Locust Projects presented its 7th year of LAB (Locust Arts Builders). During the summer of 2016, 23 South Florida high school students selected from an open call had the opportunity to create a collaborative exhibition at Locust Projects in the Miami Design District.
Under the direction of Miami-based contemporary visual artists Monica Lopez de Victoria (of the TM Sisters) and Francesco Lo Castro, students were given the opportunity to create a collaborative exhibition at Locust Projects and manage all aspects of the show’s production during a three-week intensive. Students also visit art institutions on guided field trips and interact with invited members of the local art community at Locust Projects.
The LAB program extends Locust Projects’ longstanding commitment to experimentation and innovation in artistic practice to the next generation of South Florida artists. LAB promotes contemporary art and project-based learning as a means to encourage creativity, critical analysis, and problem solving, while also helping participants to develop their communication skills. This unique initiative allows young artists to learn the practical aspects and experience the excitement of creating a public exhibition in collaboration with their peers.
The 2016 LAB exhibition project culminated with an opening reception where students’ parents, teachers, and friends were invited to celebrate and mingle with Miami’s art community.

This year’s participants were:
Anastasia Anissmova, Design and Architecture Senior High; Glysed Barboza, Miami Arts Charter; Maya Benedetti, Design and Architecture Senior High; Wanda Carreras, New World School of the Arts; Daisy Chen, Design and Architecture Senior High; Gabriel Chez, Design and Architecture Senior High; Jonathan Cohen, Dr. Michael M. Krop High School; David Correa, New World School of the Arts; Christine Cortes, Miami Beach Senior High; Daniela Cruz, TERRA Environmental Research Institute; Natasja Enriguez, Design and Architecture Senior
High; Maximillian Fuster, Ransom Everglades; Antonio Garcia, New World School of the Arts; Gabriel Garlin, G. Holmes Braddock Senior High; Maggie Gault, Miami Beach Senior High; Samantha Hafferty, Miami Beach Senior High; Dejaney Ibarguen, New World School of the Arts; Carolina Larrosa, New World School of the Arts; Francesca Peralta, Design and Architecture Senior High; Daniela Romero, Coral Reef Senior High; Noah Royal, Barbara Goleman Senior High; Catie Schwartzman, Gulliver Preparatory School; Luis Velasco, Doral Academy
Preparatory School.