Things I desperately want to own – Aqua Art Fair (Aqua Wynwood version)
Ted Larsen, Bumper at Rule (Denver, Colorado); I’m only just beginning to learn about Ted Larsen’s quietly engaging small sculptures. I’ll be learning more. By the way, the entire staff at the Rule Gallery booth were some of the nicest people, go see them just for that…
Mingering Mike, Hemphill Gallery; I’m thrilled to see people buying the MM artworks. A wise decision was made to reproduce this work as multiples – that If I’m not mistaken is actual size to the originals. Mingering Mike is the real deal by the way – it’s such a great story about how that work was lost, found, returned and now presented that it really should be some kind of movie.
Kevin Finklea at Pentimenti Gallery (Philadelphia); These are just amazing. Reductive images that quietly hold the space they are in and activate the area around them in an amazing way. Probably the most interesting work I had no idea of before I came to the fairs.
Things I desperately want to own – Art Basel Miami Beach (Part 2)
Kris Martin, For Whom… at Sies + Hoke. This is the spectacle of all the fairs, and usually I’m not the guy going wow that’s the biggest, shiniest thing – therefore it’s the best. In this case a bell that is mechanically driven to fully swing – with out a strike inside to ring said bell is oddly political and universal at the same time. very timely and in this case one of the best things at all the fairs I’ve seen. (image not from ABMB – but from other installation)
Anselm Kiefer Merkaba at Galerie Thomas; This surprised me because I have known of AK disdain for art fairs for a few years – in fact he does not allow his primary gallery to sell his work at the fairs (a couple of years ago his NY gallery actually rented out a space to show just his work in Wynwood). So clearly this is a secondary market type gallery, still it was a great Kiefer – sized in a way that you could actually live with it (maybe 4 feet tall x 6 feet).
Things I desperately want to own – Scope
Derick Melander Flesh of my Flesh ADA Gallery; Richmond Represent! A great column of folded cloth going from light to dark to light again. Some serious time was logged at fan thrift to be able to find just the right colors and amount of material to get this right – time well spent. By the way, ADA is really showing some great things these days – so keep an eye out for them.
Things I desperately want to own – Art Miami
Doug and Mike Starn Bhudda; I love these images, in fact I really like the entire output that the Starns have been doing since the early eighties. I really don’t know why they are not one of those names that people talk about all the time.
Cy Twombly Roman Notes Leslie Toknow; I just love this six part print of CT. It just sings.
Things I desperately want to own – Pulse
Envoy Enterprises; Frankly I don’t remember any of the art at EE. I did love the installation, with its baroque wallpaper, beautiful sofa and bookcases. Enormous points for thinking about the presentation in ways that is very different than the standard – the booth was busy as well – I guess that helps also.
Right across the hall from Envoy Enterprises is Bitforms Gallery is showing an r. luke dubois who presented these amazing letterpress images that are styled on vision charts, but with narratives that address current situations.