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SANDRA LEE PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART STUDIO CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING IN MARATHON

SANDRA LEE PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART STUDIO CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING IN MARATHON

Marathon once again has a center for creative expression with the official grand opening of Sandra Lee Photography and Art Studio, held in partnership with the Marathon Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 30. In addition to offering limited edition prints and original paintings, the studio is in the process of adding dozens of individual and group art classes, ranging from art education and painting with various media to jewelry making, knitting, mosaic creation, embroidery and more.

“It’s time to bring art classes back to Marathon,” said Lee, a frequent Weekly photography collaborator. “Learning art can be healing, encouraging and uplifting. All ages need an air-conditioned place to express themselves through art. I’ve been doing private art classes in a smaller studio for over a year, and now I’m so excited to be able to expand and offer public classes to the community in this wonderful new space.”

The studio is located in the Town Square Mall plaza, 11400 Overseas Hwy., Suite 216-217. More information is at facebook.com/sandraleephotographystudio. 

Photo by ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

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Alex Rickert made the perfectly natural career progression from dolphin trainer to newspaper editor in 2021 after freelancing for Keys Weekly while working full time at Dolphin Research Center. A resident of Marathon since 2015, he fell in love with the Florida Keys community by helping multiple organizations and friends rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Irma. An avid runner, actor, and spearfisherman, he spends as much of his time outside of work on or under the sea having civil disagreements with sharks.

The Best Of Artistic Photography: 25 Winners Of Creative Photo Awards

The Best Of Artistic Photography: 25 Winners Of Creative Photo Awards

The winning photos of the 2023 Siena Creative Photo Awards celebrating artistic photography have been released by the renowned Siena Awards festival of visual arts. and they are a remarkable recognition to visionary artists using photographic processes and images.

Under the title “I Wonder If You Can,” this year’s contest challenged photo artists to communicate with the world and share their vision and skills via original works that push the photographic medium and experiment with different techniques or creative approaches.

“In this competition, everyone is free to use any technique. Only the final effect counts,” the organizers explain. “We break all the rules, and we want you to break them with us by creating new trends in art.”

‘Aesthetics from Africa’ (below) by Chinese photographer Frank Zhang, honoring global aesthetic diversity and beauty, won the 2023 overall prize.

The competition attracted photographers from 133 countries, and all the winning images across nine categories will be showcased at the exhibition ‘I Wonder If You Can’ that will take place at Siena’s Palazzo Pubblico in the heart of Piazza del Campo, Italy.

Overall Winner

The world of beauty has witnessed the celebration of diverse aesthetics. For a long time, the fashion industry’s perception of beauty was seen through a Eurocentric lens. However, in recent times African American model and influencer Sonia Barbie Tucker, originally from Ghana, has been showcasing the rich and vibrant aesthetics of Africa.

Category Winners

The photo was taken in 2022 using the “Haruhisa camera,” which was designed and built by the Japanese photographer Haruhisa Terasaki. “It is a great honor for me to have the opportunity to use this camera,” Iwona Czubek said. Terasaki is known for his unique method of photographing, which he refers to as new pictorialism. This image is projected onto a dry plate and captured with a digital camera.

“I aimed to capture the elegant movement of a horse in a free rein jump, experiencing the sensation of the snow beneath its feet and its inherent desire for freedom, much like humans yearn for it,” said Lurdes Santander. “This moment was extraordinary, and I persisted through several attempts on my camera to find that elusive shot, a challenge many photographers face.”

The girl with ebony skin frees herself from the chains, and some of them remain attached to her, as she escapes. In the gesture of liberation, the shapes of her hairstyle and neck take on elongated forms.

Capturing this image took patience and perseverance. It started with the search for a single tree amidst a lavender field at sunset. Then the wait for the night sky to unveil its beauty. Combined with a second, long exposure, the light invisible to the naked eye, revealing a truly enchanted world.

“I captured this photo during a beautiful summer wedding in the red wine region of Germany,” said Steven Herrschaft. “The majestic castle on the hill was stunning, and the moment I captured was fleeting yet magical. Sometimes, as a photographer, you need to be in the right place at the right time to create art.”

