Art Miami and Art Basel / Miami Beach

[Karl-G]

.

If you are at all interested in art, the two biggest and best art fairs in the world will be coming to Miami and Miami Beach from Dec. 4-9. The fairs bring together hundreds of the best galleries in the world, with all of their treasures, as well as hundreds of smaller galleries and individual artist representing the best of contemporary art. It would be impossible to see this much art anywhere else, anytime. And the location is superb - South Florida in the winter, with sunny days and temperatures probably in the low 80s, sunny skies, and balmy evenings so you can eat outdoors.

 

And it is a great deal of fun. The number of openings, receptions, and parties, as well as the major art exhibitions is tremendous. If you can and are serious, plan on spending at least two days at each, to really be able to see and enjoy the work. Then there are all the other "satellite" fairs.

 

If you have never been, Art Miami is held in a gigantic tent right alongside Biscayne Bay and is celebrating its 29th year as an event. The huge rectangular space is divided by aisles, alongside which are several hundred booths. Many galleries spend thousands of dollars creating their booths. Each displays the best work it has for sale. Artists create large scale works if they hope to sell them to museums; they create smaller, human-scaled works for sale to individuals and to make a living. You never would see these works except at the fairs; they spend their entire lives in private collections, giving someone great pleasure. At the fairs, you get to share that pleasure for a time. For example, Robert Motherwell paintings in museums are all gigantic "Elegy to the Spanish Republic" paintings. But Motherwell spent of his time creating smaller, wonderful works in a variety of media. His is always one of my favorites to look for. Helen Frankenthaler is known for her huge soak-and-stain paintings, which museums crave. But it is the smaller prints, some woodblocks, which are glorious and gorgeous, and they will be at the fairs. There will be lots of Warhol, more than you would see in any individual museum. Especially this year, with the big retrospective at the Whitney giving him lots of publicity.

 

But this is South Florida, with a large Latino population. Both fairs will have a good selection of prime works by Latin American artists, from Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo to Fernando Botero, Gunther Gerszo, and fiber artists from Brazil and Argentina. There will also be more Asian artists, as American galleries look for the best art from China and Japan. And gallery dealers are always on hand to explain and talk about the art. So I always learn a tremendous amount each year.

 

Art Miami is in Miami across the street from the Arsht Center for the Arts and right alongside Biscayne Bay. Lots of parking at the Omni Garage one block away. Public transportation: take the Bright Line train to the Miami station and switch to the free people mover (elevated train) going to the Arsht Center. Art Basel is at the big Convention Center in Miami Beach. Traffic will be heavy, but the municipal ramp right across the street is very large and cheap, and valet parking is not really bad and very convenient.

 

If you like art or are interested in art, it really is worth a trip to Miami and Miami Beach.

 

https://www.artmiami.com/

https://www.artbasel.com/miami-beach/at-the-show

[Karl-G]

.

If you are at all interested in art, the two biggest and best art fairs in the world will be coming to Miami and Miami Beach from Dec. 4-9. The fairs bring together hundreds of the best galleries in the world, with all of their treasures, as well as hundreds of smaller galleries and individual artist representing the best of contemporary art. It would be impossible to see this much art anywhere else, anytime. And the location is superb - South Florida in the winter, with sunny days and temperatures probably in the low 80s, sunny skies, and balmy evenings so you can eat outdoors.

 

And it is a great deal of fun. The number of openings, receptions, and parties, as well as the major art exhibitions is tremendous. If you can and are serious, plan on spending at least two days at each, to really be able to see and enjoy the work. Then there are all the other "satellite" fairs.

 

If you have never been, Art Miami is held in a gigantic tent right alongside Biscayne Bay and is celebrating its 29th year as an event. The huge rectangular space is divided by aisles, alongside which are several hundred booths. Many galleries spend thousands of dollars creating their booths. Each displays the best work it has for sale. Artists create large scale works if they hope to sell them to museums; they create smaller, human-scaled works for sale to individuals and to make a living. You never would see these works except at the fairs; they spend their entire lives in private collections, giving someone great pleasure. At the fairs, you get to share that pleasure for a time. For example, Robert Motherwell paintings in museums are all gigantic "Elegy to the Spanish Republic" paintings. But Motherwell spent of his time creating smaller, wonderful works in a variety of media. His is always one of my favorites to look for. Helen Frankenthaler is known for her huge soak-and-stain paintings, which museums crave. But it is the smaller prints, some woodblocks, which are glorious and gorgeous, and they will be at the fairs. There will be lots of Warhol, more than you would see in any individual museum. Especially this year, with the big retrospective at the Whitney giving him lots of publicity.

 

But this is South Florida, with a large Latino population. Both fairs will have a good selection of prime works by Latin American artists, from Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo to Fernando Botero, Gunther Gerszo, and fiber artists from Brazil and Argentina. There will also be more Asian artists, as American galleries look for the best art from China and Japan. And gallery dealers are always on hand to explain and talk about the art. So I always learn a tremendous amount each year.

 

Art Miami is in Miami across the street from the Arsht Center for the Arts and right alongside Biscayne Bay. Lots of parking at the Omni Garage one block away. Public transportation: take the Bright Line train to the Miami station and switch to the free people mover (elevated train) going to the Arsht Center. Art Basel is at the big Convention Center in Miami Beach. Traffic will be heavy, but the municipal ramp right across the street is very large and cheap, and valet parking is not really bad and very convenient.

 

If you like art or are interested in art, it really is worth a trip to Miami and Miami Beach.

 

https://www.artmiami.com/

https://www.artbasel.com/miami-beach/at-the-show

[cany10011]

Thank you for this info!

[Kenny]

I hope you are on the payroll.

[+ nycman]

I hope you are on the payroll.

It’s kind of obvious that he is.

 

I mean it’s fun and all.....but it’s not quiet THAT orgiastic.