The Best of Art Basel Weekend 2013

Art Basel provides a platform for galleries, giving them access to an international audience of collectors, museum directors and curators. The shows attract people with an appreciation of modern and contemporary art who experience Art Basel as a cultural event. (Reference from Wikipedia) This event arrived to Miami Beach, Florida at the Miami Convention Center under the direction formerly of Samuel Keller in 2002.

 The first week of December every year, Miami is the Mecca of art thanks to Art Basel. It is inevitable that everyone knows about the big event at the Convention Center, many do notice that the entire city transitions as well. Everything around is creatively expressed. And any objects bolted down are taken over by urban art writers (graffiti artists). 

 With everything going on including the gridlock around the city, it is extremely difficult to see everything and attend all the invitations receive. However, there are a few spots and events that deserve mentioning as A.T.B’s Best of Art Basel Weekend 2013.



Best Welcome- Black Art in America @ Townhouse Hotel in South Beach.

Only a few blocks away from the convention center, this quaint meet and greet was hosted by the leading online social network focused on African-American art. Nibbles, libations and intelligent conversation were a great start to a week of festivities important not only to the black art community but to the South Florida art community as a whole. 

 BAIA provides member artists with global exposure by connecting them to collectors, arts enthusiasts, arts institutions and professionals. Black Art in America (BAIA) has received over 4 million page views from 180 countries and has a weekly reach on Facebook that exceeds 1 million each week, allowing the global arts market to become familiar with work from BAIA artists and the exchange of thought within their online community. (Reference from http://blackartinamerica.com) We were blessed to have BAIA as our cooperate sponsor for @ Collaboration: African Diaspora Exhibition in September 2013.


Best Conversation- Najee Dorsey

Najee Dorsey, is Founder and CEO of Black Art In America™ and an artist in his own right who was one of the people welcoming all the attendees to the BAIA Meet & Greet . One thing that was appreciated, this very successful artist was very down to earth. 

 Although he has met many famous people and has had his work appear in films including the re-make of the movie Steel Magnolias, he is very friendly & down to earth. He keeps it real. This big teddy bear welcomes you with a smile, a glass of wine & great conversation that you will learn something from as an artist and as a collector.









Best Popup Show- Prizm Art Fair 

Located at the Marquis Residence in Downtown Miami, this very hip Hot Spot showcasing an exhibition of artists of African Diaspora brought in a who’s who of diverse art collectors. Prizm is a cutting-edge art fair that is multidisciplinary in scope, promoting the work of artists of color, who reflect global trends in contemporary art. (Reference from http://www.prizmartfair.com/) The unique premise that coordinator Mikhaile Solomon & curator Marie Vickles did, was not the typical “wine & cheese” event. In fact if you wish to eat or drink you can purchase that before you walk into the exhibition venue. The vibe was, “you can mingle, but you are here to BUY art”. Not a pretentious approach at all. Very smart in fact. Reiterating that, the space is full of great art, and they need to go to great homes.

Best Art Supporter- Danny Simmons

Being a fine artist by profession is often challenging. Add on being related to a mogul and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and you may think this is harder. But Joseph and Russell do not run this show. Older brother Daniel “Danny” Simmons, a neo-African abstract expressionist painter and co-founder and Chairman of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation is very well accomplished in the art scene. By no means because of the name he is connected to. You’d figure with his name, like other famous people who attend Basel weekend, he’d pick up a Basquiat or a Wiley with a camera crew in tow. Not at all. Very discretely, Danny supports emerging artists. No bragging rights, just simply “he likes what he likes.” That old fashioned approach to good ol’ art appreciation. One need not have an art history degree or a million dollar contract to simply support great art created by great artists.

Best Art Fair- Red Dot

From the minute I walked in the door, the woman at the front table remembered me from the previous year from signing up for more information. There was interactive art to my right and greeter left. And that was only 26 second of walking in the door. The event coordinator stopped us in the second aisle asking how we were like what we saw so far. And we were so in awe of the art & the atmosphere and were delighted to tell her. Red Dot Art Fair far exceeded our expectations of any art fair we had ever experienced in the 10 years of attending these shows. The hospitality and the talent that was within that space was just inspiring to us as artists & curators.


Best Technique-Leah Yerpe

ArtMiami/Context by far is a large venue. There is no way one can see everything in one visit. However, the most impressive artist exhibiting here was Brooklyn artist, Leah Yerpe. Amazing rendering. Simply breathtaking.
















Best Gallery- Collection Privee Gallery

Walking thru the Wynwood Art District this time of year, one acknowledges that there are a vast variety of pop up galleries in the area. In the midst of all these temporary entities, lies a permanent space worth visiting Collection Privee Gallery. The sculpture series by Paige Bradley is definitely worth the investment. Busy as he should be, the gallery director is happy to give you anything you want to know about the artists and the beautiful work in the space.













Best Restaurant-Pride and Joy BBQ

Sometimes one needs a break from art. Though still artsy, the design decor at Pride and Joy BBQ is very artistically eclectic. Beer can chandeliers, truck installation bar  and the great Rock n Roll music adds to the fun ambiance of this eatery.  The shrimp & grits are to die for & the brisket melts in your mouth. They are ala cart but that's okay because it gives you a great opportunity to pick what you want without the worry of being penalized for substituting. 

Best Gimmick-Rivalry Club

As quoted by one of the sales people "this is our Super Bowl". The spot where all the writers know for their gear and their bombs (a.k.a spray paints). Rivalry Club has  the coolest tees and whimsical art parodies painting .  In the heart of Wynwood, this edging yet classy spot had a diverse clientele and appealed to kids and elders alike. But rest assure, if you were tagging a wall, and ran out of paint, you knew exactly what spot to hit.

Best Urban Spot-Wynwood Wall

Nestled between Wynwood Kitchen & Bar & Wynwood Doors, this spot is smack in the heart of the Wynwood Arts District.  Walls and walls of some of the best Street Artists from all over the world. The walls a tastefully covered with  the cream of the crop art work that money can't buy. There is a juice bar, a few galleries & some great novelty stores. 

So since you cannot stick the walls in your purse.  There are opportunities bring a little bit of Wynwood home with you. 


Best Space-Yeelen Art Gallery

Yeelen is a contemporary art space with a focus on the promotion and expression of Street Culture. 

(Reference from website http://www.yeelenart.com) Established in 2008 in Little Haiti, it is art's best kept  secret in Miami. It is curated/founded by art director Karla Soimaud and her artist husband Jerome who was also exhibiting at the Prizm Art Fair. (Showcases were partnered) 4 dynamic spaces. Three different art shows and entertainment outside can be happening all at the same time, and you can feel 4 completely unique experiences.  By far a must see.Beautiful.