ART & DESIGN

Art Basel Miami 2012: The W Guide


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Stylist: Patrick Mackie

Every year, the art world—and a who’s-who of jetsetters—turns out en masse in Miami Beach to see and be seen by the biggest names in the business. Oh, and party-hop like there’s no tomorrow. This year, December 6-9, the affair is bigger than ever, so we’re breaking it all down for you with a list of the must-see events, and the best places to eat, stay, and play.

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Stylist: Patrick Mackie

Miami Beach Convention Center

257 top-shelf galleries from 31 countries (selected from a pool of more than 680 applicants) display their latest and greatest works. Look out the always-ambitious Art Nova section, which requires dealers to only show works from two or three artists made in the last three years.

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Stylist: Patrick Mackie

After the Convention Center, head to one of the 20-something satellite fairs dotting the Miami area like: NADA (60 exhibitors with two can’t miss booths from Bischoff Project and Night Gallery), Scope (an incubator for emerging work), Art Miami (the city’s longest-running contemporary and modern art fair. Look out for Peter Anton’s life-size carnival ride “Sugar & Gomorrah”.), Art Asia (premier international Asian contemporary art fair), Design Miami (new and notable furniture, lighting, and objets d’art. Plus, check out the inflatable entrance pavilion by Snarkitecture, and Verge (look out for the new Light Assembly art, film, and architecture exposition). And a few that are new this year like: Context Art Miami (a ‘fair within a fair’ inside the Art Miami tents, featuring five works by Banksy), Untitled (a highly curated fair with only 50 galleries), and JustMad Mia (30 galleries and a working recreation of Madrid’s San Miguel Market with local food offerings).

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Stylist: Patrick Mackie

Both some of the best street art as well as some of Miami’s most amazing private collections are housed in the Wynwood neighborhood north of downtown Miami.

The Wynwood Walls is a series of wildly painted murals on a huge span of warehouse buildings. Jeffrey Deitch has called it a “museum of the streets.”

–Rubell Family Collection: works from Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, and others are housed in a former DEA drug warehouse.

-World Class Boxing: an eclectic collection from Debra and Dennis Scholl fills a one-time boxing studio.

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Stylist: Patrick Mackie

When you hit art overload, head to Bayfront Park December 8th and 9th to catch some of this two-day musical extravaganza with performances by Kanye West, Lou Reed, and many more.

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Stylist: Patrick Mackie

Hopefully you’ve already booked your room…they’re filling up fast! If you’re still looking, here are the places to be:

W South Beach (above) is a perennial favorite, and their Wall Lounge just reopened in after a facelift.

Hotel Beaux Arts, located in Downtown Miami, close to the must-visit Design District, offers in-room iPads, 55-inch Bang & Olufsen TVs, extra large beds, and—possibly most importantly—sweeping views of the city and ocean from the its 38th and 40th floor location.

Tides South Beach, a historic Ocean Drive hotel, is worth a visit just for the spot-on Kelly Wearstler-designed interiors.

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Stylist: Patrick Mackie

Rockbar, Miami’s premiere rock club, just reopened after a 14-month renovation.

Living Room Bar at W South Beach is not only a beautiful spot to grab a drink, but all of the cocktails contain squeezed-that-day ingredients like Lebanese pomegranate and Japanese yuzu, and many of the drinks incorporate molecular mixology for some very unexpected creations.

SoHo Beach House (left) is almost always the place to be. Make it a priority to get into the members-only Beach Club.

-Make a point to stop by The Delano’s new subterranean speakeasy, FDR , if you’re looking for some high-volume world-renowned DJs and award-winning drinks.

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Stylist: Patrick Mackie

Cooper Avenue (above), one of the newest additions to the culinary scene, offers an entire block of culinary experiences. There’s the affordably priced restaurant and bar, the marketplace that has been described as a “Whole Foods on Steroids” and a lounge for drinks and occasional special events.

-For the farm-to-table experience, and a menu that changes daily, try the uber-popular Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink.

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Stylist: Patrick Mackie

For a retail break, try out these spots:

-Louis Vuitton’s temporary Design District store–decked out in some impressive RETNA designs on the façade–houses their new collection: Objets Nomades, travel-inspired items like a leather hammock with gold fixtures to the Campana brothers’ reinterpretation of the “cabinet de voyage”. (170 NE 40th St)

-Head to the parking garage turned retail destination, 1111 Lincoln Road, to visit Alchemist’s fifth floor glass-box store which houses a beautiful selection of fashion and jewelry. For slightly less steep prices, try the sister store a bit further down Lincoln Road.

-For some of the best vintage in the country, try C. Madeline’s. Though it will be hard not to spend an entire day looking through the 10,000-square-foot space.

The Webster Miami offers three levels of spot-on ready-to-wear and luxury accessories housed in a circa 1939-Art Deco masterpiece. Be sure to check out the third floor for a rotating roster of artists in the gallery space, as well as take in the views from the rooftop restaurant with unobstructed ocean views.

-Christian Louboutin’s Design District store is housing a special exhibition by artist Ye Hongxing, “The Dazzling Future,” made primarily from a variety of colorful stickers.

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Stylist: Patrick Mackie

W’s Design Talks: W‘s Stefano Tonchi sits down with icon Diane von Furstenberg for a discussion on “Design Pioneers.” (Wednesday, Dec. 5, Design Miami)

Art Video Program: From the 5th through the 9th, 60 film works (from Ryan McGinley to a 12-hour offering from Ragnar Kjartansson) will be showcased on the 7,000-square-foot outdoor projection wall of the Frank Gehry-designed New World Center. Entrance is free and guests are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs.

-For an Andy Warhol fix, head to the Fendi Casa Luxury Living Showroom on Thursday the 6th as the design house unveils an exhibition of his iconic works. (90 NE 39th Street)

-Architect Asif Khan teamed up with Swarovski Crystal Palace and used more than 1.3 million crystals to create a massive installation that replicates an “ice halo”—a luminous ring that appears in the sky due to atmospheric ice crystals. At Meridian Avenue and 19th Street, adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center.

-Christie’s is hosting a viewing of works from Max Ernst to Joan Miro from their London auction, “The Art of the Surreal” at the JW Marriott Marquis. (255 Biscayne Boulevard Way)

-The Paul Kasmin Gallery Shop and Edition01 are teaming up for a unique pop up shop at The Standard Hotel Miami through December 8. Look out for unique collaborations with House of Waris, Del Toro, and artists like Nir Hod.