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the greenhouse effect

Post #660 • November 15, 2005, 8:44 AM • 32 Comments

From "The Greenhouse Effect," by Margery Gordon for the November 2005 Art & Auction:

Each year brings new events competing for the already exhausted eyeballs of fairgoers, and this season ushers in two new fairs, Pulse and Aqua, as well as a design exposition and more public spaces for private collections. With just so much time and energy to go around, not only do many artists' and gallerists' best efforts get lost in the shuffle, but the fixation on Art Basel can also drain interest and income from the rest of the city's art calendar.

"The fair is a spike in a relatively flat graph. We need to concentrate on making the rest of the year not Basel-great but still great. It's time for the city to redefine itself away from Art Basel," says Franklin Einspruch, a Miami-based artist, writer, and blogger. "One commenter on Artblog.net likened our situation to that of a tropical island where the local enonomy depends on rich foreigners trolling through town and buying up indigenous crafts. That arrangement tends to reinforce patterns of retrogressive behavior - in our case, the stereotype of Miami being a cool, fun town full of emerging artists rather than a serious place to make art.

Comment

1.

onajide

November 15, 2005, 9:48 AM

From our perspective, that "tropical island where the local enonomy depends on rich foreigners" is a really good way to put it. And, the "emerging artist" is such a phantom. But, I think the first two articles are more helpful than another on the collectors. However, I think it clearly shows how the real estate developers are calling most of the shots.

2.

moustache anear

November 15, 2005, 9:49 AM

and?
seems like a recurring topic.

fairs=bad

miami = lacking depth

miami =lacking good art

everyone not represented at a fair=bitter

3.

Franklin

November 15, 2005, 10:02 AM

and?

And it is now the subject of a thorough article by Ms. Gordon that transcends mere griping, so keep your aspersions to yourself.

4.

jack

November 15, 2005, 12:58 PM

ABMB has effectively become a decoy for the Miami art scene. It is a very transient burst of frantic, not to say desperate activity which has very little to do with what really happens here year-round. And I'm not "bitter" because I'm not in it, since I'm not an artist or any sort of art world player.

5.

bitter less

November 15, 2005, 6:09 PM

All this talk of bitterness is pretty boring. Sometimes people have a right to be bitter and angry and confused about why mediocre work is so celebrated. Saying so is not necessarily a bad thing; maybe it’s the way it’s said that needs adjusting.

Being rude and mediocre with your criticisms is as bad if not worse than whatever it is you might be protesting. Some people have bad taste its ironic they also have a lot of money. Fuck it, who cares. Be bitter, criticize constructively and continue making art until you get the notoriety someone else will grow to resent.

6.

oldpro

November 15, 2005, 6:36 PM

I think some of are losing sight of the fact that the rules ask us to address the writing, not the writer. As Bitterless indicates, it doesn't really matter to the blog what someone is feeling. What is at issue is what is being said.

7.

happy_with_miami

November 15, 2005, 9:12 PM

"but the fixation on Art Basel can also drain interest and income from the rest of the city's art calendar."

give a growing city some credit!

how does an event like basel, which brings art buyers/collectors from out of town into a city that is attempting to gain credit as an art capital, a bad thing?


art basel= attention for miami artist= $ for miami artists and city of miami= everyone's happy


most people who come to art basel once, make it a point to come back to miami and continue to look around. basel is just one big advertisement for the miami art scene.

8.

blowfish

November 15, 2005, 9:21 PM

To be the pessimist, Art Basel was originally intended to be in Miami for only 5 years. When that time is up who's to say that another US city with more art "pull" won't take it away.

If Miami depends on the $ from outsiders, when and if Basel leaves so does the $. No more happy people.

9.

tundow narraw

November 15, 2005, 9:22 PM

"most people who come to art basel once, make it a point to come back to miami and continue to look around. basel is just one big advertisement for the miami art scene..."

