Art Basel

Greetings – This is an excuse to get writing again. Art Basel actually happened in early December but it is a fine topic for a posting.

The “Basel” in Art Basel is Basel, Switzerland. Forty years ago three art gallerists organized an exhibition of famous, established and rising artists. Within 5 years three hundred exhibitors participated. It quickly became on a par with the Venezia Biennale in the international art world. A little more than 10 years ago it expanded to the Miami area.

Since it was a December event the Baron and Baroness were not previously available for attendance since their Miami Beach arrival was usually scheduled for the new year. With the ‘great leap southward’ this year taking place in November, one of the top priorities was Art Basel.

With the Murphy bed beckoning, Rich and Val were invited to share in the festivities. These two had been instrumental in exposing much of the culture for B&B in the Miami area.

Rumors had been circulating that this would be the last year for the art celebration. In trying to verify the factualness of this claim it became obvious that the organization and distribution about the event was almost haphazard. Finally a local magazine published a comprehensive guide and the group was all set for exploring. It was also ascertained that this would not be the Swan Song.

It was decided that the numerous formal invitations to the opening of the new PAMM (Perez Art Museum of Miami), the VIP party at the convention center and various hotels would have to be ignored due to lack of cachet. This did not prevent the attendance at the public opening in Collins Park.

Sculpture and performance art were the main items. This included the truck from the movie “Duel”:

One very interesting Tug of War (she’s winning effortlessly of course):

There was even a performance piece in a vaulted structure now-become-a-chapel with Catholic confession as the ‘art’ being performed (hmmm).

The next day’s foray was made to “INK”. This is printed-on-paper material of all varieties. It was wonderfully hosted by Suites of Dorchester on Collins Ave:

As you can see this is the courtyard. Visitors wandered from suite to suite with the offerings ranging from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. It was an engaging, casual atmosphere with a SOBE ambiance. And, best of all, it was also free!

Concurrently, our own Abondonza von D’Lucci (Katy Richard) was coordinating our meeting a Lafayette, LA artist named Francis Pavy. Francis’ gallery was exhibiting his work and he would be in attendance.

A real artist… be still my palette! The Baron became the contact person.

It was decided that the big bucks would be laid out for the Design Miami and Art Basel exhibitions. Design Miami was essentially interior design which included an entire house on display in the showroom (maintaining its interior qualification). Of particular curiosity was a, at first, familiar grandfather clock. Upon waiting a moment, the image of a man of modest age appeared behind the frosty clock face and observers were regaled with his erasing the current hands of the clock and the redrawing of new ones depicting the current time:

On the hour he ‘drew’ the new time and then produced a small hammer and struck a bell above the clockface. We were told there would be a cup of coffee drunk at an appropriate hour. Of course there was a partner Grandmother Clock. Too cool.

Val found some appropriate furniture:

Art Basel was our next destination. This was the convention center itself and it would be where we would meet Francis. Given the fact that there were several acres of exhibition space at the center, it did not take too long for rendezvous. The art was overwhelming; essentially a modern Uffizi. The best part was getting Francis’ impressions and discussing our own.

Eventually it was decided to call it a day and home for dinner. Francis joined the crew as they partook of a feast concocted by Richie. Prior to their arrival, the request had gone out for sheets of pasta to be obtained on a given day. Gini successfully found Mr. Pasta on 73^rd st in the Normandy Isle area. Richie bravely rented a Miami Deco bike and wended his way up the island and survived to return with sheets safely stowed.

Note the impressive presentation.

Francis agreed to meet with his gallery owner over in Miami at the Art Miami portion of the extravaganza. With fluid southern charm he announced our VIP status and produced passes for Art Miami and a couple of other events.

At times it was hard to tell what the organizational differences were among Art Basel, Art Miami and other large scale exhibits. However, one was guaranteed to find something interesting in all of the venues.

Francis’ work did not disappoint:

This picture was copied from his Arthur Rogers gallery site (http://arthurrogergallery.com/artists/francis-x-pavy/). Recommended is a perusal of http://www.pavy.com. Arthur, himself, was introduced to us as Francis continued to charm and enlighten. A nice night at Balan’s provided the site of our adieu to the Atchafalayan artist. Laissez les bons temps rouler.

The Wynwood art district was the next destination. This is located very close to the Art Miami site and sits between Midtown Miami and Little Havana. Ordinarily a destination of its own sans Art Basel, the neighborhood was dynamically engaged with the festival’s itinerary. Mural artists in mid-spray abounded. Richie did a fabulous job capturing the flavor with his camera and okayed the viewing of the following shots. Thank you muchly.

Of course the foray began with a photographic gallery. Votes were entered as to personal favorites before venturing out to other galleries. There was art from Africa, Asia, South America, local, extra-terrrestial, well…maybe not extra-terrestial.

Richie took an interesting approach in that he would capture the art, yes, but more so the artist and the environment.

There was a PB&J food truck to give credibility to the import of the day:

There were “pop-up” items such as a gallery in a free lot space:

or an instant hat shop:

Then there is the media:

This section of Miami has become one of our favorite spots. It has incredible ambiance:

It is alive with sensibilities that vibrate with life, passion and compassion.

Done hours after his death:

Peace be to us all.

The area does announce itself:

Should you be in the area that café is highly recommended (Wynwood Kitchen and Bar Food).

Watching them all work was a treat since it is serendipitous when you come visit Wynwood outside of Art Basel week.

The men:

Performing art?

The women:

Then there is someone we called The Master:

 

Certain shots were just a capture of unique moments discerned by the observer and our Mr. Beaubien has quite a good eye:

Of course we had to succumb to the allure of owning our own art. Francis was our first choice. Negotiations are going well but this may not be the right moment for such a serious purchase. So the next best choice was to bargain with “Captain Phil” in a sandlot pop-up gallery. His initial two hundred dollar proposal for the work on cardboard was halved and the five foot by five and a half foot piece was secured. Gini, Rich and Val were insecured as there was no room for anything but the painting. It was delicately curled and maneuvered into the Element. Chris then had to negotiate Art Basel/Miami rush hour traffic across the Venetian Causeway then home. He could not help but chortle (chortles are like that) at his predicament:

 

Trip number 2 was equally successful as the humans were collected and transported home. After much serious collaboration about the method of display, the living room scenario echoed the aesthetics of the week:

However, there is something to be said about the expansive and perhaps essential nature of South Beach and Miami. This was displayed by a nomadic group whose incipient query must have been, “Where’s the art?”: