ART BASEL MIAMI - INITIAL THOUGHTS

Weaving combined with a variety of other techniques.

MIAMI MARATHON

So excited to share my first Art Basel experiences! But, as predicted by experienced Art Basel aficionados, I’ve been sick in bed with a cold for a week. Not a surprise after the literal art marathon in Miami last week. But I’m still considering returning next year, and possibly for years to come. We have nothing to compare (so vast and grand) in San Francisco. So for me and for you, I’m writing up some tit bits of what I learned and observed, some trends that I noticed, and a few side comments about the people, food and drink.

This summary should help put a trip together for next year, even though there are always changes. I’m hoping to draw in my friends and family, as well as gallerists, curators, jurors, artists, collectors, and fun-seekers who attended, to share their experiences and insights here too.

The fairs are a marathon because there are so many (23+), and there's so much traffic to navigate. One wants to do and see as much as one can, so it’s hard not to over-fill the days and nights. Traveling with a pack (ranging from 3-10), with a van and a driver on some days, helped to keep us on a schedule.

Colorful couple in the center reminded me of the 80s.

People wear their artwear, and just about everything else too.

What not to do

Wear uncomfortable clothes and shoes. Most likely will be wearing the same thing day and night (unless you can figure out a midway R&R stop). The floors are mostly concrete. There are very few chairs or rest and recharge areas. Don’t waste your money on fair-bought champagne and water. The temperature varies wildly – it’s quite warm but it gets chilly when it rains. So you can pack light but bring weather gear. Don’t rent a car, get sunburned, drink too much alcohol. If you can afford it, a driver and vehicle is a great addition.

What to do

Fly direct. Take a flight into/out of either Miami OR Ft. Lauderdale. Pack light. Stay somewhere central or at least close to some shows. Prepare in advance. Try to be well rested to begin with. Study up on the different fairs and galleries. Have a schedule in mind. Don’t try to coordinate with too many people. Follow a plan but remain flexible. Spend most of your time with the art...don't get too sidetracked into parties and beach scenes. Study a map and plan your time accordingly. Take Uber, Lyft, taxis, etc. Wear a small-ish light-weight backpack that converts to a shoulder bag. Collect invitations to VIP events and areas. Take advantage of their lounges.

WHAT TO Bring

Business cards, phone chargers, rain gear, a bathing suit, a notepad and pen (take notes), artwear, a change of comfortable shoes, and layers. Bring and drink water. Eat breakfast. Stop to eat a quick lunch and dinner. Bring snacks like nuts and bars. Eat “on the Beach” and get a real Cuban meal. Also Miami pizza is very good and so is the coffee.

Our art posse stops to figure out next moves during the last night - at the Wynwood Art Walk.

Don’t miss

Design Basel (has a separate fee).

Form

One full day, on either a Thursday or Friday, at Art Basel

Wynwood Art Walk at night

PULSE

ArtMiami

Scope

INK

ICA

Rubell Collection

The Rubell Collection always proves alarming. Work by Frank Benson, 2011.

Faena (the gorgeous hotel) is worth a visit to see the golden mastodon.

Brunches and parties

We had a great time at Casa Lin's brunch but missed all the others. They are worth going to for a chance to meet people and talk, relax, and fuel up.

"You are what you eat" is a piece of student performance art in the Casa Lin garden.

I think I could have missed Aqua and NADA. Read details: https://news.artnet.com/market/art-basel-miami-beach-guide-1032611 

Materials, techniques, topics and display trends

We (my little art posse) saw lots of variations of layers and reflections, on clear acrylic, Mylar, Lucite, etc. Another popular shiny substrate we saw lots of is Resin. Techniques from fiberarts were very popular, including weaving, knitting, crochet, and embroidery. Plus we noted lots of stitched canvases and patterned fabric used as a canvas. Some used buttons or bones or beads - traditional materials identified with women's work.

Wax was used in these book art pieces by Jessica Drenk, 2017, Galleri Urbane Dallas.

Figurative - Deconstructed

I look for figurative work as that's what I do and I want to see what's out there. I like these surreal figurative works by Dario Maglionico.

Elaborate 100% embroidered artwork.

Woven mens' belts appear very heavy and solid.

Weaving all types of materials was a big theme this year. This is an example of an unusual material woven together to great effect. I noticed people using raw linen now, too. And there were a number of pieces made with delicately etched and scratched metal.