The Capital Gate Tower in Abu Dhabi was captured in a unique moment from a moving bus. “As we traveled on the highway during late afternoon,” Frank Loddenkemper recalled, “the sun’s rays cast a mesmerizing glow, creating the perfect lighting for the shot.

Featuring a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing from 1955, this photograph was captured at the private collection of Museum METROPOLE Druten in the Netherlands. It prompts us to ponder how humankind would have been and still be without the presence of the natural treasures that inspire us to dream and surpass our limits.

A surreal black-and white photo-art piece featuring several female models whimsically blending together to form a skull. Symbolizing the defiance of mortality, the composition conveys a powerful message of unity in the face of death, evoking reflection and challenging perceptions.

The subject is the conflation of woman and home. A lone woman is surrounded by her domestic objects, activities, and obsessions. The still-life narratives created in the studio for the camera comment on the mania of collecting, accumulating, and decorating a home. In the series, the woman is overwhelmed by her possessions, leading to disaster and mayhem. “Growing up in suburbia provided the basis of my work,” said Patty Carroll. “I photographically create worlds that critique and satirize claustrophobic expectations of perfection that women continue to face, despite contemporary life and careers.”

Category Finalists

“The idea was to take a photo of a pink cocktail in a playful and fun way,” said Elena Otvodenko. “For this, I used complementary colours and props to accentuate the beauty of the drink and its colour and freshness.

All the Open Theme winning photos here.

Djaxx, is a sphynx cat “with an attitude, but very willing to pose under my studio light,” said Pieter Clicteur. “I used one flash light, placed just above his head (butterfly light, as they call it) to emphasize the wrinkles on his head. He looks mean, but he isn’t.”

“The title comes from the fact that, like most Border Collies, my puppy too has a Psycho face,” said Alessia Monaco. “It is a composition of several shots, in this case seven, then joined with the support of Photoshop.”

All the Animals and Pets category’ photos here

“Tree of Life” depicts a solitary old tree on the horizon of undulating South Moravian fields, accompanied by a flock of birds. The composition, created from photographs, evokes the cycle of life and its phases, representing youthful vigor to the serene tranquility of wise old age.

According to legend, the ghost of the Gray Lady haunts the tree-lined avenue located in Ballymoney, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It seems that a mysterious woman appears among the trees at sunset, slips silently along the road and vanishes near the last beech tree.

The winners of the Nature and Landscape category are here

All the winners of the People category here.

Humans are like puppets. With their hands and feet and their intellect, they have been plundered and commanded. They have nightmares, create nightmares and become nightmares.

Here are all the winners of the Fine Art category.

Featuring a Jaguar xk150 Cabrio 1958, photographed at the private collection of Museum Metropole Druten, the Netherlands. How would humankind be, and have been, without the natural treasures that make us dream and exceed beyond our limits?

For all the winners of the Advertising category go here.

Haldi ceremony is a traditional pre-wedding ritual in India where turmeric paste is applied on the bride and groom’s bodies. It symbolizes purification, beautification, and the auspicious beginning of their journey together. Here, the groom’s friends cover him in turmeric water.

For all the winners of the Wedding category go here.

The picture showcases a colonnade in a residential area. Light and color enhance the space, create accents and rhythm, and bring balance to the structure. Without these elements, neither space nor architecture would be perceptible. “I used the bird as an eye-catching detail to draw attention,” said Margit Lisa Roeder.

Here are all the winners of the Architecture category

Here are all the winners of the Series category.

‘An Indigenous Present’ Is a Paradigm-Shifting Illumination of Native North American Art Today

‘An Indigenous Present’ Is a Paradigm-Shifting Illumination of Native North American Art Today



Art
Photography

#books
#Indigenous culture
#Jeffrey Gibson
#sculpture

September 12, 2023

Kate Mothes

A pair of designer boots beaded with glass seed beads in the design of two elk.

