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.

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!

Met in the Met

So it's been an insanely long time since I've blogged. Since then I've been spending an inordinate amount of time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I've been to exhibitions featuring Indian art, Middle Eastern/Orientalism, and an American wing featuring the good, the bad, and the ugly of American artwork.. too bad there was so little of the former...

While I love the MET, there is still something daunting about the fact that when you leave one major exhibition, you still find yourself in a museum. The MET is a series of miniature (some not so miniature) exhibitions which can be constituted as museums. Essentially, the MET is a museum within a museum within a museum... ad nauseum.

The word labyrinth comes to mind, a maze of sorts.  And the moment I think of the word labyrinth, this also comes to mind... 

Which immediately leads me to think about something else...ummm... Dance magic dance...?

Tomorrow I'll be attending the preview of the Steins Collection. So excited to feast my eyes on Matisse and Cézanne and then feast on French cuisine in the Members Dining Room. Magnifique! 

Who Let the Dots Out?

As you all probably know how much I love, adore, and respect the work of Damien Hirst (pass the sick bucket), it is my pleasure to state that his entire spot painting collection(sssssssssssss) from 1986-2011 are being featured at the 11 Gagosian galleries around the world. (For 25 years the man has been spotting around).

To make the already interesting viewing even more exciting, if you make it to all 11 galleries within the span of Jan 12-Feb 18, you could be the proud owner of your very own completely unoriginal spot painting. Additionally, it will be signed by the artist who didn't even create the painting, but rather one of his assistants! (GASPING FOR AIR!)

So little time, soooooooooooo many dots! But don't worry... 3 out of the 11 galleries are in New York (two of which are 3 blocks apart... hmmm, someone didn't take urban planning courses!) Yet be prepared to fly out to Hong Kong, Athens, and Geneva, to name a few. It's so worth it though.... You could be in Rome looking at the artistic gems of Hirst whilst passing on Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. I mean, there's certainly a more religious, transcendental experience gazing into the hypnotic dots than anything the Renaissance masters had to offer.

Just a skinny man chillin' in the arms of some broad

I'll make you see the light via identical circles in different colors. I am a prophet. 

I'll leave you all with a thought. Which came first? The Gagosian or the Hirst? Whose brilliant idea was it to have the "Complete Spot Challenge?" The businessman or the businessman (aka artist)? Either way, being subjected to owning a spot painting after stalking the spots in 3 different continents is certainly no reward.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Resolutionizing: A Belated, Yet Relevant, Artsy Approach to the New Year.

R.I.P. 2011. 

2011-2011

1. Learn to see the beauty in the art that is Hirst. 

I like unicorns. I just don't like seeing them dead with a pathetically tragic expression. But at least it's a unicorn!

2. Honor the late Elizabeth Taylor by purchasing massive jewels and baubles, perhaps a tiara too, by wearing them as everyday jewelry. 

Bling Blau

3. Finally hang 4 paintings, 2 African masks, 1 Central American mask, and a partridge in a pear tree on my walls. 

4. Stop cringing when people say the Mona Lisa is the most beautiful work of art. Rather keep quiet but silently think... 

I still don't think she has a hot ass though... 

5. Get married 9 times and beat Elizabeth Taylor's record. Hey, if I can't have her jewels, at least I can have the men (and the fun). 

Just need 4 more and let the good times roll.