From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Basel begins

Art Basel Miami Beach events will put the spotlight on art … and the art of partying.

compiled by City Link staff

December 6 2006

With so many nightclub parties, gallery openings and celebrity-hosted happenings scheduled to coincide with this weekend's Art Basel Miami Beach, a person could easily get overwhelmed by the sheer size and scope of it all. Not to worry, though, as we've singled out the most promising of these events, which offer plenty for both seasoned art lovers and those of us who can't tell a van Gogh from a Van Wilder. Better still, unless otherwise noted, admission to these events is free, and all are open to the public.

Art Basel -- signature event

Nearly 200 galleries from around the globe will showcase 20th- and 21st-century works by more than 1,500 artists, from the well-established to up-and-comers. The event will feature exhibitions dedicated to new galleries and video art; lectures by renowned artists and curators; site- and context-specific works; an art business lounge; the Art Kabinetts, featuring single works and films; and more. Noon-8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday at the Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive. Admission is $24-$50; $12 after 5 p.m. Call 305/891-7270, ext. 103 or visit Artbaselmiamibeach.com.

Aqua Art Miami

This intimate, alternative art fair will present works from 40 galleries, most of them from the West Coast. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday at the Aqua Hotel, 1530 Collins Ave., in Miami Beach. Call 305/538-4361 or visit Aquaartmiami.com.

Art Basel Brazilian Party

Brahma beer will sponsor this party featuring singer Rose Max and her traditional Brazilian band. DJ Chris will spin deep house on the club's second level. 11 p.m. Thursday at Jazid, 1342 Washington Ave., in Miami Beach. Call 305/673-9372 or visit Jazid.net.

Artificial Light

This exhibit will feature works by seven artists who use light as their primary medium to engage issues of perception, memory, energy and power. Opening reception 9 a.m. Thursday, on view through Feb. 18 at the MOCA at Goldman Warehouse, 404 N.W. 26th St., in Miami. Call 305/893-6211 or visit Mocanomi.org.

Art Loves Design

Art Basel's official street party will feature a series of 40 exhibitions by renowned artists and cultural institutions. 8:30 p.m.-midnight Saturday on Northeast Second Avenue between 39th and 40th streets in Miami. Call 305/438-1163 or visit Miamidesigndistrict.net.

Art Loves Music

Celebrate the opening night of Art Basel with performances by Miami-based DJ Le Spam and electro-punk vocalist Peaches, who will perform with a band featuring Le Tigre's JD Samson. 7 tonight (Wednesday) between 21st and 22nd streets on Miami Beach. Call 305/674-1292 or visit Artbaselmiamibeach.com.

The Bad Good Guys and Good Bad Guys

Artwork in a variety of media that explores the "undercurrents" of humanity, society and the world as a whole will be presented in this show. Through Dec. 16 at Undercurrent Arts, 2563 N. Miami Ave., in Miami. Call 305/571-9574 or visit Undercurrentarts.com.

The Blue and Light Series

This show will exhibit pieces by Robin Gray, a California-based abstract painter whose works are inspired by the human body and organic, natural shapes. Through Dec. 28 at Art Fusion Gallery, 1 N.E. 40th St., in Miami. Call 305/573-5730 or visit Artfusiongallery.com.

Bridge Art Fair

Formerly the Nova Art Fair, this Chicago-based event encourages the pursuit of "commercial junk, hot rock, stunningly beautiful women in tiny cocktail dresses, live comedy, swarthy men in fast cars, gadgetry, human decency, subcultural trends, game theory, America and the newest in phaser-gun technologies." 5-10 p.m. Thursday, noon-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon-6 p.m. Sunday at The Catalina Hotel and Beach Club, 1732 Collins Ave., in Miami Beach. Call 305/674-1160 or visit Bridgeartfair.com.

Chihuly at Fairchild

Dale Chihuly has created colorful glass sculptures inspired by the birds and flora that call Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden home. The artist will appear 11 a.m.-noon Sunday; the exhibit opens Saturday and will remain on view through May 31 at 10901 Old Cutler Road, in Coral Gables. The artist appearance is free with venue admission of $20. Call 305/667-1651 or visit www.fairchildgarden.org.

