Art Basel 2006: West Coast Highlights

I had no idea what to expect from my first ABMB experience; it is one that must be distilled over time. The “I” being Mary Farmer, artist and lover of fine art www.maryfarmer.com . Farmer is one half of the Steinberg Farmer Art Report and the half that made the Miami pilgrimage. All work reviewed herein is through Mary Farmer’s filter. As an artist I frequently look at art, visit museums, and see shows of new and exciting work. I can, without equivocation, say that this was the most overwhelming, visually expanding, content heavy event I have ever attended. It was a 10 on the artist’s orgiastic scale.

Trying to plot a course to see the work was my first challenge. How much territory can I cover, what work is important and exciting, and how will I navigate the venues? Well, forget that wonderful strategic planning; this is a visual candy store you must go where the eyes lead. I fell upon a few themes--those of “Text, Sex and Cut Out.” You will note that I was unable to hold to this construct as well.

You, dear reader, may find this report a bit on the overtly positive side. It was my choice to share the work I found most compelling. With so much to choose from why not make this an art fantasy come true? So, here’s what Steinberg Farmer Art Report would like to share with you:

First some basic facts about Art Basel Miami Beach. Art BASEL MIAMI BEACH (ABMB) is 5 years old, featuring 200 heavy weight galleries and 22 emerging galleries. Including the satellites over 1,000 galleries are represented with estimated 38,000 visitors which is 44% increase over 2004.

“Crazy Zeros” Comment overhead when asking about sales and prices. Seasoned collectors clamored for a coveted piece. Speculators were on the prowl for the big score. Millions in sales were recorded during VIP opening and many works fetched record high prices. “We are selling everything,” gushed Richard Arregui of Fredric Snitzer Gallery Miami. LA’s Blum & Poe nearly sold out in the first hour. Satellite fairs were held in unused warehouses, temporary tents and boutique hotels. These ancillary events are growing exponentially, 2006 boasted twice as many fairs as 2005. Pulse (2 years old), ~scope, NADA (4 years old), and Aqua ( in its 2nd year) have been around; Bridge, DiVA, Photo Miami, INK Miami, Flow, PooL and Zones are all new this year! Dita von Tesse’s jaw dropping striptease that ended with her astride a huge bright red lipstick that bucked like a mechanical bull was the most talked about performance. Frenzied-hottest-Relentless....best descriptions of the fair. The economic impact of creative commerce is on par with a Super Bowl! More than 6,000 artists working in 20th and 21st century art were represented. “America’s Largest Art Markets” screamed the Miami Herald “More masterpieces change hands, more new artists are discovered and more art sales take place @ABMB than any other North American fair. Collectors bring Collectors”, said Tim Fleming of Photo Miami.

San Francisco, wake up. Not only is Miami booming, it is beginning to sustain itself year round. Miami has embraced the arts and consequently new galleries are being supported, a new performance art centers has opened, and Miami Art Museum is expanding. Miami is recognizing its local talent and anyone who is anyone in the art world attends the ABMB December art fair extravaganza. “ABMB has turned into a platform for the city”, stated independent curator Nina Arias. Basel spokesman Peter Vetsch says, “ The market is strong, and there are so many events to choose from, that you really must approach it like a menu. One must really focus on what they want to see.”

To start with, here's a rundown of the events at AQUA. Other fairs will be covered in separate blogs. AQUA, the brainchild of Jaq Chartier and Dirk Park showed the most and the best of west coast work.

Of the 42 galleries , Gregory Lind Gallery www.gregorylindgallery.com featured remarkable work; he definitely raised the bar for San Francisco galleries. San Francisco-based artist Will Yackulic, creates complex networks of text and buildings forming a post-natural landscape. In gouache paintings on paper, each composition is constructed of small, blue and white cubes that form building blocks of an imagined architecture. Yackulic's topographies are saturated with background text.













“One is Good, Two is Heavy”

At Elizabeth Leach Gallery www.elizabethleach.com Melody Owen alters photos with a delicate lace-like collage overlay.








"Hotel #2"

•Sunday www.stirusfreeus.com showed paintings by Alexia Stamatiou, lifted from a Biblical scripture (1 Corinthians 15:52) representing the artist’s interest in ideas surrounding the “rapture” – a fantastical event accepted by certain facets of contemporary Christianity Most refreshing take on the rapture this fully indoctrinated Southern Baptist has ever seen.





“In Expectation”

•Greg Kucera www.gregkucera.com showed Mark Newport’s recent work exploring different facets of masculine identity. He asks, "How do I know how to be a man?" The word "strong," can refer to a man’s ability to express little or no emotion. Here, Newport has embroidered the superheroes of comic book covers. Are they strong, are they men?














•LIMN Gallery www.limn.com
Sheng Qi is one of the artists that have made a large contribution to the development of contemporary Chinese art. He explores humanism and cultural boundaries. His figures are rent dense with Chinese the characters of his native language he covers his red blind folded nude, “Red Army 003”, with them. Western text is introduced via numbers; in this case, numbering is indicative of the camouflage Sheng Qi has used as his canvas. As in “inspected by”

•Platform Gallery www.platformgallery.com
I must give many, many thanks to Jaq Chartier and Dirk Park for bringing AQUA to Miami. It can only be imagined how difficult it is to bring forth a full-blown art fair. And a totally cool one at that.Hands down, Chartier ranks as one of my art heroes. Her work always captivates and requires my extended viewing; I still remember seeing my first Chartier.























"Little Grid w/Scarlet#5"

Platform gave me a good laugh with the rants of William Powhida. Powhida reproduces things we all think. He cleverly records his wish lists, carnal thoughts, enemies list and other streams of consciousness. His crowded drawings are filled with damning text through which he unleashes his personal crises and disappointments. Powhida explores the dark humor I so enjoy




















"Seattle Enemies List"

•Gallery Joe www.galleryjoe.com
Charles Ritchie’s magical dream repositories caught my eye. These small works are Ritchie’s visual and written record of dreams. His intimate treasures are fantastically rendered in pencil on paper.

•James Harris Gallery www.jamesharrisgallery.com
Geoffrey Chadsey confronts us with his schlong stroking office worker. Just a guess --this must be the fantasy of many an office worker. Chadsey’s work is a balancing act of the beautiful (his painting skill) and the ugly, this is definitely masculine introspection.

Please check Art Basel 2006: West Coast Highlights 2, 3, and 4 for reports on the other fairs.