When Mangos Last in My Backyard Bloom’d

When Mangos Last in My Backyard Bloom’d
An Immersive Art Exhibit Exploring Culture, Climate, and Community

Green Space Miami invites you to experience the city’s juiciest obsession like never before. When Mangos Last in My Backyard Bloom’d is an immersive, multi-sensory art exhibit by filmmaker and artist Jayme Kaye Gershen, running from June 14 – August 9, 2025. Set during peak mango season, this one-of-a-kind installation blends sound, film, sculpture, taste, and storytelling into a vibrant homage to Miami’s cultural and agricultural heart: the mango.

“Mangos are sweet, messy, nostalgic—and so is Miami. This exhibit is about the emotions and memories we carry in our backyards.” — Jayme Kaye Gershen

Inspired by Gershen’s acclaimed Mango Movie—which premiered at the New Orleans Film Festival and screened at DOC NYC—the exhibit transforms the essence of mango season into an emotional reflection on community. The exhibition is made possible through generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Green Space Miami, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Seasons Farm Fresh, Subtropic Film Festival, and is proud to be a 2024 Knight New Works.

A Sensorial Journey Through Miami’s Mango Obsession
Visitors step into a mango-hued sanctuary, anchored by a monumental cube covered in mango seeds. Guests are invited to eat a ripe mango and listen to the synchronized sounds of its consumption—part meditation, part ritual. Ten vertical video screens reveal intimate stories of Miami residents reminiscing about mango-eating traditions, family memories, and environmental concerns. A poetic narration by Carmen Misé contemplates a future where climate change threatens the existence of this beloved fruit.

Before exiting, participants will be encouraged to make a wish on their mango seeds, and toss them into a communal ‘wishing well’, contributing to an evolving artwork that embodies the shared hopes of the city.

Weekly Mango Themed Events
Beyond the exhibit itself, weekly community events will deepen engagement and spark dialogue:

• Mango poetry readings and creative writing workshops
• A book-making workshop series featuring mango-based paper, ink, and binding
• A mango-eating contest
• Mango-inspired songwriting sessions with community elders
• A “Give-a-Mango, Take-a-Mango” exchange spotlighting Miami’s mango diversity
• Mango tastings and a climate-focused panel with South Florida mango experts

Together, these events transform mango season into a living, evolving archive of Miami’s voices and flavors.