I beg to differ, if most of the artists showcasing in basel are from any and everywhere else, how on earth can you deduce that "basel is just one big advertisement for the miami art scene..."

10.

cornelius

November 15, 2005, 9:25 PM

why do the commenters always shy away from what is considered a "recurring topic"... answer the bloody question... if miami is lacking good art... WHAT IS GOOD ART??
stop hiding behind your brushes or acrylics, or whatnot and defend what good art is–

maybe then Miami can get some... and stop being bitter.

11.

blowfish

November 15, 2005, 9:28 PM

tundow narraw,

It is all about exposure. If other artists from outside Miami didn't come here then the local Miami artists wouldn't be seen.

We need to put Miami on the map as an art city and to do that you need exposure.

12.

happy_with_miami

November 15, 2005, 9:32 PM

I beg to differ, if most of the artists showcasing in basel are from any and everywhere else, how on earth can you deduce that "basel is just one big advertisement for the miami art scene..."

have you ever been??

the "art positions" on ocean drive all showcase local miami artists.

true- to be part of the indoor fair- inside the convention center- you have to be invited-and as far as the percentage of artist that are from miami- i'm not sure of...

but, every gallery/museum/warehouse/art space/cardboard box in miami becomes open to the public- therefore showcasing local art. whether you choose to or not, you are surrounded by miami artists.

13.

spunkee_munkee

November 15, 2005, 9:38 PM

If other artists from outside Miami didn't come here then the local Miami artists wouldn't be seen./

...by other artists. Who cares what other artists think. It's more about what the art "buyers" think. Other artists are too self absorbed to really be objective.

14.

blowfish

November 15, 2005, 9:39 PM

The end question is who's work, whether local artist or foreign, is appreciated. If exposure is the goal then it won't matter where the artist comes from it is going to be the striking art that gets noticed and commented on. If it is more a personal conviction then it won't matter much to the artist what people think of their work they just want it seen.

15.

Franklin

November 15, 2005, 9:42 PM

Happy_with_miami, Blowfish, Tundow narraw, Cornelius, and Spunky_munky are all the same person. If you don't have anything to do, go do it somewhere else. And definitely don't make me close your tags for you. That will piss me off.

16.

tundow narraw

November 15, 2005, 9:47 PM

"but, every gallery/museum/warehouse/art space/cardboard box in miami becomes open to the public- therefore showcasing local art. whether you choose to or not, you are surrounded by miami artists".

Im pretty sure the main attraction in art basel is not the Miami artist, just because the public is surrounded by open gallery/museum/warehouse/art space/cardboard box in town doesnt equate appropriate advertising for local artists. There are other attractions to art basel other than art: The food, the games, the music, and other forms of entertainment...... so how on earth do you conclude that art basel is good advertisement for Miami artists.

17.

tundow narraw

November 15, 2005, 9:47 PM

"but, every gallery/museum/warehouse/art space/cardboard box in miami becomes open to the public- therefore showcasing local art. whether you choose to or not, you are surrounded by miami artists".

Im pretty sure the main attraction in art basel is not the Miami artist, just because the public is surrounded by open gallery/museum/warehouse/art space/cardboard box in town doesnt equate appropriate advertising for local artists. There are other attractions to art basel other than art: The food, the games, the music, and other forms of entertainment...... so how on earth do you conclude that art basel is good advertisement for Miami artists.

18.

spunkee_munkee

November 15, 2005, 9:48 PM

but, every gallery/museum/warehouse/art space/cardboard box in miami becomes open to the public- therefore showcasing local art. whether you choose to or not, you are surrounded by miami artists.

Yeah... and frankly the local artists measure up to a big fat steaming pile of shallow and pretentious bull shit that will have no lasting impact on the art world.

19.

happy_with_miami

November 15, 2005, 9:49 PM

busted.

20.

blowfish

November 15, 2005, 9:49 PM

...by other artists. Who cares what other artists think. It's more about what the art "buyers" think. Other artists are too self absorbed to really be objective.

