"Few places in the world bring together as much wealth and talent," were among the opening remarks Art Basel Miami Beach director and chairman, Samuel Keller, made at the November 30 opening reception for what has become one of the most important art fairs in the world.
With that said, Keller kicked off a whirlwind five-day spree of art events that brought nearly 100,000 art lovers to Miami Beach from around the world. From glitzy affairs at private mansions to late night dance parties in South Beach dive bars, Art Basel parties conveyed an unspoken ĂĽbercool sensibility despite the soccer-mob-like scenes of New York publicists in cocktail dresses elbowing their way into parties at the Setai, Raleigh, and Delano hotels.
Although Art Basel proper was centered at the Miami Beach Convention Center and at beachside Collins Park, several satellite art fairs throughout the city brought contemporary art from around the world to different markets. The New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) fair took place at Ice Palace Film Studios in Miami. Pulse Miami was held in a tent in Wynwood, and the Scope and Aqua art fairs drew thousands of visitors to the Townsend Hotel and the Aqua Hotel, respectively.
The onslaught actually started with two parties on November 29 before Keller's press conference. In North Miami the Museum of Contemporary Art held the Art in America party, a staid event that featured the art of Albert Oehlen and Isaac Julien; Catered Creations served spicy Thai shrimp on wonton crackers, bacalao and roasted garlic spread with plantain chips, and grilled flatbreads with chick pea puree and chile garlic oil. Later that evening Miami Art Central opened its Art Basel event with the works of South African artist William Kentridge. The party took place in a huge black tent decorated with mirrored mobiles where the Preservation Hall Jazz Band played. Karla Conceptual Event Experiences provided the tent and decor. Lighting was done by Light Concepts. Hors d'oeuvres by Le Basque Catering & Productions included tuna ceviche in crystal globes, lobster bisque, mushroom raviolis served in individual cups, and beef and chicken satay.
The next day the art fair opened to the press and private collectors with its preopening vernissage. There, art lovers strolled through the Miami Beach Convention Center taking in the bold works from around the world, from Calders and Warhols, to works from young phenoms. At its booth the arty fashion publishers at Visionaire gave taste samples of its current edition, which is called "Taste." The magazine takes art themes and expresses them in flavor strips.
The fair then moved to the outdoor Art Positions segment where art galleries exhibited work in shipping containers in Collins Park. Twin sculpted information booths took the shape of human heads resting on their sides. The New York Dolls officially closed the first night with a concert on the beach. But it was not the end of the evening—there were still several after-parties to come.
At the Setai Hotel, Taschen publishers held a launch party for Artists and Prostitutes, David LaChapelle's new book. Among the highlights of the party was Amanda Lepore, one of the photographer's muses, who sat in a plexiglass house in the middle of the pool flipping pages of the book, wearing only stilettos.
Continue reading about Art Basel Miami Beach 2005
With that said, Keller kicked off a whirlwind five-day spree of art events that brought nearly 100,000 art lovers to Miami Beach from around the world. From glitzy affairs at private mansions to late night dance parties in South Beach dive bars, Art Basel parties conveyed an unspoken ĂĽbercool sensibility despite the soccer-mob-like scenes of New York publicists in cocktail dresses elbowing their way into parties at the Setai, Raleigh, and Delano hotels.
Although Art Basel proper was centered at the Miami Beach Convention Center and at beachside Collins Park, several satellite art fairs throughout the city brought contemporary art from around the world to different markets. The New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) fair took place at Ice Palace Film Studios in Miami. Pulse Miami was held in a tent in Wynwood, and the Scope and Aqua art fairs drew thousands of visitors to the Townsend Hotel and the Aqua Hotel, respectively.
The onslaught actually started with two parties on November 29 before Keller's press conference. In North Miami the Museum of Contemporary Art held the Art in America party, a staid event that featured the art of Albert Oehlen and Isaac Julien; Catered Creations served spicy Thai shrimp on wonton crackers, bacalao and roasted garlic spread with plantain chips, and grilled flatbreads with chick pea puree and chile garlic oil. Later that evening Miami Art Central opened its Art Basel event with the works of South African artist William Kentridge. The party took place in a huge black tent decorated with mirrored mobiles where the Preservation Hall Jazz Band played. Karla Conceptual Event Experiences provided the tent and decor. Lighting was done by Light Concepts. Hors d'oeuvres by Le Basque Catering & Productions included tuna ceviche in crystal globes, lobster bisque, mushroom raviolis served in individual cups, and beef and chicken satay.
The next day the art fair opened to the press and private collectors with its preopening vernissage. There, art lovers strolled through the Miami Beach Convention Center taking in the bold works from around the world, from Calders and Warhols, to works from young phenoms. At its booth the arty fashion publishers at Visionaire gave taste samples of its current edition, which is called "Taste." The magazine takes art themes and expresses them in flavor strips.
The fair then moved to the outdoor Art Positions segment where art galleries exhibited work in shipping containers in Collins Park. Twin sculpted information booths took the shape of human heads resting on their sides. The New York Dolls officially closed the first night with a concert on the beach. But it was not the end of the evening—there were still several after-parties to come.
At the Setai Hotel, Taschen publishers held a launch party for Artists and Prostitutes, David LaChapelle's new book. Among the highlights of the party was Amanda Lepore, one of the photographer's muses, who sat in a plexiglass house in the middle of the pool flipping pages of the book, wearing only stilettos.
Continue reading about Art Basel Miami Beach 2005
Thousands of art lovers flocked to the Miami Beach Convention Center for Art Basel Miami Beach.
An information booth at the fair's Art Positions sector at Collins Park embodied art.
Amanda Lepore, muse to photographer David LaChapelle, performed in a plexiglass house at the pool of the Setai Hotel.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band of New Orleans headlined the party at Miami Art Central.
