All That Glitters is Not Sold

Geez, Where's the Beach?

Like no other perennially themed week of events in South Florida's SOBE,

ABMB has once again cast an air of entitlement on the hollowed hegemony of the elite art industry and residual motivations to the local arts community. That which lures jet-loads of world-class enthusiasts is part home-grown part import. It is the habitual desire to live by art that transcends cultural and economic distinctions. Committed minds are no doubt scheming over next year's fair when all the hullabaloo will be repeated like a broken record.

NADA ZipZero

Two heads are better than one, as these charming fixtures pleasingly display. They don't have much to say but, hey they are a welcoming sight for lost tourist wondering if they are in the right place.

Pool Gallery Berlin, i want one of these...

OHWOW in their Design District Tent, great schmear art.

Design Miami in SOBE, way to go w the swampiness!

Overall i rate Design Miami Fair a shiny 14-karat thumbs sideways.

HorneyMen

The folks at Shafrazi Booth were pleasantly accessorized with a treasure trove of Robert Williams awe inspiring masterpieces. What is beyond comprehension is how Williams can be so revered in the west coast and virtually unknown in the east coast.

Molly Hatchet

It is stuff like these reclining dummies in revolutionary costumes that begs the question,

WTF, i like that?!

Here are a few of my favorites...

Nerdreams

Arshamowlsmarts

TomSachsRocksApollo

another WTF moment

Queue for the Infinity Booth of Mirrors

SleepingSillyPuddyPrincess

...and finally this amazing display of WTF cardboard boxes at ABMB

Yes there were predictable blue-chip works on display, but there were also plenty of absolutely bizarre pieces that leave many scratching their heads with thoughts of,

"I Can Do That... But Why?"

The Kiss of Art

We opened Swampspace Gallery so as to have an excuse for missing half the stuff there is to do during Art Week in Miami.

What was your excuse?

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Basel Fossil Report 2

Welcome to Treasure Island

Arguably ArtBasel and Design Miami Fairs have together grown bigger than the mega Boat Show, but they have also condensed the shopping season into a one week Bizarre Bazaar.


Curb Your Enthusiasm

It is with reserved sobriety that euro-visitors and natives endure the frenzied pace of visual indulgence here at this year's Basel Miami Art Week. With all their senses, the interested parties are partaking in an orchestrated dance of a poetic exercise scripted by the Old Artistocracy for the New Bohemia.

Undonecitencure

In a town that has it's share of ghostly unfinished business in a seeming construction limbo...
the local official deciders still manage to impose the "One Britto Each Week" public art policy for the world to identify with miami, our place in the swamp.

Planet Planners

Fortunately, everything is done twice... first on paper then for real.
The old canons of world-class creativity remain the wellspring for ripe aficionados and a starstruck generation of MFA's that together comprise the new Artzigarchy.

Nextcitecture

For a better tomorrow, the Miami horizon is looking most picturesque with the much deliberated plan for a new mausoleum for art scheduled to open when the contract expires on Basel and the glitzy affair moves on to another unsuspecting American city.

Expert Artvice

Who doesn't like nice things?
Miami is a place that convincingly markets luxury with habitual results.
But don't take my word for it, just ask the experts.

Bygone Hay-Days of High-Brow

Bold face types Uncle Andy, Basquait, Bruno "Blue Chips" Bichofberger
and Francesco Clemente, whose giant watercolors are at the old moca in wynwood.

No Shortage of Talent

It has become abundantly clear that there is a glut of creativity and individuals more than willing to act on ideas for the sake of experiencing art first-hand and presenting the works for whoever will wander by the hundreds of booths at any one of the many satellite fairs in town this week.

The Passion of the Deal

Better wear your walking shoes.
Some folk never stop searching for beauty. Beauty is many things. It is also best left attainable because to have it would mean the end of the game of courtship, maybe even the abandonment of fulfillment.

The Elephant in the Park

A Gumbo Limbo Tree grows and grows while art is bought and sold.
Though it can not run away, the tree is unaffected by the seriousness of the art markets.

Hermitage by the Vernissage

Cristina Lei joins Lobo's encampment at the Bass Museum.

Imported Talent

With deft street smarts, Santiago bombs Locust Projects.

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swampspace gallery

Once Upon a Time in the Swamp...

On the occasion of Art Basel and Design Miami Fairs,
Swampspace Gallery
is please to announce the opening of
The Cookie Show
a foodie pop-up retail featuring the delicious
Min Treats Cookies.

MIN TREATS are Super HEALTHY, HOMEMADE, FULLY LOADED, oatmeal cookies made with organic and natural ingredients. Coconut oil increases your metabolism, Smart Balance lowers cholesterol and is high in Omega-3, Walnuts are high in Omega-3, Cranberries, GOJI BERRIES, and Chocolate are superb anti-oxidants. Unsweetened coconut is not only delicious, but is also good for you! Don’t forget the raisins!

So go on... be Guilt Free and INDULGE!!

The proceeds from this show will benefit Design and Architecture Senior High DASH.

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In the Belly of Big Basel

Being immersed in the fine art industry, it is easy to forget that just short walk from all the hullabaloo of Basel one can find ample example of those who are perfectly oblivious to the "life or death" seriousness, self-importance pomp and circumstance of ABMB.


Tomorrows public service non-art troops.

Junior ROTC practice their maneuvers across Dade Blvd. from ABMB at MB Senior High School. They may very well be proud of not knowing anything about art.


!% down payment on income property.

Newly constructed du-plex just a block from Design Miami in the mainland.
Probably costs less than the Bob Williams 8"x10" that sold for 350,000.


Ground Zero Design Miami

The Bordello Bodega was a big hit among the vips and casual art aficionados.
There were times when a crowd would gather outside wanting to get in to take advantage of the 1940's prices on libations, substantials candies and necessities.



Bordello Bodega without the people.
I cant tell you how many times i heard people say this was such a welcome treat, the best thing they had seen all week. The place had an aura of having always been there. Foreigners were delighted with the quirky ambiance and intriguing native visual appeal.


That's allota GoGo Empanadas.

Somehow we managed to raise wads of dough for DASH. But more so, we raised the consciousness of many a traveler eager to be not just amused by art but transformed if only for a moment to a place in their minds, the bordello bodega.

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Bordello Bodega

The Bordello Bodega

Celebrating 25 years in the Design District, Miami artist Oliver Sanchez will open his studio featuring the Bordello Bodega during the Design Miami and Art Basel Miami Beach events.

The BORDELLO BODEGA is a neighborhood convenience store with a hospitality club theme laced with a unique Latin Manhattan flavor. A ridiculous manifestation that attempts to convey the notion that what propels human endeavor is an unchanging burning desire for fundamental earthly pleasures.




WHO: Oliver Sanchez Studio
WHAT: The BORDELLO BODEGA
WHEN: December 1-7 2008
WHERE: 3821 NE 1 Court
WHY: Fund-raiser for Design and Architecture Senior High School

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