Jamie Okuma, “Elk Boots” (2017), glass seed beads on Giuseppe Zanotti boots, 21 x 7 inches. Photo by Cameron Linton, courtesy of Ellen and Bill Taubman. All images © DelMonico Books, shared with permission

“Historically, books about contemporary Native and Indigenous art have often been composed of academic essays illustrated with artworks by Indigenous makers,” Jeffrey Gibson (previously) says in the introduction to An Indigenous Present. “The writing often references previously published texts that can be problematic and outmoded.” Released by DelMonico Books/Big NDN Press last month, the nearly 450-page volume renders solid a new paradigm of representation and visibility of Native North American art.

Works by more than 60 artists comprise the monumental survey, exploring myriad practices focused on and intersecting contemporary art, music, filmmaking, choreography, architecture, writing, photography, design, and more. The tome highlights the remarkable diversity of media and cultural influences across the continent, from fashion artist Jamie Okuma’s intricately beaded designer boots to Dana Claxton’s elaborate Headdress portrait series to Northwest Coast artist and Chief Beau Dick’s expressive masks. Gibson continues:

For An Indigenous Present, I wanted to make a lavish picture book (“sexy” was a word I used a lot to describe this project) that invites an audience to consider the creative and conceptual spaces artists need to think freely, disrupt the flow, take chances, make mistakes, and even fail in the process of creating something new.

Find your copy on Bookshop.

A geometrically patterned textile weaving.

Melissa Cody, “Dopamine Regression” (2010), 3-ply wool, aniline dyes, wool warp, and 6-ply selvedge cords, 70 x 48 inches. Image courtesy of the artist and Garth Greenan Gallery, New York

A book spread from 'An Indigenous Present' showing five portraits by Dana Claxton.

All pieces by Dana Claxton. Images courtesy of the artist

A painting of dozens of horses in colorful frames by Wendy Red Star.

Wendy Red Star, “Awaxaawippiia (Ominous Mountains)” (2021), acrylic, graphite, kitakata paper, and marble paper in 30 parts, overall: 112 x 183 inches. Image courtesy of the artist and Sargent’s Daughters, New York

Beau Dick, “Volcano Woman” (c. 2005), red cedar, acrylic, and horsehair, 24 x 20 x 10 inches. Image courtesy of Fazakas Gallery, Vancouver

A spread from 'An Indigenous Present' featuring two pieces by Caroline Monnet.

Both pieces by Caroline Monnet. Images courtesy of the artist

A self-portrait by Meryl McMaster in the snow, wearing a headdress that looks like a giant bird's nest.

Meryl McMaster, “Dream Catcher” (2015), Giclée print, 32 x 66 inches. Image courtesy of the artist, Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto, and Pierre-François Ouellette art contemporain, Montréal

Nicholas Galanin, “Never Forget” (2021), iron, paint, and steel, 59 x 360 feet. Image courtesy of the artist and Peter Blum Gallery, New York

A large-scale ceramic sculpture by Raven Halfmoon of three female figures in one form, smeared with red paint.

Raven Halfmoon, “Hey’-en, Ina, Ika” (2020), stoneware and glaze, 58 x 48 ½ x 19 inches. Image courtesy of the artist

The cover of the book 'An Indigenous Present.'

#books
#Indigenous culture
#Jeffrey Gibson
#sculpture

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. You’ll connect with a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about contemporary art, read articles and newsletters ad-free, sustain our interview series, get discounts and early access to our limited-edition print releases, and much more. Join now!

 

 

‘An Indigenous Present’ Is a Paradigm-Shifting Illumination of Native North American Art Today

‘An Indigenous Present’ Is a Paradigm-Shifting Illumination of Native North American Art Today

Jamie Okuma, “Elk Boots” (2017), glass seed beads on Giuseppe Zanotti boots, 21 x 7 inches. Photo by Cameron Linton, courtesy of Ellen and Bill Taubman. All images © DelMonico Books, shared with permission

“Historically, books about contemporary Native and Indigenous art have often been composed of academic essays illustrated with artworks by Indigenous makers,” Jeffrey Gibson (previously) says in the introduction to An Indigenous Present. “The writing often references previously published texts that can be problematic and outmoded.” Released by DelMonico Books/Big NDN Press last month, the nearly 450-page volume renders solid a new paradigm of representation and visibility of Native North American art.

