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$1.2 million handbag is surprise star of Miami Art Week

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.2 million handbag is surprise star of Miami Art Week


Dropping $1.2 million during Miami Art Week isn’t that unusual. At Art Basel, which is just one of the 20+ fairs taking place in Miami taking place through Sunday, Picasso’s “Couple with Cup” has a price tag of $30 million — and the festivities kicked off with the $4.75 million sale of a David Hammons painting.

But Evens Saint Clair is charging $1.2 million for what he calls an “art sculpture.” Others call them handbags.

The artist and diamond-mine developer’ big-ticket tote, dubbed “La Reine,” should come with a global travel itinerary.

Saint Clair traveled to Japan for two years to meet with local artisans for the stunning tote, including a famed woodworker known as Mr. Kyoto. The handcrafted Japanese wood frame is overlaid with Italian leather and pieces of rare silk kimono fabric dusted with gold leaf and strengthened by pearl shell. There are over 18 carats of diamonds placed throughout — from the front porcelain tile badge to the gold-plated “feet” of the bag to the multiple strands of bejeweled gold chains, which also boast emeralds and pearls.

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Saint Clair traveled to Japan for two years to meet with local artisans for the $1.2 bag, which features pieces of rare silk kimono fabric dusted with gold leaf. Romain Maurice
There are over 18 carats of diamonds placed throughout — from the front porcelain tile badge to the gold-plated “feet” of the bag to the multiple strands of bejeweled gold chains, which also boast emeralds and pearls. Romain Maurice

“I’m bringing the art of craftmanship back,” Saint Clair told The Post. “Nowadays everything is just sent to China to be made as cheaply as possible, but true luxury isn’t mass produced. I have invested years of travel, research and innovation into these pieces and the accompanying luxury cases because I believe in beauty, happiness and giving back.”

Each bag takes up to a year to produce and passes through Japan, Guinea, Italy and Turkey before arriving in Saint Clair’s hometown of Bal Harbour, Florida, where the final embellishments are added.

For “Wicked” fans, there’s a $670,000 green alligator edition with a jade circular badge encircled by sparkling diamonds.

Saint Clair says that his handbags are savvy investments with gold, diamonds, and gemstones rising in value. Romain Maurice

One of Saint Clair’s lowest priced bags ($110,000) is the “Pangea,” which features lacquered bamboo from Japan, a glittering gold chain flecked with diamonds, and python skins from Miami’s Everglades ecosystem, which is being overrun by the invasive snake.

Saint Clair says that his handbags are savvy investments with gold, diamonds, and gemstones rising in value. As such, each bag includes a custom storage case that is fingerprint activated. Saint Clair designed these unique wood veneer biometric safes himself, inspired by collector’s cigar cases from the Dominican Republic, which he sent to his wood maker in Japan as inspiration.

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While the pricey bags are being launched at Miami Art Week with a splashy party at the St. Regis Hotel in Bal Harbour Saturday night, Saint Clair has privately sold several of the costly purses to well-heeled women in Guinea, where he develops diamond and gold mines.( He would not divulge clients’ names due to privacy and security issues.)

A $670,000 green alligator bag offers a jade circular badge encircled by sparkling diamonds. Romain Maurice
One of Saint Clair’s lowest priced bags ($110,000) is the “Pangea,” which features lacquered bamboo from Japan, a glittering gold chain flecked with diamonds, and python skins from Miami’s Everglades ecosystem, which is being overrun by the invasive snake. Romain Maurice

Saint Clair’s journey to luxury started far from the glittering world he now inhabits. Born in Haiti and raised in New York and Chicago, he faced bullying, gang violence and poverty. A scholarship to St. Thomas University in Miami became the turning point that led to a career in nightlife promotion.

In 2008, Saint Clair changed gears and moved to Guinea to develop gold and diamond mines.

Coming from impoverished beginnings, Saint Clair is determined to make a difference. Ten percent of earnings from his bags and artwork will be donated to multiple charities including Best Buddies, Make-A-Wish, Saint Jude, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

The burgeoning artist is also exhibiting four paintings at Red Dot, one of the art fairs surrounding Art Basel in Miami, through the Agora Gallery. Next February, his mixed media artwork — which utilizes Urushi lacquer paste and resin — will be featured in a special exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris.

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Miami Heat-Minnesota Timberwolves Final Injury Update: Anthony Edwards’ status divulged

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Miami Heat-Minnesota Timberwolves Final Injury Update: Anthony Edwards’ status divulged


The Minnesota Timberwolves announced that guard Anthony Edwards is now available to play in Tuesday night’s game against the Miami Heat after originally being listed as questionable with right foot injury maintenance.

Here’s the rest of the injury report and game preview:


INJURY REPORT

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HEAT

Tyler Herro: Available – Toe

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Jaime Jaquez Jr.: Out – Ankle

Nikola Jovic: Available – Groin

Terry Rozier: Out – Not with team

TIMBERWOLVES

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Anthony Edwards: Available – Foot

Terrence Shannon Jr.: Out – Foot

Joan Beringer: Out – G League


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Game date, time and location: Tuesday, Jan. 6, 8:00 p.m. EST, Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

TV: TV: Peacock,

Radio: 104.3 FM (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale), ESPN 106.3 FM, (West Palm Beach), FOX Sports Radio 105.9 FM (Ft. Myers/Naples), 1450 AM (Suart), 97.7 FM (Florida Keys), WAQI 710 AM (Spanish-language broadcast, South Florida) 100.3 FM (Minnesota)

VITALS: The Miami Heat (20-16) and Minnesota Timberwolves (23-13) meet for the second and final regular season matchup after just facing off three days ago with Minnesota recording a, 125-115, win in Miami on January 3. The teams split the series, 1-1, last season with each squad winning on the road. The Heat are 36-35 all-time versus Minnesota during the regular season,
including 19-16 in home games and 17-19 in road games.

