Coming up for air after Art Basel
What to do, what to choose. As the giant white tents started taking over the city I knew it was time to begin my Art Basel plan of attack. I knew what I loved from last year that I wanted to repeat and definitely wanted to hit some new spots in 2013.The 2012 highlight was definitely the Pulse Contemporary Art Fair at the Ice Palace Studios in the sketchy 'hood of Overtown. So when my invite showed up in my inbox I knew I had to attend. Again, the fair was well worth the jaunt into the dicey area.Aggressive, in your face, conversation-starting art was the norm again this year. Always pushing the envelope and presenting pieces that make you think twice is what organizers went for and what they accomplished.And the buyers came. Record sales were reported on opening day alone, when 3,000 art lovers and collectors hungry for a piece of the action, sauntered through the doors. Galleries from San Francisco, New York, London, Los Angeles and San Antonio were represented.And also on opening night, local artist Henrique Souza opened the doors to his new space House of Art at 415 NW 26 St. in Wynwood to showcase the work of TMNK/Nobody, Robert Figueroa, Jason Henthorne and several other local artists as well as his own work. Miami's own gender illusionist Adora performed live while CircX created a live installation.The main event at the Miami Beach Convention Center was a massive showing of classics by the masters -- Picasso, Botero, Chagall and Matisse alongside their contemporary equals Rauschenberg, Liechtenstein, Indiana, Warhol and de Kooning. In other words, something for everyone.Across the street in a tent next to the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, Design Miami greeted visitors with a giant mound of sand where kids enjoyed climbing to new heights. Inside was a smart gathering of home furnishings and accessories from the traditional to the quirky by high-end designers as well as a display of new model Audi sports cars where folks sat behind the wheel and dreamed of uttering "hand over the keys."
