Art Basel Miami 2011:

Saving the mothership for last, but not least. Here is a quick photo-journal of myself racing against the clock on the closing day at the Convention Center.

Photo Credits: Brinson Renda

Here are a few photo’s from the Wynwood Walls and Mamushka’s in Midtown.

Photo Credits: Brinson Renda

Here are a few photo’s from wandering around the Design District.

Photo Credits: Brinson Renda

Fountain Art Fair:

Fountain Art Fair brought in its sixth edition of emerging artists, independent galleries and collectives to Miami this year, and I was glad to see this friendly fair back in Wynwood. It’s a perfect fit inside of the old industrial warehouse space. This fair reminds me of the newer Seven Miami project, but it’s been around the block a few more times. I enjoyed the electric energy of the galleries and showcased artists. It’s like a mini Wynwood Art Walk rolled into one space; very reminiscent of the local and familiar street art, DIY spaces and cutting edge contemporary boutique galleries that buzz all year long down here. This is the inviting, accessible, out of the box, punk rock attitude fair you have to see at least once in your art loving lifetime!

Photo Credits: Brinson Renda

Pulse Miami VIP & Press Preview Night:

Pulse launched it’s seventh edition in the lower Wynwood Arts District with a bang! Amidst the opening party, overflowing drinks, endless buffets and upbeat music, the booths inside were buzzing in the spirit of Basel. Pulse offers a variety of programs that mixes up the fair nicely  and allows each gallery to showcase its artist(s) on a proper platform. Pulse Play> was one of my favorites due to my love affair with video art. This year it was curated by artist Lucie Fontaine and featured works by Ciprian Muresan, Daniella Isamit Morales to name a few. Also inside, was the Wagner + Partner Gallery, from Berlin, with its first ever American solo exhibition of artist Natascha Stellmach. They showcased the widely talked about artist with her “Fuck Art for Letting this Shit Happen;” a project based off of her former exhibition that involved Kurt Cobain’s ashes, a joint and much controversy. The outside garden allowed space for some larger-scale installations. Some of the installations from the Pulse Projects were: A nastolgic treasure trove of over a thousand found nic-nacs was Mac Premo’s The Dumpster Project, one of the longest experimental videos to date by Josh Azzarella and German based artist Michael Laube’s 22-11 installation.

Photo Credits: Brinson Renda

Seven Miami Art Fair:

Seven Miami returned for its second year at Basel. You can really feel a fresh and young energy in the new artfair. I made my way to Wynwood during their opening day / relaxed BBQ. There were extra walls this year that gave the opportunity to showcase more emerging talent, while maintaining the openness that I remembered from its inaugural year. Compared to your normal dog and pony formula, Seven breaks the ‘booth’ barrier in it’s artist’s presentation. The space is open, engaging and has the polished curatorial thought process of a large museum while sustaining a humble DIY project space kind of feel. Seven’s clearly a professional fair with a touch of grass roots, so to say. I’m excited to see what new projects they bring in 2012.

Seven is a collective project organized by the following galleries: BravinLee programs, Hales Gallery, Pierogi Gallery, Postmasters, P.P.O.W., Ronald Feldman Fine Arts and Winkleman Gallery.

Photo Credits: Brinson Renda

Photos courtesy of 101/exhibit

For Wynwood’s Second Saturday, I made my way up to the Design District to check out San Francisco based artist Joshua Hagler’s first solo show at 101/exhibit, properly named, ‘Perceptions of Religious Imagery in Natural Phenomena.’ Freshly settled back in the States from his 6 month residency at MIRA in Martignano, Italy; one can see the direct influences this residency had on him. Pulling from his personal Christian upbringing, obscure Catholic Churches he explored in Italy and the classical baroque interiors of those spaces, Hagler fuses these references into something wonderful. I’d like to take you on a personal tour and urge you to go & visit this exhibit that’s on view till November 26th.

Walking into the main room, your first view is ‘I was being tempted regularly…’ a collision of figures and classical Caravaggio-like angels exploding, or perhaps about to implode. Either way, it’s a sense of the actual fragment in time in which this event is really happening, or so it feels. At first glance, I notice his playful nature with smearing and symmetry. In fact, many of his works share these features. At first all I could think of was the use of a digital sketch. Like, “oh great, another artist ‘Photo-chopping’ a collage and just painting it out.” But it’s not, especially after I got to pick his brain on this issue. He utilizes digital software’s as a tool and he doesn’t lean or depend on them to produce his works. I was so glad to hear that. It didn’t matter though, his absolute control over the medium and exquisite grasp of composition melted away those thoughts.

At any rate, if you just release your eyeballs into his paintings, I assure you that they’ll have an adventure. I found myself lost, in a refreshing way, between the lathery dollops of paint and the jolts of color atop the muted wastelands that served as backdrops. I could really see motion in his works, as if I could see him moving about the canvas while creating them.

