Tuesday night brought a crush of art fair previews to welcome Art Basel and Miami Art Week. Opening was Untitled, Scope, Art Miami, Context, Concept, Miami Project, Select, Zones and Red Dot. The fairs were dispersed among Miami and Miami Beach. After battling wind, rain and Miami traffic, it become apparent Wynwood Arts District was our best bet. Edging ever so slowly down traffic-locked streets, we (Sage Cotignola and I) eventually found a parking garage right across from Art Miami that meant a minimal of walking.
Anticipation and excitement helped keep the chill at bay and a surprise pair of inflatable figures, dangling from strings, seem to dance with joy while suspended above a patch of grass where the art fairs converged. This was our first art encounter on art fair row. Art Miami beckoned from across the street--there was no other choice but to answer.
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Outside of Art Miami 2014. Photo by Pat Rogers.
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After heading inside, the first curated pockets of art were ready for viewing. People wandered with Heineken bottles or Perrier in colorful cans along aisles that had plenty of walking room.
It seemed too early to start concentrating on examining art and we let the first night of fairs be an easy one. Gallerists were available to talk. Art installed at the entrance was less bold than last year allowing a certain ease into the fair. Meandering, we saw art that entranced and works that were easy to walk by. We planned to return after seeing Art Basel Miami Beach for a closer look at the art the fair had to offer.
I did enjoy discovering mixed media figurative artist Lisa Alonzo exhibited by Claire Oliver Gallery {New York), AB-EX painter Cleve Gray (1918-2004) with Loretta Howard Gallery (New York) and the "Donut Rush" installation by Jae Yong Kim exhibited by Lyons Wier Gallery (New York).
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Artwork by Cleve Gray. Exhibited with Loretta Howard Gallery, New York. Photo by Pat Rogers.
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Adding some unexpected fun to the proceedings were demonstrations of transformational paper sculptures by contemporary Chinese artist Li Hongbo at Klein Sun Gallery (New York) and a performance art piece Mehrung #6 by Bohler & Orendt presented by Galerie Anita Beckers (Frankfurt).
Click on our slideshow to see a few photos from opening night at Art Miami 2014:
View Slideshow.
Artwork by Lisa Alonzo. Exhibited with Claire Oliver Gallery, new York. Photo by Pat Rogers.
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"The Old Man With Hat" by Li Hongbo, 2014. Paper, 21 5/8 x 9 7/8 x 9 7/8 inches. Exhibited with Klein Sun Gallery and demonstrated by Kat Quinn. Photo by Pat Rogers.
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To see images from Art Miami, view our slideshow:
View Slideshow.
NEXT UP: “Miami Day 1 Continues: Context Opens” by Pat Rogers.
BASIC FACTS: The 25th edition of Art Miami takes place from December 2 to 7, 2014 at 3101 NE 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33137. www.art-miami.com".
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Hamptons Art Hub will publish continual coverage of Art Basel Miami Beach and Miami Art Fair Week. Check back for daily dispatches.
Pat Rogers is the publisher of Hamptons Art Hub and an arts journalist.
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RELATED: “Five Miami Shows Not to Miss in Miami” by Pat Rogers.
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My partner, Kat Quinn, Is the model featured working with the paper art by artist Li HongBo. Is is possible to have her name in the caption? Also is it possible to get a copy of this photo? Thanks!
Thanks for letting us know the identity of the model demonstrating Li HongBo’s surprising paper sculpture. Her name has been added to the images.