Shade Compositions (2009) by Rashaad Newsome.(Courtesy Frederic Snitzer Gallery, Miami)
By Jenifer M. Vogt
Beginning Thursday, the contemporary art world will be in Miami Beach and its environs for the second largest art fair in the world: Art Basel Miami Beach.
This includes artists, art critics, private dealers, advisers, galleries, curators, collectors, celebrities – and yes, mere lovers of art. The known, the not-so-known, the conservative and the bizarre — all will preen, posture and push their way through the heavy crowds to view artworks from both emerging and well-established artists for the first time. Millions of dollars will change hands as people vie for work by the next big star or biggest art-world phenomenon.
Frederic Snitzer, owner of the Frederic Snitzer Gallery in Miami and also a member of the Art Basel Selection Committee, puts it this way:
“There is an enormous amount of competition for a limited amount of material,” he said.
This competition takes place on multiple levels. Galleries compete to woo the top collectors. Avid collectors compete to acquire the best work. “People practically kill to get into the early previews,” Snitzer said.
“Art Basel” itself is one fair, but it has also become an umbrella phrase for the 20 or so satellite, smaller fairs that take place simultaneously each December. They run the gamut from innovative to kitschy and appeal to a diverse audience. But most repeat attendees agree that there are three significant satellite fairs not to miss if you’re a trend watcher.
These are the New Art Dealer’s Alliance (NADA) Art Fair, Scope Miami and Pulse Miami (This is not to say that the others aren’t good. The Miami Beach Visitor’s Bureau has a list of all the fairs: http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/visitors/art_basel_satellite_09.asp).
Art Basel Miami Beach is housed at the Miami Beach Convention Center.Here’s a look at the main fair and these three satellites:
Art Basel Miami Beach
The first stop is the Miami Beach Convention Center for Art Basel Miami Beach, which is the sister show of world’s largest art fair, Art Basel Switzerland, now in its 42nd year. Art Basel Miami Beach features more than 250 leading galleries from North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa, showing works by more than 2,000 artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. The show comprises the world’s most prestigious galleries and will set the stage for the art world for the following year.
Wendy Blazier, chief curator of The Boca Raton Museum of Art, attends each year to remain aware of trends and emerging artists.
“Art Basel is the most important art fair in North America,” Blazier said. “It allows the average person, as well as the most erudite scholar, access to galleries from around the world without having to travel. In five hours or so, you can see every major gallery in the world.”
In order to navigate Art Basel, one should be aware that there are different components. Art Galleries is the main sector and features 180 galleries that were selected during the highly competitive selection process. The Art Kabinett program is where these galleries present small, curated exhibitions. In the Art Nova sector, 50 emerging and established galleries from 17 countries are presenting new works by either two or three artists.
Art Positions creates a platform for a single major project from one artist, allowing curators, critics and collectors to discover ambitious new talents. Art Public features projects by internationally renowned artists installed in the outdoor public spaces.
Apart from the exhibits there are numerous public art lectures and salon-type events. There’s even a nightlife component beautifully situated at an oceanfront pavilion built just for this occasion. But don’t worry if it’s all starting to seem a bit overwhelming. There are plenty visual aids throughout the show, and they even have a helpful iPhone/Blackberry app: http://www.artbaselmiamibeach.com/go/id/jph/
Having curators such as Blazier in attendance contributes to the life cycle of the art, which, hopefully, will end up in museum exhibits, creating prestige and enhancing value. Galleries spend an enormous amount of money to participate in these fairs to reach diverse art world constituents in one location. It’s worth it, Snitzer said.
“The art market now doesn’t reflect the rest of the economy. As the recent auctions indicated, it is very strong,” he said.
One might assume that a fair as prestigious as Art Basel Miami Beach would be far beyond the price range for novice or newer collectors, but think again.
“The number one mistake that people make is to believe that the fair is not somehow accessible to them. They may go to the satellite shows to collect, but they’d be surprised that there is a great range of prices.” Snitzer said.
Snitzer’s gallery will exhibit new work by Rashaad Newsome, a video artist who was recently featured in the Whitney Biennial with a piece in which Newsome orchestrates a group of women using a Nintendo Wii.
The New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) Art Fairgathers at the Deauville Beach Resort on Miami Beach.
(Photo by Dakota Fine)
New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) Art Fair
Now in its eighth year, the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) Art Fair is recognized as a significant showcase for emerging galleries. The fair is free and open to the public, reflecting this not-for-profit’s mission to make contemporary art more accessible to the general public. The fair will feature 89 galleries from around the world, as well as performances, lectures, and events, and draws attention to innovative contemporary art from rising stars.