Graphite sculpture

This artist had quite a few pieces in quite a few shows. Each is mundane subject matter and perfectly rendered in life-size.  605 E. 132nd St., Bronx, by Adam McEwen, 2016, The Modern Institute

Paintings were often on fabric used as a paint surface, including heavily patterned fabric. Many pieces were presented as a series or an installation with sculpture and other artforms. It was not uncommon to see multiple panels making up a single work. There were also lots of shaped canvases, especially round ones. Super-realism lives on. So does pretty - with birds, butterflies, flowers, fairies, patterns, and luscious colors. People like to interact with the art. So many selfies and photo ops for eachother. With the kinetic pieces you could play around. With the reflective pieces you could catch sight of yourself.

A large circle composed of used clothes tightly packed together. By Manish Nai, Kavi Gupta Gallery.

Fabric and clothing have become an art material. Wallpaper has become an extension of the art for sale.

Beautiful and fun, yes? Works by Jason DeMarte, shown by Richard Levy Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.

Quilting has reached a complex art form. This was a very popular series.

Personal story-telling combined with old world quilting taken to new heights. Family by Bisa Butler.

Collage of every type, in tiny to grand scale. Old masters redux is always in. Layers and layers with shadow-play and reflections and along with optical illusions were a noticeable trend. 

Monofilament + acrylic paint are combined in this very handsome piece by Chris Dorosz, R.O.S.H. Series, 2017, Muriel Guepin Gallery.

3-D printing was used to create a wall of these small sculptures. When I saw them they were all being packed up since they'd just been purchased. Mister Nobody is by Igor Gusev, Voloshyn Gallery, Kyiv, Ukraine, 2017.

Installation art and composed vignettes. Heavy patterns for backgrounds. So many grids. New uses for lint and felt. And it's glitzy Miami and Miami Beach, so of course so much silver and gold leaf. Performance art popping up here and there was a refreshing change.

Installation + performance art were the scene at this booth. Not an easy way to spend the four or so art fair days.

Cut paper and books

This fantastic book is carved like rock with a portal entry.

A mosaic of sorts, made of ceramic chips with a subtle image in the center. More obvious in the photo than in life. By Park Sung Wook, 2017.

Scenes from the graphic design world: letterpress, typography, signage-style words and messages. Words and statements. Not my favorite.

What they wore (or didn’t) - Women

Lots of skin and major underwear showing; beachwear – diaphanous white; running/workout gear; ripped pants; white; sneakers or really high heels, and long and short together...

There's a letterpress studio set-up in the background and a concrete installation to the right of this pair.

More scenes from the graphic design world: PMS colors and large digital duotones and and monotones.

More trends: monochrome as a theme, manipulated photos, video inserted, deconstruction, burning and smoke as an art-making tool, concrete, sparkles, mirrors, hair, body parts, and hermaphrodites.

Crumpled

In conte crayon on rag paper, Crushed Roses, 2017, by Josph Stashkevetch, Von Lintel Gallery, LA, CA.

And the trends continue: being black, black women and families, climate change, pretty, guns, breasts, penises, and mundane objects made of precious materials.

Painted and graduated walls

Design Miami - this was a beautiful series of sets...

What's next?

SF is trying! Note what's coming up January 11-14 - our own Fog Art and Design Fair, joined for the first time this year by Untitled-SF at Pier 70, All on the same dates SF Art Week? .  https://untitledartfairs.com/san-francisco/ and https://fogfair.com/

Want to dig deeper? Find out about women artists at Miami Art Week. https://hyperallergic.com/416340/timely-exciting-work-by-women-artists-at-miami-art-week/?

Patterns in Paintings and Textiles

My second dress prototype is now in the collection of interior designer Vicki Simon.

Red Hair Curly and Straight is a life-sized scroll on silk crepe de chine. There are four in this series.

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WHAT TO DO WITH THE SCARF

Don't you always need to get better at tying a scarf? I do. I make them, collect them, and wear them. But I still have "French person envy" when it comes to styling my scarves...So I've searched for some helpful tips. There are loads of them, including demos. Great for travel. And ideal for extra warmth, a splash of color, and a pop of style. Here are two helpful links on more ways than you might imagine: http://www.instyle.com/how-tos/how-to-tie-scarf-gifs 

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeC2ZC6Us_8

THE ART SCARF

Have you seen my art scarves yet? Each one is unique and is made of microbatch fabric. I create the original single digital drawing from a model, then I design the repeat pattern, and have it printed on silk. The scarves are all finished by hand. I sell them at occasional pop-up shows and my art show receptions. They're available online here too. "Buy it and tie it".

