Cortada's artistic star has been rising since deciding to set aside his law degree and focus exclusively on his art. He was recently awarded the Grand Prize "Best of Show" Award at the Arte + Arte group exhibit at the Florida Museum of Hispanic and Latin American Art in Coral Gables. Cortada's painting, Comunión en la Plaza (acrylic on canvas, 53" x 86", 1998) was chosen among the works exhibited at the museum during November 1998 by 27 artists from across the Hemisphere. The painting, which was recently used as a poster for a University of Miami conference on Cuba, was inspired by Cortada's 8 hour visit to Havana on January 25, 1998 for the Pope's Mass in the Plaza of the Revolution. Cortada's other activities and exhibits during the next 60 days include:

• On December 31^st, 1998, Cortada will bring in the new year by facilitating "1999: Preparing for a new Me-llenium," an art installation complete with introspective (awareness tunnel) and interactive (painting project) elements at the First Night Miami Beach '99 Celebration in the Miami Beach Convention Center. Some of Cortada's community art projects will be displayed. For more information on First Night, please contact Lisa Palley at 305-642-3132.

• On January 6^th, 1999, Cortada will unveil two 24' x 20' glass mosaic murals on the exterior facade of the new Niketown building at the Shops at Sunset Place. For more information please contact Anneli Shearer, Nike's Public Relations Manager, at 212-367-4400.

• On January 9^th & 10^th, 1999, Cortada participates in the inaugural ARTEXPO South Miami, exhibiting his work and facilitating participants in painting an art-piece to be presented to the City of South Miami. Cortada, selected as the ARTEXPO's Official Print Artist, will unveil the event's poster at the Coco Plum Women's Club on January 6^th. Contact: Jorge Garcia, Cultural Affairs Council of South Miami President, at 305-740-0420 or 305-666-7469.