In a few weeks, Art Basel will be taking over the scene in Miami, and photography will, once again, get it’s own special fair amongst the many pavilions dotting the South Beach scene.
After sales of art have plummeted in this new world economy, every dealer is looking for that bit of upswing that seems to be hitting some of the larger art auctions recently.
Like the 43 million paid for Andy Warhols’s 200 $1 bills.
Some strong upswing, right there. We’ll see if it continues down in South Beach. After all, art fairs are for selling.

Photo Miami is the only fair during that week wholly dedicated to photography, making it a “can’t miss” event, if you are attending the rest of the art filled week.
Lats year’s show was a surprise, even to us, as the work displayed was 180 degrees from vintage and instead, celebrated the new photographers, and even the ones that simply incorporated photography into sculptural pieces.
One of the oldest, new artists was Sandy Skogland, to give you a point of reference.

The overall fair is mainly about fresh art in all of the different venues, so it does seem fitting that Photo Miami would stay within the lines.

This year, there are some new owners, though: Stephen Cohen, who many years ago, had the first of his photo art fairs in Hollywood at the Butterfields Auction house, expanded to NYC, then Miami, remains executive director of the fair, but has sold the fair to 2 highly regarded collectors; Steve Eshelman and Marisa Arango, known as FOTOmarkt.
Plus they have added a curatorial triumvirate curated by Charles Guice, Brooke Maxwell and Isolde Brielmaier.
According to Mr. Eshelman and Ms. Arango, the fair will continue with a look forward in the world of photography, although they feel that the work of William Eggleston would not be out of place here.

The theme is “The World of Magical Thinking” and all that the words encapsulate. Wonder and story telling wrapped up in a variety of new media packages, are promised.
The goal?
That the viewer sees something in this fair that made a difference to them.
Simple statement, but we know what they mean. Last year we spent about 9 hours a day in and out of the almost 28 art fairs in Miami during Art Basel. To claim you remember something, was a feat in itself. Luckily we had a camera.
Photo Miami did have some work that made a difference. Here is tiny bit of we saw last year.

Here are just a few of the featured artists this time:

Kerry Skarbakka, Reflected, 2003

Qiang Jin, Madonna of the Meadow from the series Holy Icon for Liuhe Village, 2008.

Carrie Mae Weems

We suggest you go check it out for yourselves. And keep an open mind.

Midtown Miami
Wynwood Arts District
3401 North Miami Avenue and NW 34th Street
Miami, FL 33127

Wednesday, December 2 | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Thursday – Saturday, December 3 – 5 | 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday, December 6 | 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 7:18 pm and is filed under Events, Photo News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.