Often times, Art Basel Miami is pigeonholed as the tropical mai-tai of the art world, all decoration and pizzazz…..and not much substance. Thus, it was refreshing when, on a quiet Friday evening December 5th, on the rooftop of the newly opened Mondrian hotel, Assouline, Accompanied Literary Society, and Intermix hosted an intimate and intellectual dinner discussion with an enviably high-caliber panel. Curated by Neville Wakefield and moderated by Glenn O’Brien, the panel included legendary art maven Mary Boone, a pregnant and radiant Rachel Feinstein, acclaimed writer Sarah Thornton (who trooped through the discussion despite having a dismal case of laryngitis), collector Adam Lindemann, and young man-about-town, artist, and significant other of Mary Kate Olson, Nate Lowman.

Words By Faith-Ann Young
Photos Courtesy of Nick Hunt / Patrick McMullen

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In Fashion Photo Exhibit; Miami; December 2nd; 2008

The debut of the Naomi Campbell Retrospective, which boasted colorful fashion photography, tanned celebrities, red carpet, juicy fruity drinks, and a ribbon-cutting session, was a mix of highs and lows last night. Majority of the photographic selections were solid representations of top fashion photographers; the lush Yves Saint Laurent Ad Campaigns of Naomi by Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin were displayed along with other iconic photographs of the long-limbed diva against maze-like green hedges.  In addition, Michael Dweck’ ethereal mermaids, romantic fashion photos by Alika Malka and delicious pop arty shots by Arthur Elgort stood out in the labyrinth of retro and modern fashion photos. Other photographers represented included Gilles Bensimon, Patrick Demarchelier, Arthur Elgort, Simon Harris, Seb Janiak, David LaChapelle, Mario Testino, and Ellen Von Unwerth. However, while the selections were cheerful, bold, and uplifting, (truly, what would fashion photography be today without LaChapelle’s influence?), none was jaw-droppingly sensational or controversial. Perhaps because we are so inundated with these photographers’ sensibilities via mega-watt advertisements and 800-page luxury magazine spreads, when we attempt to differentiate between art vs commerce, their works seem to lean more on the commercial side.

Photos and Writing by Faith-Ann Young

more story and pictures after the jump…

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Ted Noten designed Prada Purse; Gold-plated gun, cast in acrylic, hangbag; Ornamentum Gallery; 506 Warren Street; Hudson, NY – Photo by ArtObserved

We already knew that Basel was downsizing: this year, little known French pop princess Yelle is replacing leathery icon Iggy Pop in Art Loves Music, sponsor UBS reported its first quarterly loss in 5 years, liquor sales are down 20%, and many people including key investors simply decided not to come. Yet if indeed the art bubble is popping, we thought at least there would be a ‘bang’ to talk about; instead, if Tuesday is any judge, one can surmise that the ostentatious, fun ego of Miami Basel and sister satellite Fairs will instead deflate in a slow, lackluster manner this year.

At the premier Design Miami’s Vernissage, though the champagne was still flowing and VIPs sauntered in freely, visually there appeared to be drop in attendance from last year and the overall sentiment seemed rather quiet and demure. (Is everyone in fiscal mourning or is it simply sticker-shock?) Also, few of the displays were as buzz-worthy like 2007 Designer of the Year Tokujin Yoshioka’s crisp  airy hamster nest of straws that put Dash Snow and Dan Colen’s art bum hamster nests to shame. Since Designers of the year The Campana Brothers’ whimsical, stuffed animal chairs are ubiquitous around the design world these days, while their influence is strong especially in terms of environmental sustainability, their various displays arguably may not challenge the future of art design as many of past winners have (i.e. Zaha Hadid, Marc Newson, etc).

Words & Photos By Faith-Ann Young

more story and photos after the break…

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Cocktails under the lights at the Raleigh Hotel – Photo by ArtObserved

For some time the press in general, with sometimes a bit too much schadenfreude, has been anticipating how the bacchanal of the art market, Art Basel Miami Beach, would be affected by the current art market downturn.   ArtObserved is here and can say definitively that the energy is more subdued than prior years.    Art Basel Miami Beach has 250 exhibitors from 33 countries showing more than 2,000 artists with costs of exhibiting exceeding $100,000 in some cases.   Last year 43,000 visitors were recorded in attendance.  This year there are still the chauffeured cars, the expensive catered events with fashion or luxury commercial tie-ins, the crowded parties, such as the packed throngs of people (including Pharell) trying to get into the Raleigh penthouse party last night (story coverage to follow).   However, for the bulk of the exchanges in Art Basel Miami Beach, the cocktail and booth-side conversations, the topic seems to inevitably focus on assessing the situation.