Works by more than 60 artists comprise the monumental survey, exploring myriad practices focused on and intersecting contemporary art, music, filmmaking, choreography, architecture, writing, photography, design, and more. The tome highlights the remarkable diversity of media and cultural influences across the continent, from fashion artist Jamie Okuma’s intricately beaded designer boots to Dana Claxton’s elaborate Headdress portrait series to Northwest Coast artist and Chief Beau Dick’s expressive masks. Gibson continues:

For An Indigenous Present, I wanted to make a lavish picture book (“sexy” was a word I used a lot to describe this project) that invites an audience to consider the creative and conceptual spaces artists need to think freely, disrupt the flow, take chances, make mistakes, and even fail in the process of creating something new.

Find your copy on Bookshop.

 

A geometrically patterned textile weaving.

Melissa Cody, “Dopamine Regression” (2010), 3-ply wool, aniline dyes, wool warp, and 6-ply selvedge cords, 70 x 48 inches. Image courtesy of the artist and Garth Greenan Gallery, New York

A book spread from 'An Indigenous Present' showing five portraits by Dana Claxton.

All pieces by Dana Claxton. Images courtesy of the artist

A painting of dozens of horses in colorful frames by Wendy Red Star.

Wendy Red Star, “Awaxaawippiia (Ominous Mountains)” (2021), acrylic, graphite, kitakata paper, and marble paper in 30 parts, overall: 112 x 183 inches. Image courtesy of the artist and Sargent’s Daughters, New York

Beau Dick, “Volcano Woman” (c. 2005), red cedar, acrylic, and horsehair, 24 x 20 x 10 inches. Image courtesy of Fazakas Gallery, Vancouver

A spread from 'An Indigenous Present' featuring two pieces by Caroline Monnet.

Both pieces by Caroline Monnet. Images courtesy of the artist

A self-portrait by Meryl McMaster in the snow, wearing a headdress that looks like a giant bird's nest.

Meryl McMaster, “Dream Catcher” (2015), Giclée print, 32 x 66 inches. Image courtesy of the artist, Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto, and Pierre-François Ouellette art contemporain, Montréal

Nicholas Galanin, “Never Forget” (2021), iron, paint, and steel, 59 x 360 feet. Image courtesy of the artist and Peter Blum Gallery, New York

A large-scale ceramic sculpture by Raven Halfmoon of three female figures in one form, smeared with red paint.

Raven Halfmoon, “Hey’-en, Ina, Ika” (2020), stoneware and glaze, 58 x 48 ½ x 19 inches. Image courtesy of the artist

The cover of the book 'An Indigenous Present.'

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article ‘An Indigenous Present’ Is a Paradigm-Shifting Illumination of Native North American Art Today appeared first on Colossal.

Capturing Chicago: Meet the man behind Windy City lens

Capturing Chicago: Meet the man behind Windy City lens
ByTony Smith WLS logo

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 1:30PM

Chicago photographer Barry Butler releases book

CHICAGo (WLS) — Barry Butler is a Chicago-based, internationally published landscape and cityscape photographer. He’s now selling his second book.

It’s called “Chicago – Morning, Noon & Night book.” It starts shipping photography lovers’ on September 25.

Butler joined ABC 7 to talk about capturing our beautiful city and how his came up with the idea for his new book. For more information, click here.

Copyright © 2023 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Related Topics

Dyson Big + Quiet Air Purifier Quietly Does Its Duty Like a Breeze

Dyson Big + Quiet Air Purifier Quietly Does Its Duty Like a Breeze

The Dyson Purifier Big + Quiet Formaldehyde air purifier is unusual in that the droid-like design really leans into its larger size compared to most any other air purifier available for the mass market. But that’s intentional, noting an air purifier is only as effective as its ability to utilize airflow to bring in pollutants in contact with a filtration medium to scrub the air clean. The more flow and the larger surface area, the faster the filtration rate. Dyson’s trick is accomplishing all this with an acoustically engineered motor bucket optimized to hush maximum full-speed filtration down to a minimum.

