DISPATCH- FEB 13, 2013 (9:15 a.m.)
MIAMI, FL-
With Miami Art Week almost still visible in the rear view mirror, Art Wynwood is ramping up the excitement about art in Miami, Florida. The contemporary art fair launches with an Opening Reception on Valentine’s Day and continues to present contemporary art and celebrations through Feb 18. Included are three separate parties celebrating the art fair, the murals of the Wynwood Art District and artists of South Florida.
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VIP Lounge, Art Wynwood 2012.
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Art Wynwood will feature around 70 galleries presenting emerging, cutting edge, contemporary and modern artworks. Exhibiting galleries include Hollis Taggart (New York, NY), Waterhouse & Dodd (London, UK and New York, NY), Nancy Hoffman Gallery (Chelsea, NY), Lyons Wier Gallery (Chelsea, NY), Cynthia Corbett Gallery (London, UK) and others.
Galleries hail from 13 countries around the globe including Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Mexico, France, Holland, Germany, Brussels, the UK and others. National galleries are based in Florida, New York, California, Illinois, North Carolina and more.
Unique to Art Wynwood is its tight connection to street art and the murals of the Wynwood Arts District. The inaugural fair, held last year, was launched with the blessings of Tony Goldman, who passed away in September 2012.
This year’s fair honors his memory and pays tribute to Goldman's development of the Wynwood Arts District in Miami, FL. Exemplifying this focus are two projects commissioned Art Wynwood and Jessica Goldman, CEO of Goldman Properties.
The first is a wraparound installation suspended above the VIP Lounge. It was created by graffiti artist Jesse Geller (aka NEMEL).
The second is a curated exhibit featuring commissioned lenticulars and original paintings installed in the pass-through areas of Art Wynwood. Contributing artists include a star line-up including Aiko, Ron English, Logan Hicks, Futura, Swoon, Kenny Scharf and How & Nosm.
The exhibition is curated by Meghan Coleman and sponsored by Wynwood Walls and Art Wynwood.
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"Futura" fabricated by Mark Diamond, 24 x 36, specially commissioned lenticular for Wynwood Walls. Courtesy Art Wynwood.
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The Wynwood Walls was conceived by Goldman as a way to transform the warehouse district into a downtown center that could develop the area’s pedestrian potential by attracting people interested in exploring the street art movement. As he said: “Wynwood’s large stock of warehouse buildings, all with no windows, would be my giant canvases to bring together the greatest street artists ever seen in one place.”
Since then, with the initial help of Jeffrey Deitch (before he became director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles), the Wynwood Walls has featured such celebrated artists in the genre as Os Gemeos, Invader, Kenny Scharf, FUTURA 2000, Dearraindrop, FAILE, BAST, Shepard Fairey, Aiko, Sego, Saner, Ligen, Nunca, Ben Jones, HOW & NOSM, Ryan McGinness, Jim Drain, Ara Peterson, Retna, Stelios Faitakis, Clare Rojas, The Date Farmers, aval, ROA, Ron English, Jeff Soto, Logan Hicks, b., PHASE 2, Joe Grillo, COCO 144, Gaia, Vhils, Interesni Kazki, Neuzz, Swoon, Ben Wolf, David Ellis, Barry McGee, Brandon Opalka and Friends With You.
To help celebrate the connection between Art Wynwood and Wynwood Walls, an Art Wynwood VIP Preview After Party will be held on Friday from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at the Wynwood Walls (2550 NW 2nd Avenue). The general public is invited from 10 p.m. to midnight.
There are three different art parties to help celebrate Art Wynwood.
Art Wynwood’s VIP Preview and Private Reception kicks off the art fair on Valentine's Day. The preview offers the first view of the art fair. It will be held from 6 to 10 p.m.
Art Wynwood VIP Preview After Party will be held on Friday at the Wynwood Walls. On Saturday, the Bakehouse Art Complex hosts a VIP After Party for Art Wynwood from 7 to 10 p.m.
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"Stock Tank" by Julie Blackmon, 2012. Exhibited with Catherine Edelman Gallery. Courtesy Art Wynwood.
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The non-profit Bakehouse Art Complex (BAC) is dedicated to attracting emerging and mid-career artists in South Florida. They provide a workplace for artists which includes affordable studios, exhibition galleries and professional development opportunities.
There are two exhibitions currently on view at BAC. "Transformed Interceptions.Encuentros transformados" by Jose Pacheco Silva is presented in the Audrey Love Gallery & Project Room. "Bryan Hiveley: The Ribbon Snake Revolution" is on view in the Swenson Gallery.
Artist studios will be open during the VIP After Party. Proceeds benefit Bakehouse programs.
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"Hiding in the City" by Lisa Bolin. Photograph, 44 x 59 inches. Eli Klein Gallery. Courtesy Art Wynwood.
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On the verge of opening the second edition of Art Wynwood, fair director Nick Korniloff expressed optimism that this year’s fair will be a strong one.
“We have received an incredibly positive response from those who visited and participated in the inaugural edition of Art Wynwood last year,” he said. “This year’s strong renewal rate of participating galleries and new participating galleries reflects a confidence that Midtown Miami’s Wynwood Arts District has truly evolved into a year-round cultural destination for collecting contemporary art…”
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- "Gallery of Views of Modern Rome" by Lluis Barba.
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BASIC FACTS Art Wynwood will be presented Feb 14 to 18, 2013 at the Art Miami Pavilion in the Wynwood Arts District, 3101 NE 1st Avenue (between NE 31st St and NE 32 St), Miami, FL 33137. A VIP Preview will be held on Feb 14 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the art fair.
VIP Parties will also be held on Friday at Wynwood Walls and on Saturday at the Bakehouse Art Complex.
For details, visit Art Wynwood’s website: http://www.art-wynwood.com
HAMPTONS CONNECTIONS: Southampton artist Jeff Muhs is featured in a solo exhibition presented by Lyons Wier Gallery (Booth B35). “The Origin of Nymphs” was presented earlier this year at the Chelsea gallery.
Bakehouse Art Complex exhibiting artist Jose Pacheco Silva also exhibits with SOLAR contemporary art gallery of East Hampton.
Art Wynwood is produced by Art Miami, which presented Art Southampton for the first time in 2012. Art Southampton returns for its second edition to the same location in Southampton. The art fair will be held from July 25 to 29, 2013.
Art Miami LLC Productions presents Art Miami, CONTEXT, Art Southampton and Aqua13 (new for 2013).
RELATED STORIES:
"The Origin of Nymphs Opens at Lyons Wier Gallery." Published Jan 3, 2013.
"Aqua Art Fair Acquired by Art Miami LLC." Published Dec 5, 2012.
"Art Southampton Opens First Art Fair." Published July 26, 2012.
"VISUAL DIARY: Art Southampton in Pictures." Published August 1, 2012.
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