Art Basel: Prizm Art Fair brilliantly narrates socio-political themes

Eclectic, cutting-edge, and brilliant are three words that perfectly describe the works on exhibit at the Prizm Art Fair now in its third year during Miami Art Week. The opening preview on Tuesday, Dec. 1 hosted a truly diverse crowd who at times could be seen in deep thought analyzing the various pieces. That’s because the exhibit had strong themes addressing the current conditions and treatment of people of color globally, including a strong hand of injustice. The socio-political theme was immediately noticeable the minute you walked into the space, and at times you would also find deep spiritual meaning behind the pieces.

There were also works that showed the parallels between the broad expanse of the African Diaspora across the Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean. The curators - Mikhaile Solomon, Rosie Gordon-Wallace, AM Weaver - did a spectacular job showcasing a variety of artists from the Diaspora whose work had strong social commentary on the African Diaspora experience. For example, one piece spoke of what it meant to be both French and Black and another piece contrasted time and how people of African descent related to it. The quality of artwork was truly dynamic ranging from sculpture to painting, photography, and acrylic.

The curatorial committee transformed a space along the Biscayne Boulevard corridor in the Miami Modern District into a world class gallery. Everything from the music and lighting to the narrative was perfectly weaved throughout the space and made strong statements. The preview was also very well attended by veterans in the Diaspora contemporary art world, including African-American artist Deborah Willis and Dr. Leslie King Hammond, Graduate Dean Emeritus at Maryland Institute College of Art and Founding Director of the Center For Race and Culture.

“Prizm is a necessary part of the artistic landscape that is currently not as widely surveyed as it should be,” shares Mikhaile Solomon, the visionary behind Prizm. "This is an entire niche that the arts community is not yet aware of and should rally behind. It’s a must attend fair showcasing a body of work from artists who are still largely unknown."

-- Fabiola Fleuranvil / [email protected]

 

Satellite fairs bring art beyond Art Basel

Satellite fairs on both sides of the causeways are big draws in their own right.

By Tere Figueras Negrete 

Art Week isn’t all about Art Basel.

While the main festival’s labyrinthine stretches of exhibits may be a universe unto itself, savvy art lovers know that the city beyond the convention center is teeming with possibilities and promise.

Neighborhoods on both sides of the causeway glitter this week with a constellation of satellite events, from intimate fairs with tightly curated rosters of local artists to the massive twin offering of Art Miami/CONTEXT that has emerged as an anchor event in its own right.

Complete schedule of satellite fairs below. Click here for the rest of this story.

SATELLITE FAIRS SCHEDULES

• Aqua Art Fair: Aqua Hotel, 1530 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. Hours: Noon-9 p.m. Dec. 4; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 5-6; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 7. Tickets $15; $75 multi-day fair pass to Aqua, CONTEXT and Art Miami. aquaartmiami.com

• Art Miami: The Art Miami Pavilion, 3101 NE First Ave., Midtown. Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 3-4; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 5; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 6; 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Dec. 7. Tickets: $35; $75 multi-day pass also includes CONTEXT and Aqua art fairs. art-miami.com

• Art Spot Miami: 3011 NE First Ave. (inside Spectrum art fair), Midtown. Hours: 1-9 p.m. Dec. 4-6; noon-6 p.m. Dec. 7; Tickets: included with admission to Spectrum. aldocastilloprojects.com

• Concept-Fair: Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd. Hours: 1-10 p.m. Dec. 3-6; 1-7 p.m. Dec. 7. Tickets: $15; concept-fair.com

• CONTEXT Art Miami: Inside the Art Miami Pavilion, 3101 NE First Ave., Midtown. Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 3-4; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 5; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 6; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 7. Tickets: $35 (Included with entry to Art Miami); $75 multi-day pass also includes Art Miami and Aqua art fairs. contextartmiami.com

• Design Miami\: Meridian Avenue and 19th Street, adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center. Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 3, 4; 11-8 p.m. Dec. 5; noon - 8 p.m. Dec. 6; noon-6 p.m. Dec. 7. Tickets: $25; designmiami.com

• Fridge Art Fair: 3rd Street Garage Artspace, 300 SW 12th Ave., Miami. Hours: 2-8 p.m. Dec. 4; 1-9 p.m. Dec. 5-8; 1-3 p.m. Dec. 9. Tickets: free. fridgeartfair.com.

• FusionMIA: NW 2nd Avenue & NW 22nd Street, Miami. Free. Hours: 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. Dec. 4-7; 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. fusionmia.com/

• INK Miami Art Fair: Suites of Dorchester, 1850 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. Free. Hours: noon-5 p.m. Dec. 3; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 4; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 5-6; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 7. inkartfair.com

• Miami Photo Salon: Cuban American Phototheque Foundation, 4260 SW 74 Ave. Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 2; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 3; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Dec. 4; 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 5. Tickets: $15. miamiphotosalonfestival.com

• MiamiProject: Northeast 29th Street and Northeast First Avenue, Miami. Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Dec. 3; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 4; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 6; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 6; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 7. Tickets: $25. www.miami-project.com

• Miami Street Photography Fair: Kike San Martin Studios, 2045 NW First Ave., Miami. Free. Hours: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Dec. 4-5; 10-11 p.m. Dec. 6; noon-5 p.m. Dec. 7. www.miamistreetphotographyfestival.org

• Miami River Art Fair: Miami Convention Center at the James L. Knight Center, 400 SE Second Ave., Miami. Hours: noon to 8 p.m. Dec. 5-6; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 7. Tickets: Free with online registration. miamiriverartfair.com

• NADA Art Fair: The Deauville Beach Resort, 6701 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. Free. Hours: 2-8 p.m. Dec. 4; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 5-6; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 7. newartdealers.org

• Prizm: Miami Centerfor Architecture and Design, 100 NE First Ave., Miami. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 5; noon-7 p.m. Dec. 6-8. Tickets, $10. prizmartfair.com.

• Pulse Miami: Indian Beach Park 4601 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Hours 1-7 p.m. Dec. 4; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 5-6; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 7. Tickets: $20. pulse-art.com

• Red Dot Miami: 3011 NE First Ave.; Miami. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 3; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec.4; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 5-6. Tickets: $15. www.reddotfair.com

• SELECT Art Fair: 72nd Street and Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. Free. Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 3-6; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 7. www.select-fair.com

•SCOPE Miami Beach: 910 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 3-7. Tickets: $25. www.scope-art.com

•Sculpt Miami: 46 NW 36th St., Midtown. Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 4-7. Free. sculptmiami.com.

•SPECTRUM Miami: 3011 NE First Ave., Midtown. Hours: 1-9 p.m. Dec. 4-6; noon-6 p.m. Dec. 7; Tickets: $10. www.spectrum-miami.com

•UNTITLED: 12th Street and Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Hours: 3.-7 p.m. Dec. 3; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 4-6; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7. Tickets: $25, $15 for Miami Beach residents. art-untitled.com