Editor's Letter
As an artist's networking opportunity, Art Basel is unparalleled. Connecting with other artists, galleries and collectors while seeing more artwork in four days than most people see in their lives is an experience unlike any other.
ArtVoices held a very successful group exhibition in the Wynwood Arts District and despite the barely-controlled chaos of the fairs and shows we and our artists pulled through, creating opportunities for future solo exhibitions by New Orleans artists in other cities, sales to collectors both domestic and international, print and other media coverage and, most importantly and most exciting, increasing the visibility of the emergent New Orleans contemporary art movement. All this and more in four days--the energy surrounding Art Basel is something to behold.
I visited every fair--Art Basel, Art Miami, Pulse, Scope, Red Dot, Impulse, Photo Miami, Gesai, Art Asia, Nada--and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the younger fairs had the best work and focus.
There were a number of exceptional satellite exhibitions, notably that of Brooklyn's Pierogi, Manhattan's Ronald Feldman and London's Hales gallery. Their terrific show was seemingly underattended due to the territorial focus on the more established art fairs and exhibitions.
The Wynwood Arts District allowed artists the use of abandoned buildings as canvases, making for an interesting spectacle as Shepherd Fairey and crew bombed walls all over the area. An amazing sight, seeing street artists hit buildings with a police escort in tow.
I spoke with gallery owners from all over the world presenting works similar in spirit, philosophy and aesthetics to my own. The passion they feel for their artists and their vision was obvious in every conversation.
To survive in these turbulent times as an artist one must work harder, longer, smarter and often think well outside the box. Reaching past the usual local outlets and getting oneself in the larger loop, putting one's work out there where those people who can make a difference can see it, getting oneself off the sidelines and getting into the game--this is what it takes.
Best Regards,
Terrence Sanders, Editor & Publisher
