Behold The Annex: The Wolfsonian—Florida International University’s seldom-seen art storage, a portal through time.
Located in a nondescript building in Miami Beach, few people beyond a small group of staff members ever see The Annex in person. But this year, we are the few. We’re going even further behind the scenes of the art world with artists and organizations, providing opportunities to explore collections, conservation, and history.
Join us for a tour with The Wolfsonian’s Chief Curator, Silvia Barisione, and Chief Registrar, Kim Bergen. Together, we’ll hear the stories and unlikely journeys that animate three floors of art, furniture, and artifacts.
“If you ask Micky [Wolfson], he might tell you that he is not a collector but a preservationist. He is not interested in ownership but in saving what might otherwise be lost.”
Inside the Vault: The Annex
Saturday, January 25, 11 AM—12:30 PM
Tour begins at 11:15 AM sharp
Meters and paid parking lots are available nearby, though rideshare is recommended.
Kindly note that no food or beverages are allowed inside the facility. Please come hydrated and energized for the walking tour.
Silvia Barisione, Chief Curator
Silvia Barisione is a writer and curator with expertise in 20th-century design and material culture. During her 20+ years with The Wolfsonian, she has curated many exhibitions, including The Rebirth of Rome; Modern Dutch Design; and Made in Italy: MITA Textile Design 1926–1976, which was mounted in collaboration with The Wolfsoniana, The Wolfsonian’s sister institution in Genoa, Italy, where she served as founding curator. Silvia’s research focuses primarily on 20th-century decorative arts, design, and architecture, and she has written extensively in the field, contributing to, and authoring various exhibition catalogs and other publications. In 2014, she was bestowed the Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy) by the Italian government, which is awarded to outstanding expatriates promoting Italian culture and elevating national prestige abroad.
Kim Bergen, Chief Registrar
Kim Bergen began working for The Wolfsonian Foundation as a registration assistant after graduating from University of New Mexico in 1992. She assisted with object accessioning and preparation for opening to the public in 1995. She left to work for the Art Museum at Florida International University and Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, but returned to the now-Wolfsonian–FIU in 2000 to assume the registrar’s position. In 2016, she was promoted to Chief Registrar. Kim manages all aspects of documentation and collection care for the museum’s permanent object collection, including—but not limited to—loans, traveling exhibitions, acquisitions, cataloging, inventory, long-range planning, and grant-awarded collection projects. She also oversees the assistant registrar, registration interns, and volunteers.