Antonia Gerstacker - Early Life - 1990s

1990s

In 1990, Antonia got her first job in the art field in the framing department of a well-established company called Rex Art. Gerstacker immediately bonded with owners Aaron and Anna Morris, patrons and supporters of the arts who encouraged her work greatly.

She participated in the Miami Arts Asylum exhibition "What is Love?" in December 1990 at the infamous nightclub Cameo Theater, Miami Beach. She contributed in "Art Asylum Hits the Streets", where the artists posted artworks on an abandoned building on Ocean Drive and had first exclusive exhibition was at Miami Alliance Cinema Gallery: "I’m Not an Angel", Miami Beach, 1994. Her murals and paintings adorn the walls and facades of many Miami's private homes, cafés, restaurants, business buildings and nightclubs. She painted the large mural sign on Tobacco Road, Miami's Oldest Bar, Restaurant and Cabaret. She painted The Beehive Restaurant on Lincoln Road, which was reviewed as Best of the Beach: Summer ‘94/Best window display Boyz Magazine (August 1994). She made an appearance on the Mr. Stock & Mr. Poe TV show in August 1995, and the Danny Jessup TV show in January 1996.

Gerstacker began to work with Churchill's English Pub in 1992. She was chosen to create a poster in August 1995 for "Churchill's and The Beast and Baker, The 1st Annual Miami Rock Festival" and designed the 9th one in 2003. She also covered the entire back patio with large vibrant murals, one creation of three skeletons playing musical instrument depicting the Day of the Dead and the London Underground system titled "Underground", another of large painting of the world, titled " Around the World", a large red heart painted on a symbol of a black flag titled "Secret Heart" and other bright playful images.

Antonia was the leader in the arts movement in the rock club and began the movement for more young inspiring artists to follow. Antonia created the painting of a man playing a cello, which became Mike Wood's Miami Jazz Jam logo. Miami Jazz Jam hosted live jazz musicians every Monday night. During this time, Gerstacker began playing electric guitar solo and with other local musical groups and musicians. Churchill's was the first venue to host Marilyn Manson, The Mavericks and Iron and Wine. It was also featured in the film There's Something about Mary, starring Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz, and music videos by Iggy Pop, P-Diddy and Ziggy Marley. It was awarded Best of Miami New Times Best Rock Club 1999 through 2008. Antonia's dedicated stay at Churchill's promoting the art and music scene lead her murals to be shown in the Jim Jones, P Diddy, Paul Wall, Jka Jha Feat national music video "Whatcha Been Drankin On" published in 2005. Antonia departed Churchill's in 2005 when an out-of-court settlement agreement was reached that pertained to copyright infringements of the murals Antonia had painted. The murals had been painted over.

Antonia's passion for music led her to creating artworks and designs for the music industry. She painted the logo for of The Beast and Baker Show, a local Saturday night Radio Show on WAXY 790 AM, which aired local, regional and national acts from 1995 till 1997. The show's logo consisted of two comical lions chatting with each other in her stylistic black and white signature. This increased her artwork exposure throughout local newspapers and magazines. Beast & Baker brought The Merman, Dick Dale, and Los Straitjackets to Miami, and besides giving a big push to national surf music acts, the duo promote local music.

Another accomplishment of Antonia's was the commission by Bubba Lunzar, Jr. to paint new artworks and signs for Jimbo's, located on Virginia Keys, Florida. A favorite get-a-way since 1954. Music video shoots, models and photographers, television shows and motion pictures are shot on location at Jimbo's every week. A horror film named Island Claws in 1980 built the infamous shacks and left them there. Among the notables are movies Blood and Wine, Wild Things, Porky's II, Ace Ventura, True Lies, 2 Fast 2 Furious. TV shows included Flipper, Gentle Ben, Miami Vice, Glades, Going To California, Karen Sisco, CSI: Miami. Videos by Ziggy Marley, JayLo, Who Let the Dogs Out?, Sugar Ray. Photos of Mariah Carey's first album cover, Jisel, Heidi Klum, Naomi Campbell. Every year since 1997 Antonia has showcased her artworks at the Jimbo's Annual Birthday party, again supporting the music and arts in Miami.

Artist Roseta Santiago de Marcellus hired Antonia in 1993 though 1994 as an apprentice, where she learned the skills of painting large murals, commercial commissioned projects and faux finishes. After Roseta Santiago de Marcellus moved to Atlanta, Georgia, Gerstacker ran her own art studio called "Antonia Studio" from 1994 to 1997 in Brickell, Miami. During the early 1990s Antonia began to paint abstract naïve pop art styled paintings in very bright colors. Most of the paintings were comical in nature. Gerstacker then began to paint large murals with increasing demand for her positive style work.

In the fall of 1996 Antonia closed her art studio "Antonia Studio" after difficulties with the Downtown Development and City of Miami in which both induced her to paint public art projects. An article by Janel Shoun, Miami Today, week of Thursday, August 8, 1996 wrote "Artist Antonia Gerstacker, who has leased a studio above Tobacco Road for three years, is looking for corporate sponsors to support development of artwork in the Brickell Village area. Her first project will be on a 120-foot wall on South Miami Avenue at Ninth Street. She has created a colorful design incorporating the Downtown Development Authority's official symbol for the area, the Tequesta Indian". Antonia later received compensation through a judgment in court for payment from The Downtown Development Authority but was never rectified from The City of Miami for all the damages.

In 1997 Antonia became a board member of The Cultural Development Group, a non-profit organization founded by Aaron Morris. It was created to assist emerging and cultural organizations and individuals in all areas of the arts. She was the 1st Merrick Festival Poster Artist, in April 1998. The original painting was purchased at The Cultural Development Group Members Auction to benefit their Disadvantaged Children and the Visual Arts Program sponsored by Republic National Bank, Johnnie Walker Gold, Christy's and Two Sisters at the Hyatt, by the City of Coral Gables Mayor William Kerdyk.

In 1999 and 2004 Antonia presented two collections "Animal Kingdom" and "Seaside Escapades", a series of paintings sponsored by The Cultural Development Group and private art patrons to The Jackson Miami Children's Hospital, where they are on permanent display including a plaque with the names of the sponsors. Artist Daniel Garcia and Antonia Gerstacker continued to work with children and Children's Home Society and Jackson Children's Hospital. On several occasions Gerstacker received grants from The Cultural Development Group, to paint with the children sponsored by The Children's Cancer Fund, founded in January 1993 by a group of doctors, nurses and parents to foster research in childhood cancer and enrich the quality of life for children with cancer by improving clinical and support services. CCF is based at New York Medical College/Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York.