It’s the staple of tradition in Miami; at least it is in the art world. Every year, Miami Beach becomes home to one of the most highly anticipated art shows in the world: Art Basel. Even saying the name makes the speaker feel as if something mystical has just been created.
Celebrities, wine, stunning art, you name it, and Art Basel will have it. At least 250 of the “world’s leading galleries” will find their way into the 305 territory and it will always be sure to stun you. Being a part of Art Basel is like becoming inducted into the Illuminati (okay maybe not that cool, but are we sure it’s not some conspiracy)??
Anyone who’s anyone will be featured in the show, which makes it such an honor that three of FSU’s very own will be taking part in it. Oh yeah, that’s right! Did I just give you another reason to love FSU? I think I did.
Mark Messersmith, Lilian Garcia Roig, and Carrie Ann Baade will be making their way down to Miami Beach for the weeklong event. The shows will last from December 5 to December 8, so make sure you get a chance to skip class and make your way down there! Perhaps you’ll even be able to score some extra credit! For those of you who don’t know, I’ll dive in a little and explain each faculty member’s artwork.
Mark Messersmith’s work “concerns the change and our impact on this natural environment and the inevitable forced migrate on, dislocation or destruction of most of that flora and fauna” (markmessersmith.com). His paintings are vibrant and colorful, depicting Florida wildlife like I’ve never seen before. In fact, it’s extremely striking and definitely burns a lasting image into your brain.
Figure 1 Image from Mark Messersmith’s Website
Lilian Garcia Roig uses “the conservative landscape as my subject and traditional plein-air painting as my process, in my attempts to reconcile the abstract nature of painting with its representational role” (http://www.liliangarcia-roig.com). Her works seemed fairly realistic until I made further inspection. The obvious detail and design of the painting began to show the closer I stood to her paintings. They were definitely something I’d display in my home!
Figure 2 Image from Lilian Garcia Roig’s Website
Last, but certainly not least, is Carrie Ann Baade. Carrie Ann Baade (I just love her whole name, has such a ring to it!) “is an internationally emerging artist whose surreal oil paintings are rich with allegorical meta-narratives inspired by spirit, literature, and art history.” Her paintings are the types of paintings I just stare at for long periods of time. I’m always unsure of what to immediately think of the artwork. The colors definitely draw me in with such rich shades.
Figure 3 Image from Carrie Ann Baade’s Website
So make sure to head down to Miami Beach this week. You wont regret just how beautiful the city becomes when Art Basel comes to town. Growing up in Miami, the art scene was always one of my favorite things. So many beautiful, extremely weird art, and fitting in with the adults. I felt like the coolest kid on the block.