After 38 years on Key Biscayne, Norman and Maria Smith have sold their house on Gulf Road and are relocating to Coral Gables. “We absolutely love Key Biscayne and we’re going to miss it terribly,” admits Maria. “But we are also looking forward to experiencing new things.”
As a kind of last hurrah, their daughters Cayetana, Emilia, and Rosana planned a special celebration at the house where they were raised. After removing most of the furniture, they painted the walls white and set up a temporary exhibit of their father’s whimsical art.
Norman uses everyday objects to create what he refers to as “repurposed art.” He may notice the symmetry of a branch, palm frond, or household item and feel inspired to create something out of it. For example, he fashioned one piece by attaching an old stereo amplifier to a large metal frame, then streamed colorful wires down to a kitchen grinder with a nest of ribbons underneath.
Norman’s aforementioned art piece, including a stereo amplifier, colorful wires, and a kitchen grinder.
(IN Photo / Bill Durham)
The daughters admit that putting together the exhibit, called “Out of the Norm,” was a lot more work than expected. They got help from cousin Ana Schuttman and friends Anais Falca and Amanda Pernas. Clearly the project has been a labor of love.
Maria and Norman both hail from Medellín, Colombia. Though they didn’t know each other well when young, they were family friends.
Norman moved to New York City in the mid 1980s and landed an entry level job with a film production company. “In the beginning my job was running errands and picking up coffee,” he recalls.
That all changed one morning when a fancy new editing machine arrived. Feeling curious, he pulled up a chair and threaded some video tape into the device to see how it worked. He credits that curiosity with launching his career as a film editor.
The multi-talented Smith next to two of his whimsical art pieces.
(IN Photo / Bill Durham)
He started off working on the CBS television show “Eye On Sports” and went on to edit documentaries, music videos and feature films. He has been awarded several Emmys and fondly recalls working with director Robert Altman on the feature film “Streamers.”
Norman and Maria got reacquainted in New York City. She had attended the Boston Conservatory, with an emphasis on dance, and had just arrived in the City when she reached out to Norman to say hello. Lightning struck, as they say.
Maria got a job with the Spanish Repertory Theater Company. While she and Norman enjoyed their creative careers in New York, they felt it wasn’t a great place to raise children.
Maria had friends on Key Biscayne, and they moved here when pregnant with their first child. Initially they lived in Key Colony before buying their home on Gulf Road in 1992.
They will carry with them 38 years of treasured family memories.