Art Basel Miami Beach: grad painters see for themselves

By Carrie Johnson, graduate painter: “Before my stay there this month I thought it was odd to hear “art” in the same sentence with “Miami.” I have always thought of Miami in terms defined by Miami Vice, CSI:Miami or Golden Girls episodes, rap videos and hurricane footage. Thankfully, I was misinformed. Miami provided tons of visual art, crowds of art enthusiasts, art performances, knitted car installations, giant pink snail sculptures, Cuban coffee, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, countless foreign languages, eccentric art buyers, beautiful beaches and Art Deco hotels. After literally bumping into Jerry Saltz (“Pardon me, Mr. Saltz.”), and experiencing a Merce Cunningham ballet with costumes by Rauschenberg and music by John Cage, I feel that I have witnessed a spectacle worthy of Guy Debord himself — a spectacle called “Art Basel Miami Beach.”

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I decided at the last minute to go to Miami for Art Basel.  An opportunity to carpool and to stay with friends, and a generous stipend offered by SCAD finally persuaded me.  However, had I known what an education I was going to receive I would have committed much sooner.

Art Basel is a chance to see what is happening at this moment in the art world; from the trends in imagery, medium and technique to what is being sold and for how much.  It is also an opportunity to hear artists discuss their work.  For example, I was fortunate to hear a really interesting Art Salon talk between Hans Ulrich Obrist and artist Pascale Marthine Tayou at the Basel venue.

Old Masters and Contemporary Masters, from Picasso to Hirst, were also well represented at the fairs by the big-name galleries. For me, viewing these works (especially those by Louise Bourgeois and Ghada Amer) in person was truly inspiring. However, the venues that were most interesting were those in which new and emerging artists were represented.  After seeing the art presented in these venues it was encouraging to realize that I, and any of my fellow grad painters at SCAD, have work that is worthy of hanging there.

Other SCAD students who attended were similarly inspired:

“Art Basel Miami Beach is an amazing event – we are very fortunate to have a function of this caliber in South Florida – when one visits this 4 day extravaganza, they can get educated on important art and artists of the last century between Basel, The Rubell, De La Cruz, and Margulies Collections and become familiar with current art trends via emerging fairs like NADA, Art Miami, Red Dot and the myriad galleries that flourish in the greater Miami area – and it doesn’t hurt that it’s all located near some of the most beautiful beaches in the world!” – Vincent Lardieri

“Basel was better than visiting a museum because we experienced the works of artists at the beginning of their careers before being known, like early prints of Richard Serra, works of Frankenthaler, Brice Marden, Le Corbusier, Frank Gehry, Jasper Johns and others…We had the opportunity to compare collector’s prices which was amazing.” – Ana Cristina Collazo

“Art Basel Miami including Art Miami, Art Basel, Red Dot, Scope, Asian Art Fair, NADA and Aqua was definitely a total ART immersion. I am encouraged, inspired, invigorated and grateful. Highlights for me were a SCAD arranged private group meeting with Mera Rubell prior to roaming her remarkable collection and the opportunity to see the best of the best while speaking with dealers and artists. It was nice to see how ‘in sync’ we are with the current market.” – Judy Kruger

It was also encouraging to see that, even in this down economy, art is still being sold. The woman I witnessed who was set on purchasing another “Bacon” to match the one hanging over her couch or the gentleman who wanted a bargain and insisted on paying no more that $650,000 for a small pile of Ai Weiwei sunflower seeds are apparently unaware of the recession—lucky for us artists.

The spectacle-like environment at these fairs could be off putting for the art purists among us who don’t care for the idea of a “one stop shopping” venue for fine art.  However, the opportunity to observe the negotiations of sales of works for large amounts of money between galleries and their “most valued customers” was a very educational and strangely entertaining art world experience. While these fairs are a convenience for those who can afford to shop for art, they are also a chance for the rest of us to see works from all over the world, discuss our work with other artists and to exchange information with galleries that could potentially be interested in representing you in the future.

Ultimately, Art Basel Miami Beach is an overwhelming yet incredible art world experience that shouldn’t be missed.  Next year I won’t need any convincing.  We should all go together.  I’ll drive.”

By Carrie Johnson

Painting Graduate Student

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