Monday, March 19, 2012

The Armory Show was Armored to Battle Basel

Why did I feel that my soul was not sucked out of my body at the Armory Show in NY as I did perusing the insanity that was Miami Basel?

Miamians ....errr... people from Miami, have an appreciation for being seen around art and culture. And because everything there is in excess, clearly being photographed around TONS of bad contemporary, wannabe ABEX paintings and Hirsts reveals "high culture."

To prove my point, Google "Miami art basel 2011" and you'll see mostly society pictures including P. Diddy in a zebra/leopard concoction. Google "Armory show ny 2012" and actual art will appear. Shocking.

The lack of fluidity in Miami Basel and the disconnected sequencing of art was more than disorienting... it was downright frustrating.

It takes the grid system of New York to clearly map out how an art fair should be run. The flow from Modern to Contemporary at the Armory Show made the art-viewing clear and logical.

I felt stifled and suffocated in the labyrinth of Miami... wading through layers and layers of mediocre art with a supremely high price tag was disheartening to say the least.

As a native NY'er, I am proud to say that in the battle between Armory and Miami Basel, the reigning champion was a fair that logistically made sense and did not overwhelm one's senses.

One of the many reasons I Art New York.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Channeling Gertrude in honor of the Steins Collect Exhibition

If you have not already seen the Steins Collect at the MET, go, go, go! It is laden with Matisses, Picassos, Cézannes galore, as well as a stunning pastel by one of my faves Odilon Redon. Also, "Four Saints in Three Acts, an opera written by Gertrude and set design by Florine Stettheimer, is featured. 


Please enjoy the prose that my lovely mother concocted in honor of Gertrude Stein's interesting linguistic abilities. 



The collection was one of looking and viewing and beholding at the Met Museum one to be and hold in the beholding of the joy in the enjoying of all that displaying.  Some were certainly following, commenting on this one and ones in the collection,  commenting and reading and looking and thinking  beholding in the walking in and out of the spaces in the rooms.  To be walking in and out one  beholding and viewing all the ones next ones  in the collection on the ones in the collecting. This one was one charming with charming meaning, certain with important meaning, historic meaning, meaning meaning that was coming out of and following importantly.  This one was one beholding and meaning always there was something coming out of and walking  viewing to other ones with meaning,  Some following the something coming out of this one  following the next one something completely charming!