In conjunction with NADA Miami, Baker—Hall will present SOS, a garden installation by Miami- based artist Justin H. Long. The large-scale work features a Laser sailboat positioned at seemingly impossible and precarious angle, with a palm tree sprouting in place of the mast. The lonely solitaire palm planted in the hull suggests the classic deserted island shipwreck, alone but making do, and using what is available to try to get help.
SOS is a maritime distress code, originating as a Morse code signal: 3 dots, 3 dashes, 3 dots. SOS is not an acronym, but provides a means to remember the code’s simple audio resonance. Through generations, people have sought meaning in the code to interpret it more as language, and backronyms have been created such as “Save our Ship” and “Save our Souls”.
We all have emergencies, some worse than others, and many would benefit from assistance. The SOS sculpture is a beacon asking for help. It invites us to check our ego, swallow our pride, and throw up our arms seeking aid. Be it that you can’t pay rent, got a flat tire, drank too much and had T Bell 4th meal, tariffs on your country, being deported to Sudan, gone bankrupt, the fart wasn’t just a fart, lost finger, stubbed toe or pulled a hammy. — Justin H. Long
A program of daily activations at the in the NADA garden are planned including artist talks, tours, and communal beer-drinking. Visit the Baker—Hall booth at NADA to access a limited edition companion SOS artwork, and for a checklist of available works by the artist.
Justin Hayes Long (b. 1980, Miami FL) addresses cultural phenomena related to his subtropical roots, often using irreverent humor and pop-cultural signifiers to propose constructs of freedom and privilege, and abuses of power as it relates to the physical environment and capitalism. He is known for work that combines nautical history with the seafarer’s craft through sculpture, painting, writing, video, performative interventions, and structured installations. JHL holds a MFA from CalArts, Valencia CA, teaches sculpture at the University of Miami and is Production Manager for Fringe Projects Miami. Selected group exhibitions include those at Contemporary Arts Center (New Orleans, LA), The Fabric Workshop and Museum (Philadelphia, PA) the De la Cruz Collection (Miami, FL). Selected solo exhibitions include those at The Bass Museum of Art (Miami Beach, FL), Emerson Dorsch Gallery (Miami, FL), and Art & Culture Center/Hollywood (Hollywood, FL). His work is part of private collections including the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, and he is a recipient of artist support grants including the Wavemaker – Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the Ellies from Oolite Arts. He lives and works in Miami, FL.
Baker—Hall is a contemporary art gallery founded by Amanda Baker—Hall in 2024. It is the successor to her previous project, Club Gallery. The gallery aims to promote emerging and mid-career artists through a fresh curatorial approach, while also offering comprehensive art advisory services. Baker—Hall specializes in painting and sculpture across narrative and non-objective styles, with a focus on collaborating with private collectors and prominent corporate institutions. The gallery boasts a robust exhibition schedule, featuring a minimum of eight rotating exhibitions each year.
Baker—Hall is a proud member of NADA.
1294 NW 29th St.
Miami, FL 33142
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