Kat needed to buy a scarf for her upcoming trip to Paris. So French!

Another friend bought that scarf, pictured to the left (all one of a kind) and she wore it out that same night, tied in this unique way. 

I'm wearing this long 2-sided scarf wrapped once around.  

One of my silk infinity art scarves, worn by jewelry designer Sunday Tirio. 

Ava Doppelt wears a newly acquired scarf.

"When I discovered making art on the iPad, my world changed."

Never a techy, I've been enjoying re-learning my art making process by navigating new tools, apps, and online resources. Working as a digital and figurative artist I can create an original that has multiple variations, like monoprints, and I can abstract the images further using layers of colors, paintings, drawings, and photos, making complex digital collages. What freedom!

At some point I realized I could also make patterns (using online apps) that I could turn into microbatch textiles and papers. So I started making scarves, dresses, and cocktail napkins  you name it. Beginning with small prototypes, I morphed my textile ideas into large-scale single image scrolls and soft sculpture. All the while learning how to design, make, and sew.

Eventually I created a site-specific installation piece composed of four huge sheer, hanging panels of nude female gesture drawings in colors cascading and overlapping – from chrome yellow to indigo violet (pictured below).

Installation at the Troll House, Pier 26, SF, Aug. 2017

Textile design has changed so much and become so accessible. At some point I also discovered that art on fabric can become body art. Maybe you saw my lycra legging art in a previous blog?

Pure Barre West Portal instructor Kelly wearing my art leggings.

MAD ABOUT PATTERN

I remain fascinated by patterns. They add a stunning complexity to art. At present we are enjoying a Klimt (& Rodin) show at San Francisco's Legion of Honor which presents a wonderful example of the rich use of pattern in painting.

ARTISTS I KNOW

Three contemporary artist friends come to mind when talking about patterns in art.  Pola Wickham is highly skilled in drawing and painting gorgeous patterns, people, and objects. We used to draw together occasionally in her Barcelona apartment on her beautiful old Spanish tile floors. Two artists I worked with as a creative director and who both have a wonderful and whimsical use of pattern in their illustration, design, and fine art are Ilene Lederer and Julie Paschkis

Julie is a pro at turning a little square scarf into a functional headband/sweatband. She wears her scarf rolled tight on her hair (with friend at right wearing a cut paper art crown by Julie).

DISRUPTIVE Patterns

I've heard that there's something disruptive about wearing my nudes...a sort of discrete secret that might or might not be noticed. I love this!

"My subjects are naked but are completely comfortable in their skins. Are you? Do you want to be? There should be something liberating in seeing my work. It's blunt. Nudity is not an issue. Body love is."

The drawing in the pattern is easier to make out on this art fabric!

One of my fav color palettes - I use it often in my work.

This pattern is waiting to be made into wrapping paper or fabric.

An image from my design studio. I made this pattern into wrapping paper but not fabric (yet). From my Red, White, and Blue series.

Greek Isles Inspirations

Rituals, performance art, theatre. Call it what you will. Last night party. Aphrodite (my persona) and birthday girl in paper crown by artist Julie Paschkis. Wearing one of my art dresses and necklaces. 

The Voyage (AKA ODDS AT SEA)

Pure decadence. Perfect water temps. Clear to the bottom of the calm turquoise waters. Sailing in our Turkish galettes around the Cyclades with friends and artists. Two weeks of heaven on earth. Thanks to dear, generous friends.

The Cyclades islands we visited include Delos (one of my favorites, where the site of an ancient bustling city remains relatively intact), Patmos, Paros, Naxos, Mykanos, some tiny islands with swimming bays, and Santorini. Museums, archeological sites, family-owned wineries, workshops, monasteries, restaurants, views, villages, cats, dogs, donkeys, goats, hillside farms and vineyards. It's all very dry like California, and so they are growing grapes, figs, pomegranates, and barley, just like in ancient times. With our Turkish boats and crew we also visited Bodrum, Turkey. We touched on Athens at the beginning and the end. What a better experience this time than when I was 17. The city is much improved and reminds me a bit of Barcelona 20 years ago. The art and nightlife scene is explosive. Tourism, turning its head away from Turkey has rediscovered Greece. I hope that's significant enough to help Greece along financially. We all love our guide, too. You can find Aydin Aygun at:  Eon Tours, Turkey & Greece www.eontours.com  aydin@eontours.com

Collage inspired by hanging octopus by the water. September 2017

On this rare occasion looking out over our boat at passing islands, I was reminded of home, The Bay Area and our lovely, although sometimes oppressive misty fog.

