Art Basel Miami 2013 - some big time prints & big name folk

The glory that was Art Basel seen from a rooftop garage

I'm not keeping to the blog making and posting schedule I thought I would do. 

Key West, where I am right now, is keeping me distracted. 

But as I try to deal with all my jpg's I've put together another 

packet of pictures from Art Basel Miami 2013.

There was an official magazine section at the fair.

The only place I saw the silkscreen mass-produced t-shirt, but it was a good one.

And then around the corner on that aisle were the only printmaking booths that I came across at the show, though I never made the trek through the whole thing. In a later post I'll show you some prints from these booths but first I'll wow you with some famous stuff:

Man Ray works

Shepard Fairey prints drew a big crowd. 

 

 

 

 

Curiously, these were some of the only pieces with the price stated right there for all to see.

Across the aisle this drew me in

A Warhol "acrylic and silkscreen on canvas construction"

and the maker of this?

Art Basel Miami #2 -Whirlwind Tour pt1

Since it's really early (8:47am) and I went to bed late (4:00am) and I need to get some of my thoughts & images down here before it's all warm and fuzzy and I'm all like
 "Katie how was Art Basel?"
 "Oh, it was great,"
you know that kind of generalized warm and fuzzy not specific not-very-helpful statement of fact.

Claude Leveque         insane (2013)  neon on rusted bucket

I have enough material and thoughts for several posts on my Art Basel day one. Let me say that it is totally worth the effort, the flight, the waiting years to finally get here, the crowds, the confusion and the (mercy be kind to me Northern friends)  heat and bright summer levels of sun on my pale blue Canadian irises. There is so much to see and everywhere I turned, around every corner behind every wall in every booth there was something. Whether it was my-thing or not, it is joy to be in this atmosphere of Art and of Art Folks. The people, the crowd is so interesting.

To me, this is like jet fuel. So glad I am here. Let me show you some stuff now.

3D things

These first objects drew me in -- two Joan Miro bronzes (omg omg omg)

and this Claus Oldenberg Leaning Fork with Meatball and Spaghetti piece

and very shortly I was irritated. I wanted to see new work. While I am thrilled these works are here for me to encounter I want to see what people are making today. And so I kept on going and saw these.

A contemporary bronze:

and beside it was this:

Ceramics of one sort...

 and another... a favorite piece so far--just imagining the logistics of shipping had my mind racing:

Nearby was this:

 made like this:

and looking like this:

and here are some contemporary porcelain pots by Takuro Kuwata

understated

 

I would love to see his kiln shelves.

Art Basel Miami #1 - just getting to the show

We had planned to get to Art Basel on Thursday,  but car trouble (flat tire/power steering -yes, really) and travel fatigue forced us to slow down, take care of business and delay gratification. 

I was rewarded for my effort.

first sign of Miami Beach and the colour of things to come just around the corner

I'm really here.

Art Basel yonder

gorgeous water

Winter in Miami Beach

South Beach trees

Our Destination!

Much to Discuss