One of the highlights of Art Basel was Jennifer Rubell’s “Just Right” breakfast. The New York-based artist and writer, daughter of Miami art collectors Don and Mera Rubell, is known for her large, interactive food installations, and this year attracted between 4,500 and 5,000 visitors to her meal-oriented exhibition. Held at the Rubell Family Collection gallery, “Just Right” was inspired by a familiar fairy tale. “I was interested in referencing a story in which a house was a central character, and so of course I thought of Goldilocks,” said Rubell.
The breakfast was held daily in a five-bedroom, 1,300-square-foot semidemolished cottage behind the gallery. Rubell purchased the property six years ago from a local family. To reach the house, guests had to duck through a hole in the wall of the gallery’s rear courtyard, then walk through another overgrown courtyard, past a large mango tree. Siinc Agency, which handled production, obtained the city permits, removed all the electrical wiring from the house, and brought in a generator from EventStar.
Once inside, guests embodied the character of Goldilocks by going from room to room and using items such as sugar, milk, and raisins to prepare their own version of a “just right” breakfast. According to Rubell, her intention was to have guests explore the question: "What if Goldilocks were an artist?"
Rubell prepared the porridge daily with help from Pure Simple Cooking, which provided catering support and staffing.
Here’s a look at the different elements of Rubell’s five-day show, which wrapped Sunday.
