Back of the Envelope Travel Guide: Art Basel Miami Beach
11/27/2007 at 12:00 PM
Tags: Art Basel Miami Beach, Art, Art Galleries, Festivals, Miami Beach Travel (all tags)
The phrase "most important art show in the United States," when placed next to "Miami Beach", makes us uncomfortable, because Miami is the city that brought us The Birdcage, Miami Sound Machine and Perez Hilton. But from December 6-9, Miami switches from sweltering to sophisticated, playing host to Art Basel Miami Beach, arguably the country's most noteworthy art fair.
Now in its 6th year, Art Basel Miami Beach has added an additional 18 satellite shows to its roster. In addition to events taking place at the Miami Beach Convention Center, the fair's newest additions have elbowed into Art Basel's already jam-packed list of events. Depending upon your area of interest in the arts, the fair doesn't need to be so overwhelming. We've broken down a few of the newest additions that are worth checking out.
OUR GUIDE TO THE SHOWS
New Art Dealers Alliance: Catering to young, contemporary artists and operating with an air of considerably less snootiness than some of the fair's more highbrow events, NADA runs from December 5-9. Entrance to shows during these days is free, though $100 or $150 tickets for the alliance's Dec. 4 opening are available. Visitors willing to pony up the extra bucks will get to see San Francisco-based indie rockers Deerhoof wail away next to cutting-edge art.
Design Miami: A combination of installation and sculpture, Design Miami also acts as a merging of art and performance. Visitors can head to the Moore Design Building, where Japanese artist Tokujin Yoshioka converted the building's entire fourth floor into an environment made entirely of straw. Or, head downstairs to watch a hypnotist build sculptures based on the images described by those he has entranced. Best of all, being engulfed by straw is completely free on December 4 and 5, with a $15 entrance fee for the remainder of the fair.
Scope Miami 2007: More VIP-focused than NADA, the $12-per-person show, which runs December 5-9, is housed in an artist-designed pavillion and features work from 98 exhibitors. The real highlight of the event, however, is The Urban Nomad Project, a mini-festival featuring a compilation of films from artists in China, North Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia.
Art Miami: Though this side show normally takes place in the January after Art Basel, Art Miami is making its debut as part of the show proper this year. With works from 100 galleries in a 100,000 square foot pavilion, Art Miami takes a broad approach and includes art and artists from a variety of genres, styles and continents. In addition, the event prides itself on being "the only fair to offer VIP visitors the services of an art adviser." Spend your $5 million wisely!
Related Stories:
· Art Basel Miami Beach [Official Site]
· Art by The Beach, But No Sand Castles [NYT]
· Art Basel MB coverage [Jaunted]
· Art Basel MB coverage [HotelChatter]
[Photo of Scope Miami: Peter Duhon]
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