City Beneath the Sea

Miami artist Pablo Cano uses found objects and handmade materials to create marionettes inspired by Russian constructivism, Dada and various traditions of puppetry. He will perform the show 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and the creations will be on display during museum hours. Show tickets cost $10-$15; museum admission is $3-$5, free for North Miami residents. Through Dec. 23 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 770 N.E. 125th St., in North Miami. Call 305/893-6211 or visit Mocanomi.org.

Culture on the Verge

This Gen Art-sponsored, 21-and-older opening-night event for the Scope Miami Art Fair (see below) sports the theme "Nature vs. Technology" and will feature music and interactive installations that promise to engage all the senses. 8-11 p.m. Thursday at Roberto Clemente Park, 101 N.W. 34th St., in Miami. Admission is $20. Call 305/532-3467 or visit Genart.org.

E-Merce in Fashion: The Runway Battle

This competition will involve young fashion designers' drawing inspiration from the legacy of choreographer Merce Cunningham, who was known for the use of costuming in his work. 7-10 p.m. Saturday at MOCA at Goldman Warehouse, 404 N.W. 26th St., in Miami. Call 305/893-6211 or visit Mocanomi.org/emerce.htm.

The Fabulous Floating Villa, Pedestriart and Unburden

Dot Fiftyone gallery will present the simultaneous openings of three exhibits: The Fabulous Floating Villa by Luis Pons, Pedestriart by Leonel Matheu and Unburden by Mauro Giaconi. The shows will feature more than 40 drawings, sculptures and photographs. 8 p.m.-midnight Saturday and ongoing through Jan. 9 at 51 N.W. 36th St., in Miami. Call 305/573-9994 or visit Dotfiftyone.com.

Fight or Flight

This show will feature installations, sculpture, painting, photography and video by new Miami artists exploring passivity and aggression in art. Receptions 7-11 p.m. Saturday and 5-10 p.m. Sunday, with exhibit on view noon-5 p.m. daily through Sunday at 2534 N. Miami Ave., in Miami. Call 305/297-1110 or visit Fightorflightmiami.com.

Flow pool party

This poolside bash will kick off the opening of Flow, an exhibit within The Catalina Hotel featuring the collections of 18 art dealers. A synchronized-swimming performance will take place, and visitors can enjoy complimentary Flowtinis. 9 tonight (Wednesday) at 1732 Collins Ave., in Miami Beach. Call 305/674-1160 or visit Flowfair.com.

Fountain Miami

This guerrilla-style event was created to garner support for independent galleries overlooked by corporate-sponsored art fairs. The artwork on view will reflect the avant-garde and in-your-face attitude equated with the Dada movement. Noon-6 p.m. Friday through Monday at 2825 N.W. Second Ave., in Miami. Call 917/650-3760 or visit Fountainexhibit.com.

Gestalt

This Art Basel closing party in the Design District will feature free cocktails, music, fashion and, of course, art. 7-10 p.m. Sunday at Miami Art Group Gallery, 126 N.E. 40th St., in Miami. Call 305/573-8483 or visit Miamidesigndistrict.net.

Giving Visibility

This multiscreen installation will continually show the works of five filmmakers and video artists that focus on relationships, friendships and intimacy. Friday-Sunday evenings at the Miami Beach Cinematheque, 512 Española Way, in Miami Beach. Admission is $10; call for time. Call 305/673-4567 or visit Mbcinema.com.

Lowe Down

The Lowe Art Museum will host an Art Basel edition of its monthly happy hour that will offer Bacardi cocktails, appetizers and a guided tour of the current exhibition, Humberto Calzada: In Dreams Awake. Did we mention the Bacardi drinks are free? 7-9:30 p.m. Thursday at 1301 Stanford Drive, University of Miami, in Coral Gables. Admission is $5, free for University of Miami students. Call 305/284-3535 or visit Lowemuseum.org.

Masters' Mystery Art Show

At this event, attendees will be able to purchase original works of art for only $50. The catch is they won't know who made it until they buy it. The display will include more than 1,500 post-card-size works by more than 300 artists and celebrities, including Madonna and fashion designer Zac Posen. Proceeds will benefit Florida International University's Master of Fine Arts program. Enjoy Roberto Cavalli Vodka shots and caviar-stuffed olives while you're browsing. 7-9 tonight (Wednesday) and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday. The Ritz-Carlton/South Beach, 1 Lincoln Road, in Miami Beach. Call 786/276-4000 or visit Ritzcarlton.com.