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PROJECTED STARTERS

HEAT

G Davion Mitchell

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G Tyler Herro

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C Bam Adebayo

F Norman Powell

F Andrew Wiggins

TIMBERWOLVES

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G Donte DiVincenzo

G Anthony Edwards

C Rudy Gobert

F Jaden McDaniels

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F Julius Randle

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Spread: Heat +5.5 (-112), Timberwolves -5.5 (-108)

Moneyline: Heat +166, Timberwolves -198

Total points scored: 239.5 (over -106, under -114)

QUOTABLE

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Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra on the forced turnovers: “That is and has to be our identity. We have to play with a recklessness and activity level that exceeds our opponent, and thats not to put down our talent level or anything like that, it’s more about we look different when we’re flying around and making plays and making it tough for the opponent.”


For more Miami Heat information and conversation, check out Off The Floor.


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Alexander Toledo is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI and producer/co-host of the Five on the Floor podcast, covering the Heat and NBA. He can be reached at Twitter: @tropicalblanket



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Man shot during $22,000 gold chain robbery at Supreme store in Miami’s Design District; Atlanta suspects arrested

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Man shot during ,000 gold chain robbery at Supreme store in Miami’s Design District; Atlanta suspects arrested


Three men were arrested Saturday after a robbery inside a Miami clothing store left a man shot and hospitalized, according to Miami police and arrest affidavits.

The incident happened Friday afternoon in Miami’s popular Design District neighborhood.

Police said officers were dispatched around 4:20 p.m. Friday to the area of Miami Avenue and Northeast 41st Street after receiving reports of a man who had been shot. Officers found the victim, who told them he had been robbed and shot while shopping inside a Supreme store located at 45 NE 41st Street.

According to investigators, the victim said he was approached by three suspects inside the store, including one person with whom he had a prior conflict originating from the Atlanta area. Police said an argument broke out, and one suspect forcibly removed a gold chain from the victim’s neck. The chain was valued at approximately $22,000, according to police.

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As the suspect ran out of the store, the victim attempted to chase him, police said. During the pursuit, an unidentified male shot the victim once in the stomach. The suspects then fled the area in a white Mercedes-Benz, according to the arrest affidavits. 

Miami Police detectives later located the suspect vehicle parked near Northeast 10th Avenue and Northeast 91st Terrace. Police said they conducted surveillance and observed the suspects abandon the vehicle and walk through a nearby residential area before entering a home in the 800 block of Northeast 90th Street.

A residential search warrant was executed, resulting in the arrest of three suspects. During the search, detectives recovered the victim’s gold chain, keys to the suspect vehicle, and clothing believed to have been worn during the robbery, police said.

The suspects were identified as Jamar McKay, 25, Omarion Phillips, 20, and Kevieon Smith, 21. McKay was charged with armed robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon. Phillips and Smith were charged as accessories after the fact, with Smith also facing an additional firearms-related charge, according to court records.

“This arrest sends a clear message: violent crime will not be tolerated in the City of Miami,” Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales said in a statement. “Individuals who commit acts of violence in our city will be identified, located, and held fully accountable.”

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Miami Hurricanes arrive in Phoenix to continue Fiesta Bowl preparations

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Miami Hurricanes arrive in Phoenix to continue Fiesta Bowl preparations


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The Miami Hurricanes are looking to buck a bad trend. They’re 0-4 in the Fiesta Bowl.

Coach Mario Cristobal’s team gets its fifth shot this week as Miami (12-2) squares off against Mississippi (13-1) in the Fiesta Bowl at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 at State Farm Stadium. The school may be 0-4 historically, but there is plenty at stake. This Fiesta Bowl is serving as a College Football Playoff semifinal.

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The Hurricanes, the No. 10 seed in the 12-team playoff field, arrived at 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5, at the Ragsdale Executive Terminal of Sky Harbor Airport. The opposing team is expected 24 hours later.

The gathered crowd of 100 or so was made of members of the Fiesta Bowl Committee, easily identifiable in their yellow jackets, and their families.

In the past, there had been a welcome event in a tent adjacent to the runway. The coach typically made an opening statement, but players and coaches walked off the plane and straight to their buses parked nearby.

Players, dressed in white sweatsuits, filed off their American Airlines flight in single file on a blue carpet.

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The players will take part in a media day on Jan. 6 at a Scottsdale hotel, with the coaches talking to the media the following day, the eve of the contest.

The Hurricanes enter on the heels of a six-game winning streak. Their last loss came on Nov. 1 against SMU, a game decided in double overtime 26-20. They have surrendered just 17 points in their two postseason games.

The winner advances to the national championship game on Jan. 19 against the winner of the other semifinal, the Peach Bowl between Oregon and Indiana.



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