Art Basel and the 2009 MIAMI satellite shows

Next week we head down to Florida for the Miami Basel Art Fair. The fair and satellite shows open as early as December 1 and run as late as December 7, 2009.
Art Basel Miami Beach is the main feature and, of course, is amazing ... held at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Art Basel is the most important art show in the United States, combining a selection of more than 250 top galleries and art dealers from around the world with special exhibitions and crossover events featuring music, film, architecture and design.

We personally thrive on getting all over town with all the other collectors, buyers, on-lookers, artists, students ... soaking in the fresh, established, emerging and out-there art shown at the satellite fairs! We will see what we can see, and report back to you on our finds, likes and dislikes, overview of each fair and reviews of selected artists!

THE 2009 SATELLITE SHOWS INCLUDE:

Aqua Wynwood 12.3 – 12.6
42 NE 25th St.- Wynwood Art District
Aqua features nearly 40 galleries from throughout North America and Europe, with an emphasis on West Coast galleries and emerging artists.

Art Miami 12.3 – 12.6
The Art Miami Pavilion Midtown Blvd. (Northeast 1st Avenue) between Northeast 32nd & 31st Streets
featuring approximately 90 galleries from Europe, Asia and the Americas – with an emphasis on galleries showing mid-career and established artists.

Art Asia 12.2 – 12.6
Soho Studios Miami - 2136 NW 1st Ave.- Wynwood Art District
60 galleries together to showcase paintings, photography, sculpture, mixed media, video and installations from established and emerging Asian artists.

ARTery Miami 12.2 – 12.6
Soho Studios - 71 NW 36th Street
ARTery is a cultural and visual arts partnership comprised of Soho Studios Miami, a consortium of Florida collectors, international art dealers, publishers, galleries and artists.

Design Miami 12.1 – 12.5
NE 39th Street and 1st Court - Miami Design District
Design Miami presents the best international design galleries exhibiting extraordinary historic and contemporary design.

Femme Art Miami 12.1 – 12.6
Coppertone Building - 7283 Biscayne Blvd.
Femme Art Miami creates a platform for emerging female artists to showcase, promote and sell their art during this important season.

Fountain 12.3 - 12.6
2505 North Miami Ave.
An exhibition of avant garde artwork.

Grafitti Gone Global 12.3 - 12.6
Midtown Miami - 3252 NE 1st Ave., Suite 101
Showing the dexterity of street art around the world. From traditional to experimental graffiti art.

INK Miami 12.2 - 12.6
Suites of Dorchester - 1850 Collins Ave.
Showcasing notable publishers and dealers who exhibit new publications, projects and acquisitions by leading contemporary artists.

NADA Art Fair Miami 12.3 - 12.6
The Deauville Beach Resort - 6701 Collins Ave.
The New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) features 88 emerging art galleries from 19 countries as well as performances, lectures, and events.

Pool Art Fair 12.4 - 12.6
Cavalier Hotel - 1320 Ocean Dr.
A meeting ground for outstanding artists, primarily those who do not have yet gallery representation.

PULSE Miami 12.3 - 12.6
Ice Palace - 1400 N Miami Ave.
Presenting leading international galleries and artists showcasing the latest movements in contemporary art designed to serve both seasoned and emerging collectors.

Red Dot Fair 12.2 - 12.6
3011 NE 1st Ave. at NW 31st Street - Wynwood Arts District
More than 50 international, modern contemporary art dealers from around the world showing Paintings, photography, sculpture ...

SCOPE International Contemporary Art Fair 12.2 - 12.6
Soho Studios - 2136 NW 1st Ave. (entrance at 21st Street) - Wynwood Arts District
Miami’s original emerging contemporary art fair, hosting 88 exhibitors from 22 countries.

Sculpt Miami 12.2 - 12.6
46 NW 36 St. - Wynwood Arts District
Combining an international selection of over 30 top sculptors with other exciting cultural events.

Tribal Miami Art Show 12.3 - 12.6
The Catalina Hotel - 1732 Collins Ave. at 18th
An international show of fine antique tribal art.