Miami Art Museum

The museum currently features three exhibits. Lorna Simpson, a mid-career survey of films plus large-scale photography and text works examining racial and gender identity, is on display through Jan. 21. Modern Photographs: The Machine, the Body and the City comprises more than 200 works that span the history of photography, hung salon-style, wall-to-wall, and is on view through April 15. And Mark Dion: South Florida Wildlife Rescue Unit is an installation piece focusing on South Florida's natural surroundings, on exhibit through Jan. 14. 101 W. Flagler St., in Miami. Call 305/375-3000 or visit Miamiartmuseum.org.

Mysteries and Masters

This Art Basel-themed party will feature live music by the Oski Foundation, Shufly and Amereida, plus samples of Select Vodka and Rock Star energy drinks. 7-11 p.m. Saturday in front of Art Fusion Gallery, 1 N.E. 40th St., in Miami. Call 305/573-5730 or visit Artfusiongallery.com.

NADA Art Fair

The New Art Dealers Alliance will host this event featuring pieces, including installation art by Andrew Sexton and Adam Frelin, from more than 80 galleries worldwide. Some artists will produce works on-site. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. today (Wednesday) through Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at the Ice Palace Film Studios, 1400 N. Miami Ave., in Miami. Call 305/586-3342 or visit Newartdealers.org.

Parthenogenesis

In this performance-art piece created by Angelo Musco, 11 pregnant women wearing white wigs and covered in white makeup wear a single white dress that's 30 feet in diameter. The women stand still, but their expressions mimic those of the audience. 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Friday at Nikki Beach, 1 Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. Call 305/495-0396 or visit Step1art.com.

Photo Miami

Photo-based art, video and new media will take center stage in this exhibition. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. today (Wednesday) and noon-7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday at the Soho Building, 2136 N.W. First Ave., in Miami. Call 323/937-4659 or visit Artfairsinc.com.

Pimp My Kart

Faktura Gallery invited more than 40 Miami-based artists to "pimp" an abandoned shopping cart into the most outrageous piece of artwork imaginable. Proceeds from this show will benefit homeless organizations in Miami. The carts will be pushed through the streets of the Wynwood Art District Wednesday, South Beach Thursday and Friday, and the Design District during Art Walk Saturday. The gallery is located at 7128 N.W. Second Court in Miami. Call 305/758-9005 or visit Fakturagallery.com.

Pool Art Fair: Boomerang

Less a fair and more of a meeting place, this event will feature rooms at the Cavalier Hotel that have been artfully redecorated by an undisclosed number of unrepresented artists. Receptions 5-11 p.m. Friday and 3-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 1320 Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. Admission is $10. Call 305/531-3555 or visit Poolartfair.com.

Porch Project

Steve Keene, a prolific artist who churns out between 60 and 80 paintings a day and has designed album covers and posters for Pavement, The Apples in Stereo and the Dave Matthews Band, will produce works while partygoers enjoy live music and drinks courtesy of Budweiser Select. Noon-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday at The Porch at the Marlin Hotel, 1200 Collins Ave., in Miami Beach. Call 305/604-3595 or visit Marlinhotel.com.

PULSE Miami

As part of Will Ramsey's Affordable Art Show, this event, housed in a 30,000-square-foot, custom-built tent, will feature works from 60 small, contemporary galleries. 1-8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at 2700 N.W. Second Ave., in Miami. Admission is $7-$10. Call 212/255-2327 or visit Pulse-art.com/miami.

Readings in Classic American Schlock

As part of the NADA Art Fair (see above), this five-day series will feature artists reading from pop-lit works such as Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann (Wednesday), Glamorama by Bret Easton Ellis (Thursday), The Philosophy of Andy Warhol by Andy Warhol (Friday), D.V. by Diana Vreeland (Saturday) and People Like Us by Dominick Dunne (Sunday). Readings of each work will take place every hour on the half-hour 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Ice Palace, 1400 N. Miami Ave., in Miami. Call 305/586-3342 or visit Newartdealers.org.

Red Eye: Los Angeles Artists From the Rubell Family Collection

This show will feature a cross-section of works in various media produced during the past 20 years by Charles Ray, Raymond Pettibon, Barbara Kruger and more than two dozen other Los Angeles-based artists. Opening reception 9 a.m.-noon Thursday. Through May 31 at Rubell Family Collection, 95 N.W. 29th St., in Miami. Admission is $2.50-$5. Call 305/573-6090 or visit Rubellfamilycollection.com.

