Quote:
Originally Posted by
mordecai 
I'm not being a snob you moron. That's good and honest advice. Basel is one of the best fairs and the participating LA galleries are really some of the best we have, but it is a shitty way to experience their programs and unlikely to provide any greater understanding of some definable trajectory in contemporary art movements. The right to define such trajectories is a perpetual war between galleries, museums, critics, collectors, and academia and is not presented in some easy and understandable format at fairs.
All it is good for is buying some art.
If you do go AC, check out the Cherry and Martin booth. There will be an almost life size video piece of me in a costume
Are you Adam Lindemann in real life?
I look at it like this. The chance of me going to L.A. anytime soon to look at art is close to zero. So ABMB (and satellite fairs) gives me the chance to sample L.A. galleries, even though that sample may not be curated thematically and consist of art that gallerists think rich people will buy. Something is better than nothing, right?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rambo
Hmmmm. Ok, first thing you need to understand about Miami is that there is next to no public transportation. Buses are available but they're generally used by the poorz and the immigrants. Not that that's a problem, just throwing it out there. But the ability to get around without a car IS a problem. Taxi's are basically going to be your only means of getting around. I used to live downtown, right next to the Intercontinental Hotel. Its an alright spot as a launching pad as SOBE is right over the causeway and Wynwood is about a 10 minute drive in traffic. And there will be traffic. Lots of it. One of the benefits of taxis - no parking fees. Which, of course, are all jacked up on special events nights. So a rental isn't necessarily a bad idea, but its not always your best option.
I've never been in the Doubletree but its not in a bad location at all. The Hilton downtown is basically one block over and there are a few other hotels in the vicinity. There are a few hotels in the Brickell area which are nice. Nothing much in the way of lodging in Wynwood. Staying in SOBE isn't necessarily a bad thing as its basically a very small area and pretty easy to traverse. Plus, the beach is there and a lot of the special events take place in SOBE. They always have an art installation on the beach which usually is worth looking into and the major galas and whatnot are usually down there. If you could find a decently priced hotel it might not be bad at all.
As for the art in and of itself, that really isn't my ball of wax. I'm not an art guy in general and have only been to a few events on SOBE. A friend of my last roommate owned a gallery and had a show. Basically I just sat around talking to people and drinking champers. But the most heavily attended events are all on SOBE. Wynwood is more of the up and coming art scene. Lots of hipsters, lots of avant guard art, shit like that. They have an art walk - all the galleries open up for free and all the food trucks come out - on the 2nd tuesday of every month. Don't know if that will coincide with Art Basel, but if it does, its worth checking out.
If you need any more help feel free to ask.
Thanks for the info. I hate to drive in a city I don't know, and I'm used to riding inner-city buses with the poors, so I'm okay with relying on taxes and public transportation. Now you've got me considering staying in South Beach. Is the area between the DoubleTree Hilton and Wynwood safe and walkable? I know it's over a mile, but I'm used to walking that kind of distance in DC.
