I’m Bored, What’s There To Do? (Art, Art Everywhere and Then Some)

ABOVE: Inside the Convention Center from the The Art Basel guide for normal people by CriticalMiami

Ok, there is so much art going on this weekend it’s making my head spin (and dread writing this article). So let’s start off nice and easy with all going on that IS NOT Art Basel or a satellite fair and slowly move into it…But apparently, as I peruse the Event Calendar, it seems I don’t have much that is not art on that calendar. Tonight (12/5), Argentinean rock band Soda Stéreo brings their reunion tour, their only US East Coast concert, to AA Arena. Those of you in town looking to spot celebrities will find Paris Hilton at Mansion TONIGHT as she’s hosting the International Wednesday party in celebration of her new fragrance. Tony Bennett will be performing a one-night-only concert at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Thursday. You can catch A Christmas Carol at the Broward Center Thursday - Sunday (12/9). If you feel like participating in a performance (or not), check out Flock at Carnival Center’s Studio Theater Thursday (12/6) - Saturday (12/8). Miami Beach Cinemateque is showing free films Thursday - Sunday in honor of the event I’m stalling to mention. Sunday they’re showing Andy Warhol’s Blow Job (Andy Warhol is the Director of the Month at MBC, his other films to be shown this month will be on the Event Calendar shortly). Rapture Miami at 66 Nightclub may be well worth attending Friday (12/7) night. It’s 10 hours of electronic dance music party. Those of you who expected Busta Rhymes at Mansion last Friday were surprised with P Diddy, but you can find Busta Rhymes there this Friday. Movies on the beach is always fun (if you like the movie)! Sunset Cinema’s site says The Golden Compass is starting Friday but doesn’t say if Enchanted or The Hitman is the movie remaining. Perhaps they’ll think about updating the schedule before the end of the week. Alejandro Sanz‘s rescheduled June concert takes place at the AA Arena on Saturday. Also on Saturday, Tango - The Other Story will be at the Manuel Artime Theater. And where or where are the Spam Allstars??? Tonight DJ Le Spam is at that event we’re not talking about yet (I’ll let you know when I get there); Thursday they’re at Hoy Como Ayer; Friday at Circa 28 and Saturday at Transit Lounge. Also of very notable mention for early next week is The Walker, presented by the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (MGLFF), to be shown at the Colony Theater on Monday. As usual, visit the Event Calendar for all of the regular weekly parties and ongoing museum events.

Now it is time for the inevitable…First, let me mention one of the big events happening tonight that everyone is talking about: Iggy Pop & the Stooges are playing on the beach at 10pm as part of the opening of Art Basel’s Art Positions (you all remember the shipping containers on the beach on Collins at 21st and 22nd Streets, right?). Art Positions’ galleries are open 6pm - 10pm tonight before the show. And where can you find DJ Le Spam? He’ll be at RAM Miami‘s opening night tonight at Miami City Ballet.

ART BASEL 2007 (12/6 - 12/9)

Halls A & D of the Miami Beach Convention Center, the main venue of Art Basel Miami Beach, will be open daily 12pm – 8pm. Special sections include Art Nova (“new art”), Art Kabinetts (curated exhibits), Art Supernova (an experimental group show), and Art Magazines. Art Salon at the Art Guest Lounge (entrance to Lobby D) will feature artist talks, book signings, and roundtable discussions. This year’s Art Basel Conversations, panel discussions also held in the Art Guest Lounge, will pertain to “Collectors as Producers”, “The Museum of the Future in India”, “Artists” (this one is about women in art), and “Criticizing Art Criticism”. View the full schedule for Art Salon and Art Basel Conversations to be held in the Art Guest Lounge (PDF).

Art Video Lounge (video art) and Art Sound Lounge (sound program to be heard with with a provided Bang & Olufsen MP3 player while wandering the gardens or lounging in the Art Cafe) will be held at the Botanical Gardens across the street from the Convention Center 11am – 8pm daily. This year’s Art Sound Lounge soundtrack, the theme of which is “A History of the Turntable,” was selected and compiled by David Weinstein, Managing Director of Art Radio WPS1.org. The Art Video Lounge theme is “Video and the Pacific Northwest.” A daily program of looping video will be shown today - Saturday 11am - 8pm and Special Screenings will take place Thursday - Saturday 6pm - 8pm. Visit the Art Video Lounge and Art Sound Lounge schedule for complete details (PDF).

Art Kids, a collaboration with Miami Children’s Musem, is a children’s care center for parents visiting Art Basel. Open 12pm - 8pm December 6 - 8 and 12pm - 6pm December 9, children will be suprvised by well-trained Miami Children’s Museum staff who will entertain them with arts and crafts, art history and story telling.

As I mentioned already, Collins Park Beach, between 21st St and 22nd St, is the site for Art Positions (converted shipping containers with young gallery exhibits), as well as Art Perform, Artist DJs, and Open Air Cinema (program of music videos) 2pm – 10pm daily. Art Perform will take place Thursday - Saturday at 5:30pm and 8pm. The theme of the container courtyard this year is “Concrete Waves: An Homage to Skate Culture” and a 70-foot skate ramp designed by Dutch architect Tom Postma has been erected. Miami-based skate teams and special guest skaters and performers will entertain twice daily with displays and performances on the skate ramp Thursday - Saturday at 6pm and 8:30pm. This year’s Open Air Cinema, “Butch Queen Realness with a Twist in Pastel Colors Video Show” produced by Eli Sudbrack, will be shown Thursday - Saturday 9:30pm - midnight. Artist DJs will be playing on the beach nightly from 6pm - 8pm. Here’s where you can find them (PDF).

Special events associated with Art Basel are Art Loves Music (see Iggy & the Stooges above) as well as Art Loves Architechture and Art Loves Film, both taking place at the Colony Theater. Art Loves Architechture is a public discussion between award-winning architect Jacques Herzog and artist Doug Aitken, 8:30pm - 10pm Friday. Art Loves Film, an evening honoring musician Lou Reed and presenting the new film ‘Berlin’ by Julian Schnabel, will take place 8:30pm - 11pm Saturday. Both events are open to the public and tickets can be obtained at the Information Desk at the Convention Center.

That’s about it for the main event but there are many others jumping on the bandwagon since the art world is in town. Of course I’m referring to the satellite fairs. It will take me more time to list them all than it took me to get them on the Event Calendar so you’ll just have to go there! Happy art hopping!

Related Links: Art Basel 2007: Events Rundown And Travel Tips Official Art Basel Miami Beach Web Site Related Categories: Miami: Local News, Laurie is the Events Manager at Miami Beach 411. See more articles by Laurie. See more articles by Laurie Was This Post Helpful? Please Share It With Others! Tweet

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