A Room of One's Own

This show presents conceptual works investigating the boundaries of space, architecture and materialism by Teresita Fernández, Maria Elena González, Quisqueya Henríquez and María Martínez-Cañas. Through Sunday at Frost Art Museum at Florida International University, 11200 S.W. Eighth St., PC 110, in Miami. Call 305/348-2890 or visit Frostartmuseum.org.

Scope Miami Art Fair

An art fair for beginners and hardcore collectors alike, Scope will bring up-and-coming curators and dealers together with new and emerging artists and buyers. Highlights include Agustina Woodgate's "Where the Wild Things Grow," a large-scale urban garden including 1,000 waterproof green fabric cones, and Tomas Rivas' "Unobtrusive," a crumbling façade made of sheetrock and wallpaper. The event will also feature a bar, tearoom, café and lounge with a sound installation by Derek Cote. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday at Roberto Clemente Park, 101 N.W. 34th St., in Miami. Admission is $10. Call 305/573-9530 or visit Scope-art.com.

Skywalkers Parade

Helium-filled balloons created by urban artists such as MumbleBoy, David Chloe and Devil Robots will be carried through the streets of Miami Beach. The parade will benefit ArtCenter/South Florida and LegalArt. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday from Lincoln Road to Fifth Street in Miami Beach. An afterparty will take place at the Savoy Hotel at 455 Ocean Drive. Call 305/674-8278.

Sueño and 'Scape

Sueño will feature the dream-inspired drawings of graffiti artist Santiago Rubino. 'Scape will present works by found-items artist Adriana Farmiga, who can turn a plastic bag into a piece of art. Opening reception 7 p.m. Saturday. Through Jan. 6 at Spinello Gallery, 3436 N. Miami Ave., in Miami. Call 305/576-0208 or visit Spinellogallery.com.

Super Arty Super Party

This week's Plastik Fantastik will be hosted by Casey Spooner of the art-rock duo Fischerspooner and Miami artists Hernan Bas and Naomi Fischer. DJs Rory Phillips, Matt Cash and Gregg Foreman and rock acts Whitey and Death of Fashion will provide music. 10 p.m. Thursday at Studio A, 60 N.E. 11th St., in Miami. Admission is $15-$20. Call 305/358-7625 or visit Studioamiami.com.

Terraforms

This show will present site-specific sculpture-lighting installations by Peruvian-born artist Grimanesa Amorós. Through Jan. 31 at Lab Projects, 120 N.W. 25th St., Suite 203, in Miami. Call 786/472-9195 or visit Thelabprojects.com.

This Is Pop Art

Presented by Miami-based party promoters Poplife, this Andy Warhol-inspired event will feature a Velvet Underground cover band, pop art and video installations and additional music by DJs Matt Cash, Aramis and Egg Foo Young. 10 p.m. Saturday at The District, 35 N.E. 40th St., in Miami. Admission is $10. Call 305/576-7242 or visit Epoplife.com.

We'll Make a Lover of You

Presented in association with Juxtapoz magazine, this show will feature pop-cultural works by some of the nation's top lowbrow artists, including David "Lebo" Le Batard, Van Arno, Robert Williams, Sas Christian, Jim Houser and Francesco LoCastro. Opening reception 7 p.m. Friday, on view through Jan. 21 at ArtCenter/South Florida, 800 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach. Call 305/674-8278 or visit Artcentersf.org. An afterparty will also take place 7 p.m. Friday at The Catalina Hotel, 1732 Collins Ave., in Miami Beach. Call 305/674-1160 or visit Catalinahotel.com. Some of the artists featured in the exhibit will sign books and prints 6-8 p.m. Saturday at ArtCenter/South Florida. An afterparty for the book-signing will begin 8 p.m. at BuckFifteen, 707 Lincoln Lane, in Miami Beach. Call 305/583-3815 or visit Buck15.com.

Wynwood Art Breakfast

The doors to the galleries, warehouses and art houses in one of Miami's best-known art districts will be opened for breakfast. Visitors can peruse scores of works in a variety of media while they slurp coffee and chow down on bagels and pastries. 9 a.m.-noon Thursday in the Wynwood Art District, between Northwest Second and Northwest Sixth avenues, from 20th to 36th streets. Visit Wynwoodartdistrict.com.