Panoramic vista of a ruin. Miles of ancient cities.

Two beautiful curved shapes. Reference for upcoming ceramics projects. 

Symbols in earliest languages, some charming, some hard to understand. 

I don't recall seeing much ancient sculpture with simple, perfect, naked crossed legs.

Glass shards for recycling found under the sea in a shipwreck. This museum has loads of shipwreck finds and shipwreck reconstructions. Bodrum, Turkey

A wall that needs to become a painting. I grew up in an era of paintings that were inspired by walls. That'll be another blog post - inspirations. Bodrum, Turkey.

Cast glass set in a decorative and functional gate guarding a black and white striped marble side walk.

An adorable hedgehog (2700 BC), I think, holding his food bowl. The cutest non-toy functional art I saw.

My current screen saver. It has some of everything in it including a pomegranate.

Striking sunset views atop Santorini after riding the cable car/incline to get there. Others took a mule ride.

Lots of statements made in the Athens graffiti. In English too!

Another interesting statement made graphically in Athens.

SUMMER SHOWS!

SUMMER SWAMP

Oy vay...can I say that? I am swamped, by my own making...and hoping that these shows will bear fruit. What fruit? I want to be noticed and asked to be in gallery shows. I want people to buy my work, especially the framed art and the scrolls. Why not? Being an artist is so much work! I'd like to explore other cities as art venues, too, but who has that kind of time?

When this summer wraps up I want to go away and not think so much - just let the ideas float in. Going to the Greek Islands in September - seems an ideal venue for refreshing and reinvigorating. Then I'll be ready to dive into prep for Open Studios with fellow members at SFWA (Inner Sunset) and with my drawing group at The Box Factory (Mission). In the meantime there are all these shows and receptions underway!

A larger-than-life chiffon scroll, Leaning In, 2017

MY SEWING JOURNEY

Sewing - okay, this time I sewed all of the scrolls myself and I have had to work out a different hanging system. (Sewing credits shared with my friend Connie Walker-Shaw of SEW in West Portal - who coaches me through my sewing projects).

These new scrolls are made of sheer fabric instead of silk and are scaled to larger than life-size! They are site-specific for the Troll House where I wanted to make art that resonates in this unusual space. In my last show here my work felt too subtle and far way.

Trimming and sewing five new scrolls for the Troll House show. Reception is August 4.

WORKING WITH THE SPACE

My Troll House art show consists primarily of framed prints and drawings featuring female nudes in short gestural poses hung on very high walls. Most of the wall space is filled with giant-sized windows, monitors, and white boards. So I'm eager to add this new series to change the experience for the viewer to be more immersive. 

This is a co-work space whose inhabitants are primarily young, male tech entrepreneurs. With the new scrolls there will be an even BIGGER FEMALE PRESENCE. And with the Troll House's huge windows facing the Embarcadero, people can see right into the main room on their way to and from ballgames, jogging past, and walking to lunch. I want to capture their attention as well as the folks who work at the Troll House.  

Larger-than-life chiffon scroll, Sitting Tight, 2017

From the outside people will see my large sheer figures on fabric scrolls hanging from the ceiling. The palette of carefully selected colors will overlap like light gels for the theatre, creating color combinations depending upon the sunlight - like stained glass - as they float from a transparent hanging system.

Feeling the Heat. Now at the Troll House along with new site-specific works. This piece was just in the art show at PAL, Summer Exposed.

Listening to You. Here's the piece that was accepted to mDac, with an opening reception on August 11 at Pacific Art League.

I'm showing at the charming, funky Bay View Boat Club this month. The reception is on Sunday, August 13 from 4-7pm.

Cherry Blossom Dreams is in two shows now - at the Bay View Boat Club and at PAL's Technology and Art.

Feeling the Surf is one of three works on paper in the juried group show at SFWA.

These juried group shows are a whole other story! So much work and expense to enter. Uch... for me, I often need to produce the prints and frame them for these shows. But - yes- I'm happy to get in!

Not in any shows yet - but a new piece combining beach, landscape, and figure.

