Making the Rounds at Miami Art Week / ART Basel 2018

Miami Art Week/ Art Basel 2018 was just a couple of weeks ago but people are probably still reeling from all the parties, socializing, concerts, vip cocktail parties and oh yeah the art. We’ve been feeling like the art has been put on the back burner a bit to make way for the ginormous party that Art Basel week has become in the past few years.  What used to be an art event that was attended by those in the art world is now a large VIP cocktail party packed with celebrities and wannabes some of which have no real interest in art.

As for me someone who grew up in Miami with an interest in art and now someone who knows a thing or two about the art, well I’ve seen the event change throughout the years. So my husband and I did what we call “Art Basel Lite” this year. We didn’t attend the fair VIP previews early in the week as we usually do instead we just went Friday and stayed overnight.

Miami Art Week

Friday- Film, Fairs, Wynwood

We started our Art Basel experience with an art film showing on Friday then tried to catch a little bit of Art Miami afterward. We were able to stroll the Context section of Art Miami about 10 minutes before it closed. Then we went off to the Wynwood Walls to see the Vhils show.  The walls were surprisingly empty since NE 2nd Street was closed to cars. It seemed a good idea that they closed the busy street but due to this, there were more people on N. Miami, the most I had ever seen on the street! Of course, more galleries and restaurants have made their way east to N. Miami Ave. in the last few years.  This is where the Crash and Abstrk show was at and also our last but not least stop on Friday night.

Kobra mural at the Wynwood Walls

Ron English mural at the Wynwood Walls-Miami Art Week

Miami Art Week

Saturday- Fairs on South Beach

The next morning we were up early since our daughter conveniently had a debate in S. Beach.  We hit Scope as it was opening. I don’t I’ve ever been at a fair this early as a spectator. Scope offers a lot of cool work from contemporary and emerging artists. Then after a nice lunch at The News Cafe with some artsy friends, we went to Untitled to pick up our traditional “weird” Basel purchase. It’s truly a cherished ritual at this point. Then we went home.  That was it!  Nothing like previous years when we work a show or go see art, have lavish dinners and party our butts off.  The best part…. we avoided lots of traffic.

One of my obsessions- Artist Kukula

Artist Jennybird Alcantara

New obsession by artist Erika Sanada