Art Basel Miami - Part II
Copyright Vladimir Kagan, December 17, 2013
Our next not-to-miss destination was The Wynwood Art District. It is Miami’s newest trendy scene… located in the seediest part of town! It’s where Graffiti is glorified; not the scrawled initials by a delinquent kid using a spray can, but by sponsored imported artists from as far away as San Francisco, L.A. and Paris. This is where Graffiti has found its calling. Teams of painters armed with truckloads of spray paint were working through the night to complete there block-long masterpieces… as diverse in subjects, messages, colors as anything you could see in the Convention Center… and this show was free!
This is what graffiti use to be like.... No more!!!
not an inch of space is left unpainted
The Wynwood Art District is where astute Ralph Pucci located his spectacular new Miami gallery. Once an old shoe warehouse, Ralph took a 6800 Square foot cavernous space; brightly lit it, painted the walls white with a huge red square wall to bombast you as you enter.… Inside he carefully displayed his collection of one of a kind or limited edition art furniture… and there, ethereally exhibited were examples of my classic furniture dating from the early 50’s through to the current… I could not have been happier.
I could not have been happier with my exhibit
it wasn't all work!
photo-ops! Chris and me - Jasmin Zetlmeisl, a designer from Paris giving me a big hug
My friend Robert Verdi and his partner were the best dressed men at the party
The Design District, once the darling of Miami’s design community, used to be the hippest place in town. Sadly Louis Vuitton and its acolytes have transformed it into a fashion Mall. Luxury is the new buzzword and my Italian licensee is the King of the genre! His Luxury Living Showroom featured Fendi Casa and new this year: Bentley (like in the automobile). Crystal chandeliers, chrome trimmed fur and buttery-soft leathers were the hallmark of this luxurious collection… Opening night was glitz and glitterati… champagne flowed like water; exotic hors d’euf were passed by attractive wait-staff. Every glamorous young woman that could be corralled off Miami’s beaches was there delicately sipping champagne as they balanced effortlessly on their 6” or higher heels, their bare legs extended to their tummy’s with delicate little skirts covering their vitals… Their blasé escorts came straight out of central casting for Miami Vice. Disco music boomed – conversation was unnecessary… dozens of guards fought to keep the hordes of uninvited guest at bay… Alberto Vignatelli, the charismatic owner of Luxury Living, sure knows how to throw a party!!!
A cast of thousands came for the openinf of the Fendi Casa and Bentley reception
Every exquisite glamor-girl in Miami made her appearance at the party
The men were as beautiful as the women
My friend, Barbara Missett an Art Consultant from Palm Beach and South Hampton
Alberto Vignatelli, the very charismatic president of Luxury Living and Fendi Casa, was the gracious host of this gala party
If you were very well connected, you might have been invited to the crème-de-la-crème dinner party hosted by Craig Robbins, in his beautiful waterfront estate on Sunset Island. Craig was the developer of the Design District and creator of the Design Miami event. It was a see-and-be-seen event. My elegant friend, Joyce Gato-Scharfer was my meal ticket for this al fresco banquet and my dinner partner was Martha Stewart.
Martha with our host, Craig Robins - my friend Joyce Gato-Scharfer and my NY client, Julie Hillman
You might think that we had done it all, but Sunday was the best, with a visit to the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens in Coral Gables to see the sculptures of Brazilian artist, Hugo Franca, whose wooden creations were integrated into the landscape of the gardens. This jewel of a park is located on 70 bucolic acres of greenery and secluded lakes. We discovered new plants, flowers, trees, and butterflies. We learned that a palm tree is not a tree – it is a palm. We saw beautiful flowers that looked like lilies but could kill you in a flash. Think of belladonna! Trees, who’s external root systems become larger than their stems: the majestic spreading Banyan. A rainbow Eucalyptus from Papua New Guinea, whose bark is constantly pealing in profuse colors… It was the right antidote for a crazy few days. What a way to unwind!
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..and if you want to murder your partner surreptitiously , pick this pretty belladonna flower and feed it to him or her slowly .... only kidding!!!... ha ha!
...…and Puff: we left Miami and headed home to balmy, boring Palm Beach.
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