Art Basel Miami Beach is still a young fair, but for the past few years it culminated into one of the most significant global art events.  Part of the reason why it offers unique perspective into the state of the art world is that Art Basel Miami Beach always was differentiated by extraordinary amounts of satellite fairs (no other major art fair  has as many satellite events) as well as for grand, almost shameless levels of fashion, music, film, publishing and luxury corporate sponsorships and collaborations, which, along with the weather, brought many affluent buyers and cultural influencers to the scene.   The galleries showing know that the market is soft, and part of the exciting part of this year’s fair is that participants have brought some of their most resilient and high quality works to fight it out.   Art Basel Miami Beach will this year have a few too many flopped parties, some disappointing no sales at the booths, and perhaps some galleries will be dealt some damaging blows but in the end the fair seems to still be one not to miss.

Glitz Meets Grim as Miami Basel Fair Opens in Pallid Art Market [Bloomberg]
Art Basel Miami Beach | Naomi’s Watts [TheMoment]
Editor’s Picks: Art Basel Miami Beach Preview [ArtInfo]
Twenty-One Cranky Ways of Looking at Art Basel Miami Beach [ArtInfo]
The Block and the Booth [ArtInfo]
Art loves everyone. Love it back… [FinancialTimes]
Art Basel Miami Beach set to party on [Financial Times]
Art Basel satellite shows likely to struggle this year [MiamiHerald]
$300,000 sculpture destroyed en route to Art Miami show [MiamiHerald]
Art Basel Art Fountain’s Inhuman Stain [NYMag]
Miami Madness [ArtNet]
Art Basel Miami Kicks Off Cautiously, Optimistically [NYMag]
Presence of Mutated Muffin Head Dress Man Yields No Significant Insight on Fair Permanence. Yet. [ArtFagCity]

more resources after the jump…

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Kehinde Wiley’s exhibition at Deitch Projects on Saturday Night photo by Art Observed

Kehinde Wiley opened his third solo show at Deitch Projects in SoHo last night. The exhibition, DOWN, includes seven large-scale portraits done in Wiley’s signature style. Kehinde Wiley is known for creating his own version of contemporary portraiture that appropriates young African American men in the place of more well known portraits of old world power figures, religious icons etc.. For his newest solo exhibition he has chosen to depict seven young men from Brooklyn in poses inspired by the fallen warriors and saints that appeared in the old 18th and 19th century paintings of Holbein, Mantegna, Houdon, Maderno, Retout and Clesinger. The young men are shown in old traditional poses of religious figures or leaders in the moment of death or repose, but their expressions and dress are wholly their own. The largest of the portraits is a breath taking 25 feet in length and has an asking price of $300,000. The exhibit will be on view until December 20th, 2008.

Art in Review; Kehinde Wiley [NYTimes]
Kehinde Wiley “Down” At Deitch Projects [Highsnobiety]
Kehinde Wiley on the Difference Between His Art and His Cooking [NYMag]
Kehinde Wiley at Deitch Projects [The Worlds Best Ever]
MIA interviews visual artist Kehinde Wiley [Interview Magazine]
Kehinde Wiley + Deitch [This Hearts On Fire]
Kehinde Wiley @ Deitch NY [Dailydujour]
Kehinde Wiley “Down” [Deitch Projects]

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Zevs recreating his Chanel logo on a ‘naked canvas,’ at ‘The Outsiders,’ Photo by ArtObserved

Lazarides Gallery, which opened in 2004 and now has four spaces in the UK, opened The Outsiders, a special “hit-and-run” show at 282 Bowery (at Houston Street) in New York City. Open Sept. 26-Oct. 12, 2008.
Featured artists include Faile, one of the most recognizable international street artist collectives; Paul Insect, France’s JR, Antony Micallef and the refreshingly controversial Jonathan Yeo. Also on display are works by Vhils, Invader, Conor Harrington, David Choe, Zevs, Mark Jenkins, Todd James, Miranda Donovan, Blu, Polly Morgan Borf, BAST, Mode 2 and Ian Francis.

