Art Basel is officially a week away! And I will be posting nifty little guides and tidbits until then. After that, the plan is for me to reek havoc among Miami's art community by reviewing everything I manage to see. I'll probably do some live blogging through my Blackberry if I'm sober enough. Hey, I can't make any promises. The lure of open bars and free champagne might just be too much for me to handle.
Here is my first warning. Just because an event has the words "Art" and "Basel" in it, doesn't mean it associated with the actual Art Basel event. I know, I just rocked your world to the point that you no longer want to live. Reality is the actual Art Basel shows has many events open, including the opening concert Art Loves Music on Wednesday, December 5 with the relic punk rockers Iggy and The Stooges, which surprisingly includes four out of the five original band members, though I'm pretty sure bassist Dave Alexander would be there if he hadn't died back in '75. No offense to fans of the Stooges out there, but I was hoping for someone a bit more -- how do I say this? -- relevant. I mean Peaches was kick-ass last year, even if the outdoor conditions rendered her performance limp (although she did make it up when she performed at Mansion during WMC).
Also occurring that night will be the opening of Art Positions, in which 20 "cutting-edge" (read crappy) art galleries cram themselves into shipping containers. I actually visited this last year and all I have to say is shipping containers make poor exhibition spaces. They are so narrow people have to queue up outside in order to get in. Also the art was pretty disappointing except for one or two. Only really cool thing about this was that most of the artists were there and willing to speak to anyone who had questions. But avoid going here at all costs during opening night, too many people make you feel hurried.
Art Basel official opens to the public Thursday and runs through Sunday at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Another warning, visit Art Basel early, don't wait for the weekend. Why? Because everyone waits until the weekend to go. Call in sick to work on Thursday or Friday and go during work hours. Trusts, it is less hectic. And Art Basel after all is really an art market and the most hyped and impressive pieces are always the first to be snatched up. Nicer buyers usually wait until Basel is over to take the piece home, but some want it out of public view right away.
If you art fanatical like moi, make sure to make time for Art Salon, which is an hourly program of artists talks, book signings and round table discussions. Also open to us savages is Art Basel Conversations, which starts Wednesday everyday until Sunday at 10 a.m.
I really could go on forever, but I'm tired bitches. Get off ma back! Instead, do yourself a favor a print out the nifty public program available at the Art Basel Web site.
Tomorrow, I will touch on the leeches satellite fairs hoping to capitalize on Art Basel's presence next week.
“garbage can’s got a tan,” these little nasty dirty parking lots in South Beach with a stinky old garbage can and somebody on crack dancing badly. It’s a satiric portrait but not just of South Beach, the whole country’s been settling south, moving to the sun belt, kind of the way a middle aged person’s waistline expands. I mention Malibu too. It’s the whole concept of fun-seeking in the sun. (“Get a job in street promotion/pushin’ handbills on the ocean!”)
That's a pretty artistic and and accurate view of South Beach, if you ask me.
If Iggy doesn't belong at Art Basel, nobody does.
And speaking of your fondness for Peaches, did you know Iggy sings on her song "Kick It" as well as appears in the video.
So let's just lay off Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Duran.
Please stick to posting your nifty little guides and tidbits.
and you gotta respect a sixty year jewish guy who can still wear lowrider jeans. . . even if he is only 5'7".
Duran,
Everyone is right on this...except you.
I guess The Stooges is not trendy enough for ya? Never mind that they were one of the fathers of punk rock and gave popular music a kick in the nuts which opened the doors to leftfield musicians for the past 30 years. Iggy is an icon of counter culture…and as Arielle stated so well…a lot of acts, including your precious hipster house idols, owe it to these gentlemen. Additionally, I doubt people will remember Peaches 30 years from now…what impact has she made to music…she is just a re-hash of electro pop and booty bass for white kids that laugh at the word titties. Completely disposable music. Really…learn about music….there is a history which you don’t seem to know diddly squat. I bet you don't even know who Mike Watt is without looking him up on the Wikipedia.
And never compare the fossils that are the Rolling Stones to Iggy…. Iggy never sold out as badly as those old crows…and he still puts on a show with energy that can match any newbie band. I bet you have never seen Iggy…and I wonder how you can make an opinion on a musicians you have never seen live.
I guess you will just have to wait for WMC…all of your favorite disposable musicians will be playing…you know the ones that have been copying and recycling music from the electro and rave era for the past 7 years.
Your the ying to my yang. Did you ever know that your my hero? You are the wind beneath my wings.
http://www.miamibeach411.com/news/index.php?/news/comments/full-concert/
Duran's still talking trash about Iggy, but I'd love to hear what others thought about the show.