Strange News

Among beaches, theme parks, and a vibrant culture scene, Florida is known for many things, but perhaps most notably by its reputation for weird news. In this month’s Strange News, we examine the "Florida Man" headlines that made it to the art world. From a car accident involving a giant blue bunny to fake art dealers and a congressman in concert, it’s been a busy few weeks. 

Man Crashes into Bunny Sculpture to Get Back at Former Mayor 

In an act of intentional destruction, Derek Alan Modrok drove his car into the sculpture of a 14-foot blue bunny at Justin Flippen Park in Fort Lauderdale. The sculpture, Thunderbunny by artist Hunt Slonem, is worth $200,000 and was on loan to the city. The work faced significant structural damage, but may still have a chance of being repaired. Modrok claimed to have targeted the piece due to its location, as the park is named after a former mayor who he blames for the birds in the area. Slonem, a self-described “bird freak”, expressed confusion over Modrok’s reasoning. Modrok was charged with three counts of criminal mischief for this and other recent vandalism. 

Art Dealer Charged with Money Laundering in Counterfeit Art Scheme 

Palm Beach art dealer Daniel Elie Bouaziz, of Danieli Fine Art and Galerie Danieli, has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for money laundering. Bouaziz knowingly sold fakes of pieces by famous artists such as Andy Warhol, Banksy, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. He purchased reproductions of the pieces online and created counterfeit documents of authenticity before reselling them. At one point, Bouaziz attempted to sell a $495 Basquiat reproduction to an undercover FBI agent for $12 million. Bouaziz has since returned $246,000 to his victims, with a restitution hearing set for August 16. 

Florida Congressman Performs with Paramore 

It’s not every day that you get to see a national representative rock out, but Friday night Florida Democratic congressman Maxwell Frost performed alongside Paramore at their D.C. show. Though now a lawmaker, Frost has a passion for music and even performed in the parade at President Obama’s second inauguration. His rendition of “Misery Business” showed his talent for both song and dance. Frost showed his appreciation in a tweet of the show, captioning it: “Very grateful for this moment. I’ve been practicing in the shower for YEARS.” 

For more Strange News check Arts Axis Florida Writes next month!

Sources:

• Maxwell Frost Paramore Tweet
• Maxwell Frost Background
• Maxwell Frost Performs with Paramore 
• Fake Art Dealer
• Fake Art Dealer Update
• Man Drives Car into Thunderbunny Statue
• NBC6 Thunderbunny Segment

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