THE OUTSIDERS -LAZARIDES
282 Bowery (at Houston St)
September 26 to October 12, 2008

Lazarides – The Outsiders
Graffiti Adorns New Gallery [New York Sun]
JR Gets Large in NYC [The World’s Best Ever]
Video of Zevs Performance [The World’s Best Ever]
Paris Hilton portrait is made of Porn [AP]
Portraits of President Bush, Paris Hilton exhibited in NYC are made of porn mag images [Chicago Tribune]
Photos: Outsiders NY at Lazarides in NYC [C-MONSTER]
Giant Girl Reclines on Houston Street [NyTimes]

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Democracy in America: The National Campaign at the Park Avenue Armory via Art Observed

Creative Time is presenting a week-long exhibition of public artworks at the convergence center for Democracy in America: The National Campaign at the Park Avenue Armory. Curated by Nato Thompson. The exhibition houses work done by over 40 artists, including Jon Kessler, Allison Smith, and Chris Stain. Democracy in America: The National Campaign is a multi-phased initiative that has traveled across the country collecting artistic interpretation of the country’s view on political democracy.  Site-specific projects that look at issues of democracy were created by artists Rodney McMillan, Olga Koumoundouros, Mark Tribe, Steve Powers, and Sharon Hayes and are now on view at the Armory, as well as ongoing mobile projects, such as Tactical Magic’s Ice Cream truck. The week-long exhibition is happening in conjunction with a series of performances, speeches by artists and political leaders, and viewer participatory projects. Creative Time calls the yearlong program, Democracy in America: The National Campaign, one of its largest public art initiatives through out its 34-year history.

Art Observed Exclusive Video of the opening:
Rachel Mason’s performance for the opening night at the Park Avenue Armory [Art Observed]

Convergence Center at Park Avenue Armory [Creative Time]
Nato Thompson on “Democracy in America” [Artinfo]
Democracy in America: Convergence Center at Park Avenue Armory [Flavorpill]
Democracy in America Convergence Center [ArtCal]
Creative Time’s Democracy in America Convergence Center [WorldsBestEver]

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Yvonne Force Villareal from Art Production fund (left) and others attend the opening reception for Cecily Brown at Gagosian New York via Art Observed

Gagosian New York is currently showing a collection of new and recent work by British painter Cecily Brown. The exhibit, entitled Cecily Brown 2008, displays her signature style in which bold figures are covered in abstract layers. The displayed work mirrors Brown’s previous work in its attempt to expand abstract expressionism, combining the influence of Willem de Kooning with figurative influences Nicolas Poussin and Edouard Manet. The exhibit also includes a series of uncharacteristically small scale paintings which marks a unique transfiguration for the artist who is best known for her large-scale works. Art Observed was at the opening reception along artists John Currin, Francesco Clemente, and Hope Atherton, Art Production Fund’s Yvonne Force Villareal, Tim Hunt from the Warhol Foundation.

Cecily Brown Press Release [Gagosian]
Reading Between the Linens: Cecily Brown at Gagosian Gallery [NYSun]
Cecily Brown Exhibition [NY Art Beat]
Galleries Awaken From Summer Slumber [NYSun]

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Opening reception for Doug Aitken ‘Migration’ at 303 Gallery photos by Art Observed

Art Observed was on site at the well attended opening reception for Doug Aitken’s new installations at 303 Gallery. His piece called ‘Migration’ is the first exhibition to inhabit the new 303 Gallery space on 21st Street but the opening also took place correspondingly at the gallery’s original 22nd street location. On 22nd street, a series of 30 abstract watercolors greet you when you first enter the brightly lit circular room, and lead you to the back gallery which houses a series of illuminated signs. The large-scale signs are lit up and filled with panoramic photos of our contemporary landscape.

