Art Basel Miami 2015 | Modern art showcase
Art Basel Miami Beach is the most prominent contemporary art show in the Americas. This year Basel looks bigger than ever, with 267 exhibitors from 32 countries headed to South Beach December 3 – 6 to show off the works of around 4,000 modern and contemporary artists. Showcasing modern art for sale, ranging from early 20th-century works to cutting-edge contemporary art. In addition to the original setting another 18 fairs are confirmed and coinciding with AB/MB. Continuing a trend that began last year, Miami Beach is set to keep dominating the side-fair scene.
BandMark is expanding its horizons and covering the global art fair. Thanks to a number of reliable online sources (Midtown Miami Magazine and the Miami Herald) I was able to wrap my head around the huge media coverage awaiting me. My 3 day art bender goes as follows…
ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH
The Big Fair is a showcase for what is arguably the very best artwork for sale on the planet — at least in December. Even if you’re not a deep-pocketed buyer, Art Basel Miami Beach offers a remarkable opportunity to survey modern and contemporary art in a single space, all in one city. Look for works by Bill Viola, Fred Tomaselli and John Cage at the James Cohan booth, a salon-style hanging of contemporary masterpieces curated by former Guggenheim curator Germano Celant at Galerie Gmurzynska, and work by El Anatsuit, Nick Cave and Carrie Mae Weems at Jack Shainman.
Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach. Open 3-8 pm. Thursday; noon-8 pm. Friday-Saturday; noon-6 pm Sunday. Tickets $47 one-day, $30 students/senior; artbasel.com
ART MIAMI
If bigger is better, the sculptures offered at this year’s Art Miami fair in Midtown are a must-see. Ultra high-net worth individuals have been scooping them up for their grand estates, but even those with mere cubby holes can appreciate Alexander Calder’s 6,000-pound Spiral (No to Frank Lloyd Wright) and Antony Gormley’s futuristic Domain XV, measuring in at 75 inches is only slightly shorter than D-Wade.
The Art Miami Pavilion, 3101 NE First Ave., Midtown. 11 am-8 pm. Wednesday-Saturday; 11 am-6 pm. Sunday. Tickets: $40. artmiamifair.com
UNREALISM
Star art dealers Jeffrey Deitch and Larry Gagosian will be collaborating for the first time on Unrealism, a one-time exploration of contemporary figurative painting and sculpture. An exhibition of more than 100 works by 50 artists in a historical context through the four floors surrounding the atrium of the Moore Building in the Design District. As Deitch knows all too well, art trends are cyclical, and figurative was bound to rise in popularity: “It’s interesting to see how every generation makes it contemporary.” Look for work by Tala Madani, Emily Mae Smith and Jonathan Gardner, among others.
3841 NE Second Ave., Miami Design District. Free. 11 am to 8 pm, Wednesday-Sunday.
THE PORTAL
The Sagamore is known as the Art Hotel because of its permanent and changing exhibitions. But this year’s highlight, The Portal, is designed to foster understanding in ways far beyond the visual. For 20 minutes at a time, visitors can step inside a gold, internet-enabled shipping container and talk with an individual in Afghanistan, Cuba or Iran. Founded by Amar Bakshi, a former journalist wants others to experience the kind of meaningful interactions with strangers he had while traveling. “We’re creating a space where people encounter one another with no particular purpose.” a kind of global public square. Language won’t be an issue; each portal is staffed with both a translator and a local curator.
Sagamore Hotel, 1671 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. 8 am to midnight, Tuesday-Sunday.
100+ DEGREES IN THE SHADE
Independent curator Jane Hart, formerly of the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, has succeeded in creating an art fair that Basel week has always needed. 100+ Degrees in the Shade: A Survey of South Florida Art, brings together the work of more than 150 local artists in nine venues stretching from Girls’ Club in Fort Lauderdale to Bridge Red Studios in North Miami, the Design District and downtown Miami. Most venues showcase work by multiple artists; Frederic Snitzer is presenting a solo show of work by Kenny Sharf.
Times and days vary; find a schedule and download a map at 100degressintheshade.com.
LITTLEST SISTER FAIR
Gallery owner Anthony Spinello launches his Little River space with the fourth Littlest Sister, a “faux” invitation art fair featuring 10 unrepresented women-identified Miami artists in a presentation curated by Sofia Bastidas. Each artist has a solo booth; the fair also includes a sector on sound and performance presentations and a series of critical panels exploring arts and real estate, writing, design and collecting.
7221 NW Second Ave.; littlestsister.com. 8-11 pm. Monday; noon-7 pm. Tuesday-Sunday. Free.
FLASH
Rocker Lenny Kravitz, who has already conquered the music and design worlds, turns his talents to photography. Flash, a 50-photo collection, represents Kravitz’s professional debut in the medium, exploring what it means to be a musician in the public’s eye public — and a fave of paparazzi.
160 NE 40th Street, Miami Design District. Free. Wednesday-Sunday, 11 am-8 pm.
PORE
Though Martha Friedman’s dramatic Pore exhibition will be on display through Jan. 9, this week is the last chance to catch New York choreographer / dancer Silas Riener’s performance as he interacts with the installation.
3852 N. Miami Ave., Miami Design District. Performances Monday-Sunday; for times see locustprojects.org. Free.
SPENCER FINCH ICE CREAM TRUCK
For fans of edible art, American artist Spencer Finch is bringing his solar-powered ice cream truck to the Hyde Midtown, where he’ll scooping out soft-serve cones in sunset-hued “edible monochromes.”
3401 NE First Ave., Midtown Miami. Free. 5-10 pm. Tuesday, 1-8 pm. Wednesday-Saturday.
QUIET ROOMS
Loews Miami Beach Hotel, 1601 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. 11 am-6 pm. Tuesday-Saturday. quietrooms.casper.com
SHARP RIDES
Any true car buff will argue that a sleekly designed automobile is art. To underscore the point, Elo, founder of the London Motor Museum, is staging a daylong promenade of more than 60 exotic cars. The event is a preview to Miami Super car Rooms, a rare auto museum and unusual dining concept that allows six people to dine privately with a one-of-a-kind car in a custom-built aluminum pod; it’s slated to open in February.
NW First Court between NW 20th and 23rd streets, Wynwood. Open 10 am-6 pm Sunday. Free.
