between different characters were what made it so popular. "That popped off the most," he told me, "so I just kept drawing it." Where can you find his work? His art is spread around so many different galleries between here and NY that he lost track, but his main HQ is officially here in Brickell at Frame Art, Inc. Of if this is more your fancy, you can take Instagram pics in front of the building he covered on Biscayne and 29th. Just don't make the same mistake American Eagle made. Collaboration with Frame Art, Inc.Ahol decided to collaborate with Frame Art in Brickell because of their long history in the industry and unwavering support for artists. When he saw that they installed droopy-eyed neon lights in the windows, he knew the partnership was a good choice. If you've never been to Frame Art, I highly recommend you step inside to appreciate one of Brickell's longest standing businesses. There is art from head to toe, hanging from the walls and ceilings, piled on tables, literally EVERYWHERE! How do I get a piece by Ahol?
Art is not cheap, but a unique piece by Ahol would be a perfect addition to your contemporary Brickell apartment or condo 😉But Ahol says it's not all about the money, so sometimes he'll create smaller pieces or articles of clothing for special occasions. Hey, maybe we might even give one away on The Brickell Scoop (spoiler alert🤫)! Stop by Frame Art next to Blackbird on 96 SW 7th St, or hit him up on Instagram @aholsniffsglue for more information Is there anything else you want to tell Brickell? "I'm here to stay and represent and rock from here. Come see me! We ain’t goin nowhere!!" - Ahol Sniffs Glue
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1/2/20 10 minute read 1. RiversideWatch out Wharf, Riverside is the new kid on the block! Located right on the Miami River between S. Miami Avenue and SE 1st Avenue, “Riverside” will deliver the best of Miami in a beautifully landscaped waterfront setting unlike anything serving the Downtown Brickell area. With seven restaurants, a tap room, large screen TV’s, art situated throughout the grounds and family friendly special events, there is something for everyone. All with magnificent water views. 2. 8Street LoungeWith luxurious textures imported from Italy and floor to ceiling windows facing Brickell City Centre, 8Street is that upscale neighborhood lounge you’ve been craving--you guessed it, on 8th Street under Solitair. This venue will feature comfortable booth and outdoor patio seating and is available to be rented for private parties. Open from 5pm to 5am every night, they will have a full bar and a “bar bites” snack menu. See the designs here! Shoutout to Mark for giving us a grand tour! We can't wait until your opening date 😎 3. SproutzSproutz was created to address the growing demand by South Floridians quest for authentic, clean food. Sproutz has something for EVERYONE. They are a fast casual healthy restaurant, priding themselves selves on a superior customer experience. Whether you are gluten intolerant, vegan, diabetic, pescatarian - or just looking for a filling, tasty meal - Sproutz menu has been crafted thoughtfully to give colorful choices to even the most selective of patrons. Sproutz restaurant has been open in Sunny Isles since 2017 & will open in Brickell in early 2020. They will have acai bowls, poke bowls, salads, juices, smoothies, wraps, pitas, burgers, paninis, protein plates, and more! Moxie'sMoxie’s is an upscale casual restaurant sharing their passion for fresh ingredients, food & drink in a fun, stylish, social environment. Enjoy handcrafted cocktails and globally-inspired dishes, meet energetic service and a modern restaurant design. Moxie’s occupies the space where Rosa Mexicana used to be, and is expected to open this month! 5. ChipotleFINALLY! Rumor has it that Brickell is getting its very own Chipotle! No more driving all the way to Coral Gables and fighting off hangry U Miami students for a burrito! Chipotle is opening its doors in the bottom of the SLS Lux sometime in early 2020! 6. Sexy FishFrom The Next Miami: “The rumors are true: Sexy Fish is opening at the newly completed Brickell Flatiron tower. The Sexy Fish restaurant will span two floors with 35 foot ceiling heights, with 14,432 square feet of space, according to a construction permit filing. Sexy Fish is known for appealing to London’s ultra-wealthy, according to reviews by The Guardian and The Spectator. Decorations there include fish lamps and a crocodile by Frank Gehry, along with mermaids by Damien Hirst. There are also lavish ceiling murals and Persian onyx marble, with the total cost to build and design the restaurant said to be over $26 million.” 7. Balans ReopeningThe highly anticipated reopening of Balans in Mary Brickell Village is coming in early 2020! According to Food & Beverage Magazine: “Balans Brickell has always been a popular outdoor dining spot for locals and visitors but for the redesign of the new space, the owner’s goal was to bring more people inside by creating a warmer, refined atmosphere. Previously, the restaurant was more closed-off with dark interiors. The new space will be more airy and bright with more windows, a new skylight and an open kitchen concept. ‘The new Balans Brickell will be more inviting with a “London meets Miami” interior design concept that includes modern brass and wood elements combined with mid-century lighting and just the right amount of tropical finishes,’ said Chris Parra, project manager, Saladino Design Studios.” 8. Ojo de AguaOjo de Agua, famous in Mexico city for its health-forward concept is opening its first US location in the SLS Lux by the valet. This spot prides itself on quality and freshness of ingredients and will feature an assortment of juices, smoothies, sandwiches and locally sourced fresh fruit. 9. KOA PokeWhen the Brickell Poke 305 and Blue Tree Smoothies closed their doors in 2019, poke & acai lovers in the northern part of Brickell had no place within a stone’s throw to get their favorite foods! ! KOA poke, opening at the base of Brickell Heights, is bringing everyone’s two favorite bowls under one roof. Their location on Collins Ave will be first to open in January, with their Brickell location coming this spring! 10. Rosetta the Italian BakeryIt seems like the “coming soon” signs have been up forever! Will this popular South Beach spot make it to Brickell in 2020? Keep checking - under Brickell Heights by Burger King. 11. Singha Craft BeerThis new spot across from Tacology in Brickell City Centre will serve up Asian Craft BBQ favorites and Thai craft beer. We can't wait to learn more about this spot and try it out! 12. MarabuNamed after a popular Cuban export for making artisanal charcoal, this new concept will be located in Brickell City Centre and serving coal-fired Cuban dishes. Opening in late January. 13. Sur la TableThere’s nothing like a home cooked meal every once in a while, especially if it actually tastes good! That’s why Sur la Table will offer cooking classes for a variety of ages and abilities and premium products for all your kitchen’s needs. Opening in Brickell City Centre soon. 14. BellillioGreat Italian spots have been flocking to Brickell in the last couple of years, so we’re excited to try this Neapolitan restaurant at the base floor of the SLS Lux. They’ll be serving “antipasto” or Italian for appetizers, and creative Neapolitan pizzas. Bellillio is named after a Neapolitan word meaning “pretty” and comes from a region that boasts some of the world’s finest olive oils and canned tomatoes. 15. Kaori SushiYou may have thought Kaori closed its doors for good when they left their sleek, clubby spot on S Miami Ave, but they had a bigger vision--2,500 square feet bigger, to be exact. A private entrance on the ground level of SLS Lux will take guests to a private elevator to the mezzanine-level restaurant. |