Photos courtesy of 101/exhibit

The  next pieces in the exhibit are two large panels, displaying a zooming train with figures participating in a ‘roller durby-mosh-pit-race-o-rama’ event. (Yes, I have to include all of that so you can picture this)! Falling from the heavens are skydivers and once again, you can just feel the hyper activity in these paintings. Appropriately hung next to each other, I wonder if this is another religious inspired practice, like making a modern diptych that is trying to be didactic to its viewer. I’m not 100% on its lesson, so to say, but that’s what they channel to me. None the less, I like the double perspective because adds even more depth.

Photos courtesy of 101/exhibit

The last large panel in the main room is my personal favorite, ‘The Mind Recedes…’! I I love the carnage and desolate landscape filled with a Dalí-like swirling of paint, like a message to be decoded. I’m picking up a lot of sexual energies in this one, borderline pornographic. Mmm, sex, death and gore… sounds like a great movie! I noticed the comic hero Spiderman, lying on his back, ripped apart, muddled atop a garden of dead meat chunks. On top of Mr. Parker, is a 3D rendered head, painted on canvas, cut out and mounted on the final painting. Perhaps it’s like skin touching skin, since this 3D headed figure seems to be ‘necromancing’ Spiderman. You can clearly see the figure has a firefighter jacket on. May be it’s one real hero injecting faith into another fictional hero? I can’t say for sure, but I’d like to believe it! Overall, this work is intense, gory, comical and de-licious!

Photos courtesy of 101/exhibit

In the second room of the gallery space, there’s a different batch of ‘faith’ inspired works that seamlessly ties into the main room. Hagler mentions that they are earlier works, before the residency. You can clearly see his thought processes and complete evolution in everything combined here. I feel a more playful side of the artist in this room. More cartoon characters to perhaps give light-heartedness to the scenario’s Joshua depicts to the viewer. In relation with religious influences, one can reference faith, dedication, sacrifice, and saviors. I noticed more and more firefighters (and I want to say coast guard figures) in these paintings. They are all depicted in the act of saving a life. Perhaps overall, it’s the recognition of everyday hero’s or civilian saviors that sacrifice themselves, selflessly… for us. On the surface, each panel is a lathered concoction of color exploding from a monochrome world, fluid movement and a warped sense of humor to give you a smirk. I’d rate this show as 100% delicious. And lets just say that my eyeballs are still creamy from last night’s excitement. Bravo!

Miami – This past weekend was Wynwood’s popular monthly gallery walk. Nestled in Midtown Miami is the Design District and Wynwood’s Art District. This area participates by welcoming the public to stroll through the over 50 galleries, studios and project spaces every second Saturday.  Announced by the Miami Art Dealers Association a few months back, this particular art walk now has new extended daytime hours (2-9pm) with many participating galleries. The neighborhood often hosts its own ‘Wynwood Market;’ a mix of art, fashion apparel, handmade crafts, jewelry and books.

Wynwood’s Second Saturday is one of my favorite gallery hopping adventure nights. It seems like there are an endless amount of galleries and outdoor murals clustered along North Miami Avenue and NW 2nd street. Offerings range from white walled contemporary galleries to youthful DIY project spaces. There is something for every visitor; one might think Basel’s satellite fairs have invaded the neighborhood. Many of the galleries take advantage of the high volume of foot traffic and offer their opening receptions during this night. If you are a collector, then it’s a great opportunity to get your bid in early and speak with the artists. If you have never attended this event, then mark your calendars and strap on your walking shoes.

If you’d like to wine and dine before hitting the pavement, there are a few restaurants that I’d highly recommend. Looking for an incredibly delicious, chic yet casual experience? Then you must hit up Joey’s, located at 2506 NW 2nd Ave (left of the Wynwood Walls). Another fabulous favorite and culinary experience is right next door to the Walls; Wynwood Kitchen & Bar. Select from their contemporary American menu as while looking at art by Shepard Fairey and Christian Awe. I would advise making a reservation since these popular eateries fill up fast! Dining on the go? Not to worry, there are plenty of Miami Food Trucks parked bumper to bumper along NW 2nd Ave. For a late night cocktail try the lush, relaxing atmosphere of the Cafeina Wynwood Lounge. It offers tasty tapas, creative cocktails and a bright gallery space connected to its lounge.

Currently, Miami is home to eight monthly art walks (including two in the city of Fort Lauderdale). Coming up next weekend [7/29 – 7/30] is a triple threat of three consecutive art walks: Viernes Culturales, NOMI (near MOCA) & Fort Lauderdale’s Fat Village. Below is our South Florida gallery walk list:

The Skinny:

* Coral Gables:// First Friday’s

* Coconut Grove at the Mayfair Promenade:// First Saturday’s

* North Beach Arts District (NOBE) (in FTL):// First Saturday’s

* Wynwood Art District:// Second Saturday’s

* Bird Road Arts District (BRAD):// Third Saturday’s

* Little Havana’s Viernes Culturales:// Last Friday’s

* NOMI Art District:// Last Friday’s

* FAT Viliage (in FTL):// Last Saturdays