Friday, December 6, 2013

ART BASEL Miami Beach 2013: The Series, Part II


For those of you at the show already, here are some events and venues not to be missed!
 
Several of the biggest collectors in the US reside in Miami and are part of what is called the “Miami Model”. These collectors have opened their own museums and institutions in which to show their private contemporary and modern art collections.

Rubell Family Collection (RFC)
  
The most notable of these models is the Rubell Family Collection (RFC), exhibited in a 45K sq. ft. building, and is one of the world’s largest privately owned contemporary art collections, with work by Basquiat, Haring, Hirst, Koons, Sherman and Warhol. Their current exhibition is

28 Chinese
中华廿八人

December 4, 2013 - August 1, 2014
二零一三年十二月四曰到二零一四年八月一
 
Above: Li Shurui, Inner Rainbow, 2011, acrylic on canvas, 71 x 94.5
 
Below: Zhu Jinshi, Baot, 2012, Xuan Paper, bamboo and cotton thread, 590in. x 137 x 165

 
The show is from the permanent collection and was amassed in China between 2001 and 2012, visiting one hundred artists’ studios and acquired artwork from twenty-eight artists. The collection and exhibition features paintings, photographs, sculptures and video installations. This will be the first exhibition in North America for many of these artists. The oldest artist in the exhibition was born in 1954 and the youngest was born in 1986. A fully illustrated, 262 page catalog with text by all of the artists.
 
The De La Cruz Collection: Recognizing the significance of their incredible collection, the pair periodically opens their home to let 3,000 Art Basel V.I.P.’s into their Key Biscayne home.
Can’t score an invite to the house? Then visit the 30K sq. ft., De la Cruz Collection Contemporary Art Space in the Miami Design District. The current exhibition, From the Collection: “Looking at Process”, explores works by 39 artists that focus on patterns and the laying bare of processes. Each artist explores distinct notions of production methods.
Looking at The Process at the De La Cruz Collection
 
Martin Margulies’ Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, is housed in a converted 45K sq. ft. warehouse in the Wynwood Arts District. The collection is one of the major collections of contemporary art in the world, the collection runs from Abstract Expressionism through Pop, Minimalism, and Conceptual Art, to monumental sculpture and recent installation and video works—not to mention vintage and contemporary photography. The current exhibition shows features Anselm Kiefer; Works by Chema Madoz on loan from Foto Colectania, Barcelona; New Photography by Olafur Eliasson, Jan Hoelk, and Doug Rikard.
 

The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse
 

Anselm Kiefer
 
 
Chema Madoz, Untitled, 1999, Gelatin silver print, modern print


 
A must see: The Whale Shark Series by Kristian Schmidt at MAPS Studio Backlot, 342 NW 24th Street.





Shot on location in the Philippines, Whale Shark Series highlights the phenomenal contrast between these majestic sea creatures and human beings, all the while raising awareness to the extinction of whale sharks


VIP Party by Miami artists Jim Drain and Bhakti Baxter, will create a five day "VIP Party" that will take place in cargo containers located on the waterfront area of Port Miami. Viewers Visible will become voyeurs to the most exclusive make-believe party during Art Basel.

VIP Party

 
Google Inc's Glass technology will team with New York resident artist David Datuna who will unveil his "Viewpoints of Billions", to create an interactive art experience.

 
 Our daughter models Google Glass

"Once you are fitted with Glass, your experience begins," explains Datuna. "The flag will communicate directly with its audience, prompting questions through the viewfinder of Glass. In other words, you will be having a conversation with the artwork - very cool.”

Viewpoint of Billions by artist David Datuna

"Viewpoint of Billions", is a 12ft. long multi-media work made up of 30K different parts featuring an American flag, is in the Design District at 97 NE 40 St., Miami.

 

 Keith Haring's Buick Special, at Piston Head
 
Art cars and luxury cares are another big theme this year. The exhibition, Piston Head, sponsored by Ferrari, features 14 cars transformed into art since 1970, is happening on the top floor of the Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron-designed parking garage located at 111 Lincoln Road in South Beach. Car artist include Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Richard Prince and Kenny Scharf.   
 


Jeff Koons BMW art car
 
Miami Botanical Garden: Jeff Koons is bringing the signed BMW ABMW M3 GT2 art car to North America for the first time. Koons collected images of race cars, related graphics, vibrant colors speed and explosions, resulting in artwork that is, "evocative of power, motion, and bursting energy".
 
Tesla art car by Laurence Gartel
 
Tesla, the invoative automaker from Silicon Valley, CA, has teamed with artist Laurence Gartel to create their own dazzling rolling piece of art.
 

Cindy Crawford arrives in the all-new Maserati Quattroporte GTS
 
 
 The Maserati debut party at Art Basel 2013 

The new Maserati Ghibli

Maserati hired model Cindy Crawford to drive up to the party in the all-new Maserati Quattroporte GTS at he the Art Miami VIP Preview Party. As the official car of Art Miami, VIPs and collectors will be chauffeured about between the various venues in the all-new Maserati Ghibli.
 
Absolut Vodka again created their famed bar, this year dubbed The Night Court art bar, designed by Ry Rocklen. The bar is located "Ocean front, between 21st and 22nd"....If you have to ask, don't go!
 
 
  
The Cartier Dôme, at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, boasts the most decadent, one-of-a-kind Cartier jewelry in a setting dubbed “Diamonds, Gold and Dreams,” takes place within the 4,000-square-foot, Jean Nouvel-designed Dome. Inside will be a seven-minute “floating diamond” projection that will be accompanied by a musical score.


