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12/07/2009: "Art Basel Miami Beach 2009"
(Miami Beach) I'm back at Miami International Airport. Boy, this past week sure flew. I was here on vacation for Art Basel Miami Beach 2009. In fact, I spent most of the first day and part of the last day of the enormous fair inside the Miami Beach Convention Center. The great news is that it was pretty crowded, despite economic forecasts that remain gloomy through 2010.
Once again this year, like most art lovers, I came to Basel Miami in search of something. Yes, I wanted to see great art, which I did. I always carry my pad and pen so that I can jot down the names of some great artists and works to tell you about. However, if you're walking through the Miami Beach Convention Center with your eyes truly open, you'll see much more than just art. The human drama that unfolds in that gigantic gathering facility is quite noteworthy. Art is the mere stage setting. Let me sum things up in three quick and simple acts. Ambition … Survival … and Redemption.
ACT I ... Ambition.
So many people here seem to be lusting after something. You can see it on their faces, hear it in their voices and almost smell it in the air. There’s a potent sense of hunting and gathering combined with semi-crazed desperation … a strong need to satisfy some carnal craving. Is it sexual? Hey, I don't know. I can only speak for myself. I was just there for the art. However, I will say that I saw some of the shortest skirts and highest heels on some of the tightest faced women I've ever seen. Damn.
Where was I? Oh yeah, ambition. Here's the deal. Most of the "artworld" did not attend Art Basel Miami Beach 2009. There simply isn't a venue large enough to accommodate such a crowd. However, many artworld people were indeed there and I think I can safely say that those in attendance are probably the most ambitious members of the world art community. As one art dealer said to me, "You have to be here!"
Why do you have to be here? Well, because there's simply no other art event that even comes close to matching this one in terms of crowds and exposure. Years ago, I called Art Basel Miami Beach, "The Super Bowl of Art." It truly is. Ambitious art collectors in search of that rare find come from all over the world … ambitious artists seeking to make a name for themselves come from all over the globe and ambitious art dealers trying to make a killing come from all four corners … not to mention the show organizers themselves who seem hell bent on keeping Art Basel Miami Beach the premier world art event that it has already proven itself to be.
The figures are astounding. Keep in mind Art Basel Miami Beach is a huge event. It refers to the main fair in the maxed out convention center, but it also includes 16 other satellite art fairs across Miami and Miami Beach. Dealers from 33 countries came out this year, plus there are dozens and dozens of art institutions across South Florida that also participate, not to mention the world media and celebrities (and wannabe celebs). Plus, there are public forums, speeches, presentations, performance art displays, you name it. This event is a way to get yourself on the map. It's burning with ambition, but because there are SO many competing interests here, it's like six lanes of rush hour traffic narrowed down to a one lane construction zone.
ACT II ... Survival.
The dealer who said to me, "You have to be here," went on to explain that due to the poor economy, sales in 2009 remained sluggish at best. The dealer (who I'm not identifying because it's not necessary) went on to say that artists should be very leery of galleries that don't attend the big fairs.
"Fairs like this are really the only opportunities galleries have to show work on the world stage," the dealer said. Here's the sad part. This particular dealer, who intentionally displayed lovely, tasteful works designed to appeal to the mass market, may not survive another year.
Ironically, I spoke with another dealer who told me she was getting grief from her boss, the gallery owner, because of slow sales. She told me that he only likes to show works that are difficult and challenging. I loved the paintings that I saw which are indeed difficult even for the staunch art crowd. Needless to say, those pieces also haven't been selling this past year. She told me that she has been trying to get the owner to change his strategy, but to no avail.
Enter Stage Right ...
My great friend, artist Deborah Bigeleisen (www.deborahbigeleisen.com). For the second year in a row, Deborah and I have toured Basel Miami together. Deborah does evocative images of flowers that Georgia O’Keefe (who more or less invented the tight close-up) only wishes she could've painted. Deborah is also the most business minded artist I know. She has a killer business model and several galleries representing her, but like everyone, she's striving to remain afloat in the art world. The cool thing about Deborah is she attends Basel Miami with the distinct purpose of making more contacts and picking up new galleries.
"I go to get a sense of the changes in the art world from year to year," Deborah said. "Given the current economic cycle, the mediocre and shock value art are weeded out and quality art and the cream rise to the top."
Speaking of survival, the Artists Fair, which was on board last year, wasn't here this year. The Artists Fair is really the only fair where the artists represent themselves at their own booths. It clearly didn't make it to Art Basel Miami Beach 2009. What a shame.
ACT III ... Redemption.
By no means do I know him, but I've seen and spoken very briefly with artist Chuck Close at similar large, international fairs in the past. I recall him saying, "I hate art fairs!" But I also remember him saying that like Deborah, he feels the need to see what's out there. What better place? Isn't that the whole point?
For all of the bitching and moaning that organizers, dealers, artists and some collectors do about art fairs, I think they absolutely rock. When else do you get to see the work of so many talented (and untalented) artists together at once? Art Basel Miami Beach really IS "The Super Bowl of Art" and much more.
More importantly, I"m so thrilled that despite what must be an uphill struggle every year, the organizers of this great event continue to pull it off gracefully despite bad economies, tornado forecasts and torrential rain (some of which we had Saturday), fewer satellite fairs (24 a couple of years ago down to 16 this year), some negative press, shaky sales … you name it.
Yes, at the end of the day, Art Basel Miami Beach is about making MONEY and lots of it. Let"s not kid ourselves here. Yet even though art is the backdrop, it's also the driving force. It's SO in your face that it becomes invisible like the contact lenses you're wearing. ART is the thing that excited me and brought me back for my fourth year here. This is truly the place where you can find the cream of the crop art being created in the world today. There's nothing like it. Some of these artists just blow me away. It makes me so thankful to be alive to see such brilliance and insight. It's also cool to talk with dealers and curators who despite their challenges and troubles, haven't lost their passion for art. In short, art brings it all together. Art makes it worthwhile. Venues like this take art and bring it directly to the people. Most people can't afford what they're seeing, but they can sure as hell bask in the glow.
Art not only inspires and reinvigorates, but it also redeems. Is it all exhausting? Of course, but I also defy anyone to walk into Art Basel Miami Beach and not come out feeling a bit … well … elevated.
As I left the Miami Beach Convention Center just a few hours ago, I noticed the long lines outside. Less than four hours until the fair was over and people were still waiting to get in. I can't vouch for art sales, but that's what I call success.
MICHAEL CORBIN IS AN AVID ART COLLECTOR AN AUTHOR OF THE MULTI AWARD-WINNING "THE ART OF EVERYDAY JOE: A COLLECTORS JOURNAL." CHECK IT OUT AT WWW.ARTBOOKGUY.COM