I wasn't saying that the other artists need to have an opinion. It isn't them that need to come here. It is the other people who appreciate art that need to see the work. Artists in general are too self-absorbed, obsessive and lack in good critiquing skills.

21.

tundow narraw

November 15, 2005, 9:50 PM

Franklin, chill out, if we were the same person, our language styles would be the same...don't you think?

22.

Franklin

November 15, 2005, 10:05 PM

Franklin, chill out, if we were the same person, our language styles would be the same...don't you think?

Don't mix me up with an idiot.

23.

oldpro

November 15, 2005, 10:13 PM

Yeah, whoever you are, stop screwing with the blog. You are a bore anyway,

24.

Rose

November 15, 2005, 10:36 PM

Yeah... and frankly the local artists measure up to a big fat steaming pile of shallow and pretentious bull shit that will have no lasting impact on the art world.- spunkee_munkee WOW Pretty harsh statement. I understand that you think that the local artists are trash and can not be objective. This melting pot of creatives is a mess, too many people with not enough education, or think that their diploma in Art was enough to make them a damn genius. The local artists just need to be more educated by the good stuff and hopefully they can pull themselves out of their ass and realize what good art is, and how they can change for the better. Maybe they will have an impact but it will be long after were all dead isnt that what really sells anyways? Maybe I should fake it.

25.

Lolly

November 15, 2005, 10:45 PM

This melting pot of creatives is a mess, too many people with not enough education, or think that their diploma in Art was enough to make them a damn genius. Rose, do you feel that most arists need more credentials than a diploma in art to be taken seriously? How much is based on raw talent and how much can be chalked up to instruction? Some people believe that if you study other artists too much, you'll find some of their stuff in yours. Influences are great; but when originality is lost, what is the point of art if only to repeat the same styles over and over?

26.

Rose

November 15, 2005, 10:55 PM

Raw talent is important, I have no problem telling someone with no education that they are great. But they do need to be developed. Society wants to see that BS of MFA to really see how far these individuals are willing to go. If you have the talent and are willing to go through the education, take the criticsm of the class, and meet great teachers, I know it is better than not going on to a higher level of education. Your only doing yourself more good by advancing. Im not really talking about successful artists being good if they can copy someone elses, Im talking more about they need to training and development from other working professionals to push themselves into a whole new realm of creativity and professionalism. Dont just copy but get inspired by others art and be able to have the knowledge to backup your art and explain why it is the way it is when someone is bashing it.

27.

Franklin

November 15, 2005, 11:02 PM

That does it. Comments are closed for the night.

28.

craigfrancis

November 16, 2005, 9:07 AM

what a wanker.

29.

j

November 16, 2005, 12:37 PM

i believe they were alll talking about creativity and the lack of sensitivity to it and the sensitive approach and nurturing it thrives on. here we get too much of this oh good bad thing, it is quite silly. like fashion even, if someone looks good or not, pretty or ugly, appealing or not, c'mon guys. what you really want is support in some way or another, preferably an obvious way. well, i support you. even the "worst" stuff i have seen around still has something for someone. what i do feel lacks is the sense of dedication, devotion, obsession. the view is a bit inside the box and tend to shun challenges. it is a fashion thing.

i respect what this site does for miami in one way or another, even if "it" is a bit self absorbed. the chronicle and selection really gives a feeling of.......well it's good inadvertent journalism.

that basel comes once a year is a holiday, a time when we cant see enough when we didnt see anything all year long.

anyways carry on

30.

Franklin

November 16, 2005, 2:01 PM

"They were all" one person. So much for the site being self-absorbed.

31.

k

November 17, 2005, 10:19 AM

that you commented on your comment is quite selfabsorbed, if that was an attempt to disprove, i mean.

32.

Franklin

November 17, 2005, 10:59 AM

What?

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