MIAMI BEACH, FL (APRIL 27, 2007)—Join The Wolfsonian–Florida International University for International Museum Day on Thursday, May 18.

Every year, sixteen museums in Miami Dade County, including The Wolfsonian celebrate International Museum Day at the invitation of the International Council of Museums (ICOM). This year’s theme, “Museums and Universal Heritage,” intends to raise awareness about the role of museums in teaching individual and collective responsibility for global heritage. The Wolfsonian will celebrate this worldwide event by offering unique promotions such as free gallery admission the entire day. The Wolfsonian will also offer free tours of its permanent collection, Art and Design in the Modern Age: Selections from The Wolfsonian Collection at 6pm. This exhibition showcases The Wolfsonian’s collection of modern objects from the 1885 to the 1945 era, demonstrating the active role design plays in motivating actions, expressing ideas, creating desires, and shaping identities.

After the 6pm tour, visitors are also invited to visit The Dynamo Café, where a ten percent discount will be offered on all menu items served that day. The Dynamo menu features small plates, table shares, sandwiches, and sweets.

On this day, visitors may also enjoy The Wolfsonian’s display of works from the Page at a Time children’s program, which features handcrafted books created by fourth- through sixth-grade students from Miami-Dade public schools. The books displayed this year explore a variety of issues ranging from the destruction of the rainforests, to the war in Iraq, to the positive and negative effects of technological advancements, and even the “evils of the Internet.” The books are entirely student-created, from the text to the artwork to the varied formats, and are made out of cardboard, plaster, wire, organic plants, and an assortment of other creative materials. The books will be on display in the lobby of The Wolfsonian through May 20, 2007.

About The Wolfsonian–Florida International University
The Wolfsonian–FIU is a museum and research center that uses objects to illustrate the persuasive power of art and design to explore what it means to be modern, and to tell the story of social, political, and technological changes that have transformed the world. The approximately 120,000 artifacts that comprise The Wolfsonian collection range from fine art, graphic design, and political propaganda to furniture, rare books, and ephemeral materials such as postcards and travel brochures. Since opening to the public just ten years ago, The Wolfsonian has developed and disseminated critically acclaimed exhibitions, publications, and educational programs that highlight the impact of design in shaping the modern world. Its vast patrimony of primary source materials provides unparalleled opportunities for scholarship and appreciation, making it a unique resource for local, national, and international audiences.

The Wolfsonian is located at 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, Fla. Admission is $7 adults; $5 seniors, students, and children six-12; free for Wolfsonian members, State University System of Florida staff and students with ID, children under six, and Miami Beach residents with ID. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday from noon-6pm; Thursday and Friday from noon-9pm; and is closed on Wednesday. Contact us at 305.531.1001 or visit us online at www.wolfsonian.org.

The Wolfsonian receives ongoing support from the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council; Crispin Porter + Bogusky; Continental Airlines, the preferred airline of The Wolfsonian; the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation; and Karla Conceptual Event Experiences.

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