RECEPTIONS

At all of my receptions, besides providing fab food and drinks, I have unframed prints and drawings for sale; I give art talks; and there is an assortment of art merchandise (microbatch paper and textile products) for sale. Follow me and keep up to date with my announcements here:

facebook.com/cherrypitsart

instagram.com/srkirshenbaum

Packed East Coast Trip

I recently took a quick trip back East to surprise my sister-in-law for her birthday. We made it into a tri-city marathon, visiting Baltimore, Philadelphia, and NYC.

Step outside Baltimore city and it's horse country. So lush and green.

Sudden thunder, lightening, rain, and sun - fabulous weather! At Fells Point, Baltimore, MD.

We saw how much Baltimore has changed (in certain neighborhoods) where gentrification has taken hold, and what remained the same - in personality and physical structures. I sure do miss the east coast. As a Western Pennsylvanian, I'm not from "the coast", in fact, Pittsburgh is on the border between the midwest and the east. But I know my love of old architecture in Europe is rooted in old American cities. 

This is the Phoenix Shot Tower built in 1828.

Shot Tower is a Baltimore landmark I've enjoyed ever since my husband bought a postcard with this image from me in order to introduce himself. We just celebrated our anniversary in Baltimore over 30 years later.

Candy-colored houses along Federal Hill Park, Baltimore.

First night in NYC at a Cuban restaurant in East Harlem. The mural behind me looks like a stage set or I'm actually IN Cuba. Yes, that's my microbatch textile scarf I'm wearing.

Whitney Biennial - Is she part of the exhibit? If so, I like it, a lot.

A colorful room at the Biennial. Thinking about site- specific art like this faux stained glass.

Love this brickwork in B-More.

Happy pooch in dog park as seen from a footbridge in Philadelphia.

I'd really like to know what other people think of the Biennial this year. I admit, I'm still puzzling over it. Maybe we just did and saw too much and my senses were simply over- and under-whelmed! In a single day I attended three trade shows, including Surtex, the art licensing show, which was really interesting to me as I'm investigating licensing my art for fashion, product and textile designs. All three (furniture and stationery too) were at Jacob Javitz Center. I went with my design/ illustration Parsons friends. THEN we went to the Whitney show with another group of art friends. No wonder I couldn't stand up for another moment at the end of our last full day....

So my interest in digitally printed clothing pulls me toward this complicated story at the Whitney Biennial. 

At the Surtex Trade Show in NYC, for art licensing, an attractive booth.

Artful Weekend

ArtSpan artists dropping off their work for stARTup Art Fair weekend - before the room is transformed into a gallery.

stARTup Art Fair Taking Off

Eighteen artists were selected to be in ArtSpan's room at Hotel Del Sol for stARTup Art Fair. I was one of them, with my soft sculpture. Rhiannon MacFaden has been involved since it started and she thinks this fair is really taking off now. It is San Francisco's contemporary art fair for independent artists, which takes place annually during Art Market SF. http://sf.startupartfair.com

Joen (L) and Allison (R) of ArtSpan as we wait for the crowds to show up.

Art Market SF is a Hit This Year

Speaking of bold strokes at the Art Market, here's a gorgeous ultramarine blue piece that caught my eye.

Along with the bold there is the delicate and beautifully crafted work.

Legion of Honor - Always Inspiring

This sculpture is much larger than life and totally natural. It contains a candle wick that was lit upon installation. Fischer's work is interspersed throughout the museum in surprising ways! 

https://legionofhonor.famsf.org/exhibitions/urs-fischer

Me and my sculpture surrounded by selected ArtSpan artists work. 

Set-up day in the courtyard of Hotel del Sol.

One of the larger works on display at Art Market SF reminds me of my recent trip to Burma! It's a blow-up version of a reclining Buddha.

The gala was packed but fun. Lots of VIP tickets were circulated. I had to go back again to get a better look at the work with less of a crowd.

Here's another piece of meticulous sculpture that caught my eye. Both the dog (above) and the porcelain (left) were at the Duane Reed Gallery, St. Louis.

After two art fairs I went back to see Monet's early work at the Legion. This museum is a fantastic place to go on a beautiful day! The views are spectacular. And this is a show to see again and again. This time we wondered around the upstairs galleries and caught the quirky sculptures of Urs Fischer (left).

What a jam-packed art weekend! It was filled with friends, feasts, art fairs, and art museums. It was bathed in sunshine and fair weather.

Sunday night wrapped up with my book group and a lively discussion of an unusual novel called The Vegetarian. My favorite parts of the book were about the art video that describes the protagonist turning into a plant.