This year NADA will unveil a new initiative — NADA Projects — developed to augment the fair’s gallery presentations with innovative and idiosyncratic projects. These more economically sized booths will allow young galleries and non-profits to participate.
The prices for NADA artists can range from a few hundred dollars to $100,000. This fair is often noted as a launching pad for future participation in Art Basel.
Pandora (2010), by Enrique Gomez de Molina.(Courtesy Spinello Gallery, Miami)
Scope Art Show
Scope Art Show, now in its 10th year, has made its mark by showcasing the most bizarre and innovative emergent art from around the world and returns this year to its 2008 midtown Miami location — an 80,000-square-foot pavilion centrally located in the heart of the Wynwood Gallery Arts District.
Scope will present 85 international galleries, upholding its tradition of solo
and thematic group shows presented alongside museum-quality programming, collector tours, screenings, and special events. Scope is often viewed as the leading creative R+D arena for a wider audience of tastemakers who make art their business.
“Scope is a very good fit for the artists I’m showing,” said Anthony Spinello, owner of the Spinello Gallery in Miami. “It’s known for being cutting-edge and experimental. Scope features both emerging and mid-career artists while Basel is more blue-chip. Scope introduces new artists with potential – diamonds in the rough.”
Spinello is optimistic about both the sales and the quality of the work. “I think this will be the best year. Sales have been very positive and expected to continue to be so. The work I’m exhibiting is the best I’ve exhibited,” he said.
Spinello’s gallery will exhibit new work by Cuban artist Enrique Gomez de Molina, who creates hybrid creatures that are meant to be both fascinating and humorous.
Dripping Fireworks (2009), by Sarah Anne Johnson,featured at Pulse Contemporary Art Fair.
(Courtesy of the artist and Julie Saul Gallery, New York).
Pulse Contemporary Art Fair
While Art Basel is perceived as blue chip and NADA and Scope as directly on the cutting edge, Cornell DeWitt, the new executive director of the Pulse Contemporary Art Fair, sees that fair’s niche as resting somewhere in between.
“Pulse does the best job, hands down, with bridging the gap in between Basel and the satellite fairs,” DeWitt said. “While Basel has the most established artists and the satellite fairs have younger, newer artists, Pulse has the younger galleries and new artists, as well as very established galleries and artists.”
DeWitt (pictured at right in a photo by Adam Golfer) also anticipates positive sales and predicts this to be a breakout year.
“One trend I’ve noticed is that, after a couple of years where people were concerned about the art market, this year people are excited,” he said. “Galleries are not being as cautious. They’re ready to give it all they’ve got.”
DeWitt has renewed Pulse’s commitment to Miami. “We don’t want to be seen as carpetbaggers. I’ve made it a priority to involve Miami. We have the largest number of Miami galleries and artists. We’ve involved the Miami community, such as a partnership with the New World Symphony.”
Basel’s presence, as well as the presence of the satellite fairs, solidifies Miami’s reputation as a key global location for making, buying, selling and viewing art. But Miami is unique because, while other fairs have an air of snobbery and elitism, Miami is known as the place where people can view incredible art and let their hair down.
DeWitt, who relocated from New York, enjoys the different vibe in Miami and Miami Beach.
“No other fair scene – not London, New York, Basel – has the same energy and excitement. Miami is a blast and I love it.”
Blazier agrees: “The world is coming to our doorstep for an art party.”
Jenifer Mangione Vogt is a marketing communications professional and resident of Boca Raton. She’s been enamored with painting for most of her life. She studied art history and received her B.A. from Purchase College.
Art Basel Miami Beach takes place from Dec. 2-5 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Hours are Thursday through Saturday, noon to 8 p.m.; Sunday, noon until 6 p.m. Admission is $36 for a one-day ticket, $60 for a two-day ticket, $75 for a permanent pass, and $20 for an evening ticket (valid from 4 p.m.). A reduced one-day ticket (students with ID, senior citizens aged 62 and above, groups of 10 or more) is $22. Free admission for children under 16 accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit www.artbaselmiamibeach.com.
New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) Art Fair takes place Dec. 2-5 at the Deauville Beach Resort, Miami Beach. Hours are Thursday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Call 212-594-0883, or visit www.newartdealers.org.
Scope Miami takes place from Dec. 1-5 in an 80,000-square-foot pavilion at 3055 N. Miami Ave. (at the corner of NW 36th St.) in the heart of the Wynwood Gallery Arts District, Miami. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $20. For more information, visit www.scope-art.com/Index.php/miami/.
Pulse Contemporary Art Fair takes place Dec. 2-5 at The Ice Palace, 1400 N. Miami Ave. (at NW 14th St.), Miami. Hours: Thursday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 or $10 for students, seniors and groups. For more information, visit www.pulse-art.com/miami.