Guest writer Sharon Lorenzo reports to ASE readers on Art Basel, Miami – 2011.

At its tenth anniversary, the international contemporary art fair known as Art Basel – Miami Beach was a glamorous affair offering art gazing, people watching, and just plain fun. The star-studded parties began on Tuesday night for the ‘in-crowd’ who are guests of the major sponsors. To get on the ‘A-list’, it helps to be one of the following: friends of the founders from Basel, Switzerland, private banking clients of the major sponsor UBS, a film star like Michael Douglas, a fashion mogul like Donna Karan, or a major art collector.

The public ‘happening’ runs from Thursday through Sunday and you will not be disappointed with the $40 per day experience. With collections from 260 galleries from all over the globe – selected by twelve renowned international gallerists – the variety of art and objects is as diverse a palate as I have witnessed anywhere. You can curate your own experience by choosing among the sublime works of heralded masters in the formal gallery presentations and the offerings of emerging artists – some brilliant and some selling marginally adequate examples of “stuff”. Pause over those you find worthy and skip those which fail to intrigue you. Want a deeper understanding? Panels of art authorities lecture throughout show.

Juries of experts from Basel, Switzerland have constructed two sectors in the convention center pavilions with ART in the major space and DESIGN in a new tent. There are six primary programs:

Art Galleries: 260 modern and contemporary art spaces showing a range of works from around the globe
Art Nova: 42 galleries from emerging nations showing the work of young artists Art Positions: 16 spaces, each with one work by one artist
Art Video: 5 pods and external projections on a 7000 square foot screen highlighting the latest trends in video art
Art Kabinett: 30 small curated exhibitions of works in group shows
Art Public: The Bass Museum in Collins Park joins other satellite spaces with exhibitions for general viewing as part of the fair

As a seasoned art viewer I found the following phenomenon most curious: no price tags. I wondered if there was a different price for each customer. If a dealer wants to get into the collection of Calvin Klein, does he offer a deep discount? How about the additional fact that while no auction houses were invited to the show, they were allowed to crash the parties for their top clients. Clearly as the auction houses enter the private placement art business, the art galleries are loathe to share the fair with such competition. The Art Newspaper reported that the gallerists would not allow Artnet.Com anywhere near the fair for fear that the hammer prices at auction on their website would depress sales prices – which are sometimes 300% above the auction market.

There was a lot of buzz suggesting that the greatest trick at the fair was to figure out how two New York collectors managed to purchase big spaces in the old Miami warehouse district, install their families in apartments on the top floor and avoid real estate taxes by opening their art collections to the public, on floors one, two and three of their buildings. The most hilarious addition to the fair this year was an exhibit of Ferrari cars in a parking garage. 1100 Lincoln Road was a ‘scene’ with models, music, fast cars and lots of alcohol. The autos embraced the latest in car design and certainly entertained the males in the audience. With $200,000 plus price tags, there were plenty for sale!

All in all the investment of time and money for a trip to Art Basel – Miami Beach is worthy. The weather is great, the food is plentiful, the hotels are chic, and the atmosphere is “easy breezy”. The best way to go is to book early and rent your car soon for next season. Even for the initiated, there is always more to learn and much to see at this wonderful fair.

Art Basel, Miami Beach 2012

For the art buzz, check out The Art Newspaper

If you will not get to Art Basel, check out online art sales at Artnet.com.