‘Migration’, an audio-visual installation, is played on three large screens spaced throughout the new 21st Street gallery space. In the footage, Doug Aitken takes wild North American migratory animals out of their natural environment and juxtaposes them in roadside hotel and motel rooms, all the while supplementing the footage with a dramatic soundtrack. The guests at the opening reception spread out through the gallery in search of a preferred viewing vantage point; some standing in front of the screen, sitting on the ground, or mingling towards the front of the gallery. The exhibition will continue to be on view at547 W. 21 St through November 1st and 525 W. 22 St through November 8th.

Art Observed Exclusive Videos of the opening:
Opening reception for Doug Aitken: Migration at 303 Gallery [Art Observed]

Doug Aitken: Migration [303 Gallery]
303 Gallery current exhibitions [Artslant]
Doug Aitken at 303 Gallery [Supreme Management]
AO On Site: 303 Gallery’s 25th Anniversary Summer Celebration, Wednesday night, July 23 NYC [ArtObserved]

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Dash Snow (co-author of NEST), Brian McPeck (of A.R.E. Weapons) and Kembra Pfahler (of The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black and author of Beautalism) at Santo’s Party House; photo taken by Bijoux Altamirano

Last Monday night, September 15th, AO was on site at Santo’s Party House for Deitch Projects’ book launch. Deitch Projects has released two new books, NEST by Dash Snow and Dan Colen and Beautalism by Kembra Pfahler. The celebration was kicked off by performances by The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black, led by Kembra Pfahler, the author of Beautalism and frequent collaborator of Deitch projects, and a short set from TV Baby.

CURRENT READING: Nest: Dash Snow Dan Colen: Deitch Projects [The Imagist]
Nest and Beautalism Book Launch at Santos Party House [The World’s Best Ever]
Deitch projects book launch [ArtLoversNewYork]
Hint Tip: Deitch Projects [Hintmag]
Nest: July 26, 2007 to August 18, 2007 [Deitch Projects]
The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black [MySpace]

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Holy War by David Lachapelle via ArtObserved

David Lachapelle’s “Auguries of Innocence” collection is everything but austere.  Overt images of violence, sexual practice, religious imagery, and glutenous materialism are synergized into monumental collages.
Notables in attendance included Andre Balazs, Gavin Brown, Hope Atherton, Amanda Lepore, and Tony Shafrazi. Lepore and Lachapelle have had a prolific history of collaboration, one of the most famous being Lachapelle’s New York exhibit “Artists and Prostitutes 1985-2005,” in which Lepore inhabited a voyeuristic themed life-sized set.
This is the fourth solo show Lachapelle has exhibited at Shafrazi Gallery, the first being his “All American” show in 2002. The exhibit will be open to the public until October 24.

David Lachapelle Official Website
“Less about the Lil Kim’s of the world and more about its lil problems” [Timeout NY]
Tony Shafrazi Official Website

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Swimming Cities of Switchback Sea docking at Deitch via Art Observed

Yesterday evening a fleet of seven boats, or floating sculptures, docked at Deitch Studios in Long Island City.  The arrival of the flotilla was part of the opening of a two-part exhibit called the “Swimming Cities of Switchback Sea” designed and constructed by Brooklyn based artist, Swoon. The first part of the exhibit is a large-scale installation inside the Deitch LIC gallery space. The second part takes place on the water with the seven sculptural sea vessels. The hand-made boats, comprised of scrap wood and other found objects and recycled material, started in Troy, New York and have spent the last three weeks on the Hudson River making stops at various locations to do musical and theatrical performances. Swoon has collaborated with playwright Lisa D’amour, composer Sxip Shirey, Kinetic Steam Works from San Francisco, and the band Dark Dark Dark in order to fully bring the flotilla to life. The exhibit will be open to the public until October 18.

