Everything Is the Sea

<p><b>A lyrical rendering of the real Miami beneath the myths, crafted through stories of the city’s artists and creators</b></p> <p>Miami is often seen as a leisure destination with bright sunshine, turquoise beaches, and palm trees; a glamorous metropolis with a flashy nightlife; and a cosmopolitan crossroads. In <i>Everything Is the Sea</i>, P. Scott Cunningham explores the city’s cultural richness. Through lyrical essays, Cunningham weaves his own life as a Miami resident with the stories of others to portray Miami’s dynamic cultural scene through the words of those who have created it.</p> <p>Cunningham introduces readers to an activist who cleans up trash off the ocean floor, artists who hand out umbrellas to their neighbors, and a famous poet who bags groceries at a supermarket. He also shares a fuller picture of people readers have already heard of: pop singer George Michael, designer Gianni Versace, and playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, co-creator of the Oscar-winning film <i>Moonlight</i>. Through intimate interviews, historical research, and firsthand stories, this book reveals that Miami’s cultural life is much deeper and richer than commonly presented.</p> <p>Combining profile, criticism, and memoir, including details of Cunningham’s fifteen years producing literary events and public art projects in the city, <i>Everything Is the Sea</i> argues for Miami’s consideration as one of the country’s most vibrant cities, a place where world-class artists are trained and important work is made. Cunningham intertwines the stories of the people of Miami to create a nuanced portrait of the city he loves.</p>