So how quiet are we talking about? Dyson claims their sizable air purifier measures a very reasonable 56dBA when set at full blast. For reference, according to this decibels chart, a refrigerator produces about 55dBA of environmental noise; that’s also in the realm of normal output for a dishwasher, a perfectly acceptable volume when you really need to set the unit to its maximum speed. Thus the Big + Quiet is being promoted as a healthy home and communal space solution effective for up to 1,000ft², suitable for use not only in larger living rooms, but also in classrooms, hotel lobbies, and other communal spaces where a larger and more powerful unit ideally doesn’t intrude on the conversations and atmosphere around it.

Man reaching to remove the Dyson Big + Quiet air purifier's top sleeve to change out the filtration medium. The top of the unit in Prussian Blue is on the floor to the side.

The Dyson Big + Quiet air purifier uses a catalytic filter to trap formaldehyde, then breaks it down into water and CO₂, while a K-Carbon filter absorbs common household indoor pollutants.

Though Dyson’s largest air filtration design is outfitted to remove allergens and 99.97% of fine particles using a HEPA H13 grade filter, the Big + Quiet comes with the additional capability to destroy formaldehyde, remove gases and odors, and capture nitrogen dioxide. The top of the unit includes a small display that reports back what solid-state formaldehyde sensor detects during operation.

Cutout illustration revealing the three stage filtration system within the Dyson Big+Quiet air purification unit, with dirty air flow simulated passing through each layer.

A laudable aspect of the Dyson Big + Quiet is the long lasting efficacy of its filters. The unit’s H13 grade HEPA filter can last up to five years, depending upon conditions. The K-Carbon filter lasts for up to two years. And best of all, the catalytic oxidisation filter never has to be changed out.

Like many other tech-forward appliances today, there’s a proprietary algorithm involved in the operation of Dyson’s device. The Big + Quiet is programmed to continuously monitor and report levels of formaldehyde, VOCs, or nitrogen dioxide registered in the air. In turn, we became much more aware and sensitive to the quality of air inside on a daily basis armed with this information. It became common to check in regularly with the unit’s sensors either by app or at glance across its small LCD display, and the environmental feedback was just as likely to compel us to open a few windows to allow for fresh air in just as much as it did to convince us to set the unit to full blast.

Illustration showing how Dyson Big+Quiet internal fan moves polluted air from the bottom base and up and out through an angle adjustable output against all black background. Air flow is simulated in light blue beams.

The Big + Quiet is outfitted with an adjustable angle airflow, ranging between 0°, 25°, or 50°, allowing to direct air wanted and most needed. There’s even a setting designed to emulate the feeling of a refreshing breeze.

All white Dyson Big+Quiet air purifier designed for commercial settings.

All data gathered through the Dyson’s live monitoring sensor displays in realtime across a small circular LCD located at the center top. Any data can also be accessed from the MyDyson app.

All white Dyson Big+Quiet air purifier designed for commercial settings, displayed against the side wall of a library with rows of bookshelves across from it.

One feature we really appreciated was the inclusion of the small set of roller wheels incorporated into the air purifier’s base. While the Big + Quiet is not heavy for its size, its larger dimensions can make it feel unwieldy to lift for some (if you’ve ever dreamt of hugging R2-D2, here is your chance). But the integrated wheels simplify moving the unit room to room or into storage as easy as pushing a small cart.

All white Dyson Big+Quiet air purifier displayed against the back wall of a modern loft or hotel hospitality living room next to several bookshelves filled with houseplants and sofa to the right. Paper lanterns float above, partially in view, with bright yellow carpeting across the floor.

The incorporation of a catalytic filter and activated carbon filter also make the Dyson a helpful means of removing common household odors that aren’t dangerous, just undesirable, so pet owners and people who like to cook might especially benefit from its ability to filter odors.

If you’re worried about inhaling VOCs off-gassing from everyday sources like mattresses, paints, household cleaners, some upholstery fabrics, and new furniture, alongside limiting everyday allergens, the Dyson Big + Quiet’s portability and quiet operation offsets its size.

Empty classroom setting with chairs and desks, with Dyson Big+Quiet set near a wall of windows.

