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Quote du jour
Post #1262 • December 3, 2008, 1:37 PM • 6 Comments
Nothing is old, nothing is new, save the light of grace underneath which beats a human heart. The way of feeling, of understanding, of loving; the way of seeing the country, the faces that your father saw, that your mother knew. The rest is chimerical.
2.
December 4, 2008, 12:07 PM
Thanks, George. I'd already planned to skip the Convention Center and save the money, and now it's a no brainer. Of course, the usual boosterism will be forthcoming from our local media, which may not know any better anyhow, as well as from the usual suspects in the local art establishment, such as it is.
3.
December 4, 2008, 12:33 PM
Your welcome Jack. I still would like to here others opinions if and when they see art basel.
4.
December 4, 2008, 1:57 PM
Thanks for the review. The show sounds lame.I think I will skip it.
5.
December 5, 2008, 4:36 PM
That "Current" show is OK at best...not exactly or in anyway near the best in town though - much rather go see an "average" Degas or get kicked in the head by the Brazilain national football team, but hey to each his own...
6.
December 7, 2008, 12:23 PM
Ohbollo, When I see a group show or any show for that matter I just look for what's best. that's what I meant when I said something to the effect that if it wasn't for those two large franenthalers at Basel the current show would be best in town. . Atleast that's what I meant to say. There's a bannard and a few other pictures at current that are close the the frankenthaler and better than the average degas at basel imo.Those few pictures are what make the current show so good.
1.
Bethea
December 4, 2008, 10:55 AM
Here's my review from my trip to Art Basel last night. They had the usual big names but not as many and of lesser quality. There were some late picassos that were weaker than usual,also, some drab Klees and Averys. A few decent jawlenskys, but not as good a last year. I saw a nice small degas portait. It made the freuds look unskillful and dead. I never have been a big fan of freud but it was clear how much better an average degas is. Knoedler had an early opaque olitski. It was o.k., and price at 250,000, but if they have access to any unsold olitski, then why not put in one or two of his great pictures? They also had a few decent small frankenthalers. There was the usual respectable but never good enough wayne Thiebaus ( I don't know how to spell his name). They're not offensive and are fun to look at, but never good enough. Ameringer Yohe stole the show again this year with two very large and beautiful Frankenthalers. I prefered the smaller of the two, a vertical about 7x5', but both were a joy to look at. They had a small less than average hoffman, a couple small o.k. frankenthalers and an o.k. noland. Some where along the way I saw a colorful Kline whick once again reenforced why he should not use color.
The sales were down as was the crowd and energy. The first 3 rows were best as usual but I got the feeling the the dealers new that they didn't put there best foot forward. The back rows were horrible as usual. I got the feeling that those dealers knew they weren't fooling any one. With the exception of the large frankenthalers the best exhibit in town can be found at the current show, 2412 north miami, ave.
If anyone else went comment on what you saw.