The Miami Marine Stadium hosts "Floating Iceberg Chalet", an installation by  KOLKOZ, the art duo of Benjamin Moreau and Samuel Boutruche, who last year turned the sands of South Beach into a lunar-styled soccer field. The artists return this year with a new, equally wacky project: Erecting chalet-style home, complete with snow, on a floating platform. Sponsored by Audemars Piguet.
 
Floating Iceberg Chalet- Installation
 
 
Oh my gosh... could there be anymore? Oh yes, a lot more. Check in tomorrow for Part III!
 
 
Good night moon.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Art Basel Miami 2013: The Series, Part 1




Woo hoo!!!

Its that time of year again, to overdose on art! And there's no better time or place to do it than in Miami Beach which opened to the public today in this city by the sea.

Art Basel Miami Beach, in its 12th year, is an off shoot of its famous cousin in Switzerland, Art Basel. The show officially runs December 5th-8th, with private, invitation only openings last night and tonight. 50,000 attendees and over 250 galleries are expected from around the globe.


If you're considered a VIP by the powers that be, then you will have access to the private openings and collections that aren't open to the public, and to a fleet of chauffeur driven BMW's to whisk you between the three main venues. What's it take to be a considered a VIP? VIP status is awarded to individuals who are "engaged with the international art world at a high level".

 
 
 

Art Basel Miami Beach is divided into seven 'Sectors', which may be viewed at www.artbasel.com/en/miami-beach.com and click on Sectors.

There are two other venues at Art Basil Miami:






Art Miami at the Miami Pavilion (www.art-Miami.com). Art Miami has expanded to include two additional contemporary art fairs: CONTEXT, in a 45,000-square-foot pavilion adjacent to Art Miami in the Wynwood Arts District; and Aqua Art Miami, at the Aqua Hotel on Collins Avenue in South Beach.




Aqua Art Miami, pictured above and below, is uber cool and appeals to a younger, hipper crowd




In addition to galleries, there are panel discussions, special exhibitions at public venues throughout the city, including the Miami Design District, and much smaller less well known galleries who circulate their own outlaw version of the art fair, nestled into hotels and motels across Miami and South Beach. The last time we were at Art Basel Miami Beach, many of the more interesting artists were situated in these outlaw venues in and around South Beach. 

Not enough you say? Read on because there is much more going on during Art Basel Miami Beach.
There is Design Miami, billed as a global forum for design, which brings together the most influential collectors, gallerists, designers, curators and critics from around the world in celebration of design culture and commerce.



Then there's the multi-dimensional PULSE, which is four fairs in one, considered a more progressive venue of diverse galleries presenting a blend of "renowned and pioneering contemporary artists". Included are PULSE Projects, PULSE Play, IMPULSE, and PULSE Prize. Tired yet? There's more!



Check out NADA (New Art Dealers Association) at the Deauville Beach Resort, which promises to "explore new or underexposed art".




Another fair, Untitled, housed in a customized beachfront pavilion, places emphasis on "the quality of the viewer's experience and the contextualization of the artworks exhibited".



Below: Installation piece by Juan Vasquez



INK Miami is an art fair that focuses on contemporary works on paper by internationally renowned artists.



INK, at the Suites at Dorchester on Collins Avenue, shown below.




SCOPE, located on the sands of Miami Beach in a 70,000 sq. ft. pavilion, featuring an outdoor beach lounge and nestled amongst the iconic architecture of South Beach's Ocean Drive. Scope's emphasis is on activating emerging galleries and artists.
 
 


 
Above: Tom Fruin, Neon Noose, 2013. Hand bent neon tubes, electrical wire, hardware.



For the second year in a row, SCOPE will partner with VH1 with an on-site VH1 Indoor Lounge which will celebrate the crossover between art and music. Tomorrow night (Friday Dec, 6th) is the Official VH1 + SCOPE Party, featuring a performance by one of today's hottest musical artists, and mums the word on who it will be. The party is invite-only, but the public will have a chance to be a part of it all by situating themselves just outside the space.
 
 
 
This year, VH1 and SCOPE have picked one visual artist, Hebru Brantley (above), and one musical artist, Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean (below), to be featured in an on-air profile in which the two explore the symbiotic relationship between art, music and pop culture.

Brantley's work employs a variety of surfaces and media including wood, spray paint and tea, and draws influence from pop-culture reference points including comic-book heroes, Japanese anime and the bold aesthetics of street-art pioneers Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring.
Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean – an acclaimed hip-hop/R&B producer and rapper who’s worked with Jay Z, Beyonce, DMX, Drake and more – is an avid collector of Brantley’s work.
 


So, had enough? Well for those of you with insatiable appetites for contemporary and modern art check out the sites below:

PAPERMAG: Features a section "artsy fartsy", and has a five part series titled, "Arty parties, Our Mega Guide to Art Basel Miami 2013", by Gary Pini.
http://www.papermag.com/2013/10/our_mega_guide_to_art_basel_miami_2013_part_1.php

My Art Guides: (http://www.myartguides.com/art-basel-miami-beach-2013).

Social Miami: http://www.socialmiami.com/articles/Art-Basel-Miami-Beach.asp

ArtCollectiong.com lists descriptions of the myriad art fairs on their website,  http://art-collecting.com/miami_art_fairs.htm#ink_miami. They also publish a Day by Day Event Guide, http://art-collecting.com/daybyday_miami.htm.

These fairs are for serious collectors, and those that are serious about art. If you've inclined to say "my kid could do that!", then you should save your money and stay home as hotel rooms are very difficult to get at this late date.  I found an article titled, "How Are You Supposed to Respond to 'My kid can do that'?". Check it out: HYPER ALLERGIC (www.hyperallergic.com). Read it and have a chuckle!

Check in tomorrow for more on where and what to see.


Good night moon.