At $899 for the all-white commercial edition or $1,099 for its more stylishly finished Prussian Blue adorned colorway, the Dyson Big + Quiet comes at a premium. And there’s no getting around that it’s conspicuously large. But in an age when wildfires, urban pollution, and seasonal allergies are regularly vying to irritate our senses, an effective air purifier is arguably an investment worth the cost and trade-offs associated with something openly labeled as big and quiet.

This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

Art Basel Miami Beach lines up 24 first-time exhibitors and revamps its layout for 2023 edition

Art Basel Miami Beach lines up 24 first-time exhibitors and revamps its layout for 2023 edition

Art Basel in Miami Beach’s forthcoming edition (6-10 December) will feature stands from 277 galleries—an astounding number that, nevertheless, represents a 2% dip from last year’s 283 galleries. Exhibitors and attendees will benefit from an overhauled fair layout structured around five plazas that organisers say will provide “improved visitor flow and seating, eating and drinking rest points”.

Among those 277 exhibitors will be 24 making their debuts at the biggest art fair in the Americas, with most of the newcomers based in the US. Among the first-timers are a dozen influential New York galleries, including Ortuzar Projects, Lyles and King, 56 Henry, Deli Gallery, Lomex, Mrs., Ryan Lee and Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery. Also joining the South Florida fray for the first time are three closely watched Los Angeles galleries—Stars, Château Shatto and Luis De Jesus—plus several international entrants including São Paulo-based Galatea, Montreal-based Bradley Ertaskiran, Warsaw-based Galeria Dawid Radziszewski and Cairo-based Gypsum Gallery.

“With new participants from Mexico to Poland and Egypt, and a programme both within and beyond the fair like we have never done before, there is an injection of freshness to the fair,” Vincenzo de Bellis, Art Basel’s director for fairs and exhibition platforms and interim director of the Miami Beach fair, said in a statement.

Two of the first-time exhibitors—Paris’s Galerie Minsky and San Francisco’s Weinstein Gallery—will have a joint stand in the fair’s main sector devoted to the work of Leonor Fini, the Argentine-Italian Surrealist artist.

In addition to the 24 newcomers, the fair boasts the expected lineup of powerful galleries, including the four global mega-dealers (Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, Pace and David Zwirner) and many of the slightly smaller, merely international outfits like White Cube, Lehmann Maupin, Thaddaeus Ropac, Almine Rech, Mendes Wood DM, Lisson and Perrotin. The lattermost will no doubt be looking to continue its run of viral hits at Art Basel in Miami Beach, following Maurizio Cattelan’s banana sculpture Comedian in 2019 and prankster collective MSCHF’s gamified cashpoint, ATM Leaderboard (2022), last year.

Of the dealers present at the fair’s 2022 edition but absent this year, the most notable is repeat Art Basel in Miami Beach exhibitor Mariane Ibrahim. The gallery’s solo stand of paintings by Amoako Boafo in 2019, concurrent with his star-making residency exhibition at Miami’s Rubell Museum, played an important role in the artist’s rapid rise to market prominence.

Magalí Arriola, the director of Mexico City’s Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporaneo, will once again curate the fair’s Meridians sector for very large works, which this year will include 19 projects (to be revealed closer to the fair’s opening).

The fair will be the first organised fully under the leadership of Noah Horowitz, who from 2015 to 2021 oversaw it as Art Basel’s director in the Americas. Now, as Art Basel’s global chief executive since last November, Horowitz returns to familiar territory. “I know first-hand the galvanising role our show plays within the creative ecosystem of Miami, the broader region, and the global arts community,” he said in a statement.

Detroit gallerist Bridget Finn, who was recently appointed as director of Art Basel in Miami Beach, will be in attendance, but next year’s edition will be the first under her leadership.

The fair will unfold a little over a month before the first major contest in the race to be the Republican nominee for US president in 2024, in which two local men—former president Donald Trump and Florida governor Ron DeSantis—are the leading candidates. Based on past history, however, anyone hoping Art Basel in Miami Beach might be an escape from the two men’s campaigns, the looming 2024 general election and Florida’s intensely polarised political discourse would do well to keep their expectations conservative.