Verge 12.2 - 12.6
The Catalina Hotel - 1732 Collins Ave.
Thirty exhibitors featuring international, exciting and interesting in new and emerging art.

Zones Art Fair Miami 12.3 - 12.7
Zones Art Space - 47 NE 25th St. - Wynwood Art District
A niche fair/event, including a food-tasting session, talks, cocktails, exhibition, video screenings, music, performance and publications.

DECEMBER and Miami Art Fairs ...

WOW a week not to miss (Dec. 2 thru 7, 2008) in Miami if ART is your thing! Art Basel is the main event to some ... but I am more into the satellite fairs - A better mix, more of what is new and now - and hey, art that someone in my position can actually buy if something catches my eye!!!

MY QUICK OVERVIEW:

Art Miami - Top level - over 100 galleries, both national and international. So much to see - whether you like paintings, photography, sculpture, video ... fresh faces or the masters. All was well organized and easy to enjoy. My Favorite: Wilde Gallery / Artist: EVOL/CT'INK. Spray paintings on cardboard!
http://www.wilde-gallery.com/artist_evol.html check it out!

Aqua - Wynwood and Hotel - This used to be my favorite show ... we went opening night, there was a great turnout and the art was interesting. I still love the open hotel setting! but I leaned towards liking Aqua Wynwood much better (over all my #1 show) ! The location was a little hard to find and the aisles were hard to follow in the beginning (more like a maze) but relaxed booth settings, it did not feel like a trade show. A wonderful mix of art, unique - great quality, edgy and variety of art and medium. Favorite: Kasia Kay Art Projects / Artist: Qin Fengling - http://www.kasiakaygallery.com/ a different form of painting right out of the tube - close up or from a distance the work says a lot!

Red Dot - Great Fair! Nice overall look and feel, Organized well and wide aisles - approximately 40 galleries. This show seemed to be a little safer in the work shown - not too edgy, but interesting, I might even say decorative. It was nice to see 3D objects more integrated with the 2D pieces - but don't let that scare you away - make the effort! They are located right in the middle of the Wynwood Art District so it is easy to find and get to.

Bridge - Wynwood seemed a little disorganized looking, the quality of the fair overall was a little more experimental and edgy, maybe even rough at the edges, but a great start for a first time non-hotel show! ... A good selection of international galleries.
The Hotel fair always has a great bustle to it ... a perfect place to sit out front to people watch.
The hotel was not full room to room with art, so we were disappointed there, but we enjoyed the presentation and liked EVERYTHING in the room by: Toomey Tourell http://www.toomey-tourell.com/ not a total bust after all. Great Bloody-Marys at the bar!

NADA - This fair always gets the greatest verbal buzz ... I guess I just don't understand conceptual art as much as everyone else. I thought in years past the craftsmanship and overall mix of work was much better than what I saw this year. It is a great place to see what is new and what young artists are going thru in their experimental phases ... don't skip it, but go with an open mind.

SCOPE - This fair I liked a lot - edgy with a polish. We attended Wednesday and the galleries were still hanging work and putting on the final touches, which was a little distracting, but the quality was fantastic and the work and ideas were fresh! I noticed a few continuing (popular) techniques from fair to fair - one was a focus on cut paper art, the other was graffiti artists moving to the next level. Favorite Artist here: Shepard Fairey.

PULSE - This fair was segmented into multiple rooms, each area had a different feel to it. Great galleries and fine quality in the artists. We went slow and really enjoyed the whole thing. I can't say I had a favorite gallery or artist, I always like the work by: Brian Dettmer - Again cut paper seems to be a new trend of art ... and I like it!

Art Now - This fair seemed to be artists representing themselves, more than a gallery feature - More entry level and less refined. best find ...
lobby had facinating photography by Stasys - the Thomas Masters Gallery http://www.thomasmastersgallery.com/artist_view.php?id=77 (a personal favorite of mine!)

there are more ... we ran out of time!