Art Observed Exclusive Videos of the opening:
The marching band gets the crowd ready to receive Swoon’s Flotilla via Art Observed [Youtube]
The second ship makes it’s entrance at Deitch Studios via Art Observed [Youtube]

Relevant Newslinks:
A Floating City With Junkyard Roots [NYTimes]
Swoon’s Green Fleet Sails to Queens [Gothamist]
Floating exhibit shows alternative [Times Herald Record]
‘Swimming Cities’ Docks in Manhattan [NYMag]
Swoon: Switchback Cities of Switchback Sea [Coolhunting]
Art Ships Are Stopped [NYTimes]
Swimming Cities of the Switchback Sea [Official Website]
Swoon: Swimming Cities of Switchback Sea [Deitch]

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Mariko Munro, Karen Kilimnik, and Kirsten Dunst, photo courtesy of 303 Gallery, shot by Billy Ferrel/Patrick McMullan

Last night, 303 Gallery threw a Summer Celebration to mark their expansion into their new space. The event celebrated the gallery’s 25th anniversary at it’s brand new 5,000-square-foot Chelsea location on 21st Street in New York City. The party hosted a performance by indie rock band, The Virgins, and a set by DJ Thurston Moore. Mary Heilmann selected David Lynch’s Lost Highway and Richard Sarafian’s Vanishing Point to be projected on the gallery walls. The start studded guest list included actress Kirsten Dunst, artist Karen Kilimnik, artist Dan Graham, artist Aaron Young, just to name a few. Also spotted on the scene: Designer/model Agyness Deyn, designer Cynthia Rowley, Genevieve Jones, Joe Zee from Elle, Rogan Gregory, Serge Becker, model Jessica Stam, Anna Sui, Byrdie Bell, Bill Powers, Cecilia Dean from Visionaire, Fashion Desiger Elise Overland, Poppy de Villeneuve, Doreen Remen from Art Production Fund, Julie Gilhart from Barney’s New York, Bowery Hotel owner Sean McPherson, collectors Baby Jane Holzer, Matt Aberle, David Hoberman, curators Francesco Bonami, Richard Flood, Barbara London, galleriests Andrew Kreps and Anton Kerns, stylist Natasha Royt, Meredith Darrow, Jason Wu, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Anthony Haden-Guest, musician Lissy Trullie, curator Shamim Momin, Knight Landesman from Art Forum, and Amanda Sharpe from Frieze.

Art, Music, and Heat: Shvitzing at the 303 Gallery Opening [Refinery 29]
Of Nubiles and Noblemen [Style]
Summer Celebration at 303 Gallery [Art Fag City]
303 Gallery Website [303 Gallery]
303 Gallery Summer Kick Off [Fashion Week Daily]
Tonight at 303 Gallery [Suprememanagment]
Full Steam Ahead [Vogue Scene]
Additional photos courtesy Billy Farrell and Patrick McMullan via 303 Gallery [303 Gallery]

more photos of the event after the jump…

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“Pretty Ugly” at Gavin Brown Enterprise via Art Observed

Art Observed was on site at the opening of “Pretty Ugly” on Thursday, July 10th. The show took place at two neighboring galleries on Greenwich St. in New York: Gavin Brown’s Enterpise and Maccarone.
The show was curated by Alison Gingeras, of the Pinault collection, and featured work from more than 75 artists, including John Currin, Louise Bourgeois, the Chapman Brothers, Paul McCarthy, Takashi Murakami, Alice Neel, Hermann Nitsch, Andy Warhol, Francis Picabia, and Rob Pruitt, just to name a few.

Pretty Ugly: Press Release [Gavin Brown’s Enterprise]
Pretty Ugly, Maccarone [Maccarone Gallery]
A Pretty Ugly New York Art Eclipse [Flash Art]
This Week in Art Openings: Totally Rad, Pretty Ugly, and The Shallow Curator [Papermag]
Pretty Ugly [Artlog]

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“Too Far Too Close”, Os Gemeos at Deitch Gallery via Art Observed

On June 28th, the doors opened at 18 Wooster St in New York to reveal the fantastical world of Os Gemeos. The twin brothers that make up Os Gemeos, Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo, are having their second show at Deitch, called “Too Far Too Close”. The artist duo, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has successfully altered the space into a colorful world filled with chimerical portraits, music, and scenes straight from the intimate minds of Os Gemeos.

Sharing a brain: Os Gemeos [GQ]
Os Gemeos: Too Far Too Close [Deitch]
Os Gemeos’s Homepage [Lost Art]
Bomb – It: International Graffiti Documentary [Bomb-It]
Os Gemeos “Too Far Too Close” [NYArtbeat]

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