Donor Highlight: Board Member Claudio Riedi
Claudio Riedi. Courtesy the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce.
Bakehouse is thrilled to highlight one of our donors and longest-serving Board members, Claudio Riedi. Claudio is a founding shareholder of Lehtinen Schultz Riedi De la Fuente with extensive experience in commercial and environmental litigation, administrative proceedings, international transactions, and appellate law. A lifelong lover of “landscaping, photography, and landscape photography,” Claudio has been an ardent supporter of Bakehouse Art Complex since 2016.
Claudio Riedi was born and raised in Zurich, Switzerland, and immigrated to Miami in 1986. He received his B.S. in Journalism from Florida International University in 1989 before graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Miami School of Law with his Juris Doctorate degree. Upon leaving university, Claudio represented Native American Indian tribes in extensive environmental and business litigation, as well as matters pertaining to gaming regulation and compliance. He also has extensive legal experience with municipalities and commercial clients, especially German-speaking individuals and business, through his work with Lehtinen Schultz Riedi De la Fuente. In addition to Bakehouse Art Complex, Claudio currently serves on several professional boards and committees, including the German American Business Chamber, SE Chapter; the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce; and the German American Alliance, Miami.
Read below to learn more about Claudio Riedi, including his hopes for Bakehouse Art Complex, the joys of engaging with working artists, and why access to workspace is critical in a city like Miami.
Why is it important to support artists and the organizations that serve them?
Art and artists make Miami a world-class city, yet there are hardly any affordable work spaces for artists in Miami. If we want this city to reach its fullest potential as a vibrant artistic destination, we have to support those who create and express what Miami is. There is no richer experience than exchanging ideas with artists. Their thoughts, expressed through their creations, are much-needed counterweights to the material side of the city.
What inspires you about Bakehouse?
For me, inspiration comes from seeing artists at work, seeing works in progress, seeing finished works before anybody else sees them, from interactions with the artists, and the ability to learn about the stories behind the work. There is no other place in Miami where access to a hundred artists is as direct and open as it is at Bakehouse.
Why should someone donate to Bakehouse?
Anyone who values the creative process and cares to support home-grown artists should contribute. It is one thing to contribute to an artist by buying a piece of art. It is an altogether different matter to support artists by letting them afford work space and fulfill their potential within our community.
What is your wish for Bakehouse as it embarks on its next generation for 21st century artmaking?
As a Board member, I wish to create a stable environment for artists for years to come. I recognize that the Bakehouse will change, but it must maintain its soul.
Where would you like to see Bakehouse in three years?
I would like to see the Bakehouse at the exact same spot it is today, but on its way toward financial security. I want to see it evolve as a vibrant place where new types of art are explored, and visual arts intersect with other forms of art, such as music, written word, etc. I would like to see the Bakehouse develop its resources to allow our artists to interact virtually with art lovers worldwide.