Basel Beat - and the finest in art that matters

Art Basel Miami and it's satellite show relatives came to a strong close Sunday. The winners this year seem to be the return of astute collectors. In years past, throgs of ooglers filled the halls of the main convention center. This year there was a continuous pace of the more established. As the pre-eminent contemporary circuit in the arts today, established names from Tom Sachs (Relativity Telegram, 2009), Julian Opie, and their meaningful predecessors (yes Picasso, Lichtenstein, Warhol and Calder) were more than represented and collected.

New entrants to the main stream big tent had a warm media appeal. One such artist, Alex GuoFeng Coa, received Miami Herald exposure, despite the fact that his photographs are swiped from other photographers. Of course, swiped vs homage is what makes the art world tick - and GuoFeng Coa has won the media fascination by contrasting the main subject (Bruni or Michael Jackson for example) with an obvious but much smaller photograph of a connecting subject (His work's titles give the story away i.e. Bruni vs Sarkosy 2009). Available in various sizes, Alex's works offered recession proof value for the contemporary art he has borrowed. The works also give the media an outlet in the arts - Alex we can't wait for Bubble Boy vs Bubble Boy's Father or Tiger vs Woods, 2010. Just find a good snap shot created by someone of acclaim before you.

If there could be one show that should not return next year, it would need to be the mess created at the Art Viceroy and anything connected to it. The location should have been a dead give away - hosted in one of many "dark" towers hanging on from the real estate debacle in South Florida. Kudos to many of the artists who ventured there - yet the skill and talent seemed over priced and guest lists were a meaningless venture that a grand mother could have strolled in on.

The museum watch though seems to find select Asian artists still of interest. From Vietnam to the Rising Sun, Asia was a central obsession. Photographers, sculptors and painters are all on board with the digital revolution. Media arts is possibly going to be perfected by those who have had the most exposure to it's technology - and who best than our manufacturing friends. Stay posted to which Asian artists seem to be America's next darlings.

2 months of shows leave options for collectors in New York and beyond

When Denver's GALLERY M launched it's Charles Dwyer "A Call To Vera" show on March 7, nationwide gallery and collector shows were preparing for the "economic realities" in the US due to another economic bubble taking it's toll.

Would galleries and their painters find it difficult to sell with cuts in household perceived and actual wealth? Would sculpture be preferred because at least you could melt it down if American and international economic systems fail to work and the high commodity prices encourage owners to resort to barter systems? Since silver plays and played a role in photography would these moments in time remain a sought after medium? Do electronic art installations comply with the green/environmental movement filtering throughout the world? The answer is found in the details of each. Ultimately good fine art is remaining a strong option in today's economy for those capable of owning good fine art and able to relate to it.

Anyone collecting art for investment only, regardless of medium, should only be doing so as a diversification option. Eggs do not belong in one basket and cavet emptor definitely applies - avoid television invitations to buy art or rogue auction venues emphasizing a great deal sits before you but you must act now (Cruise ships and Dali come to mind).

Instead, the attendees at select shows throughout the country have found excellent buying opportunities. These opportunities are supported by experts in the artists, the mediums, and the work being considered - dealers and galleries.



Today's close of AIPAD at the New York's Armory really highlighted a week of anticipation for the fine art photography market in general. For starters many important 20th century photographers, some featured at GALLERY M, proved their merits in the aftermarket - at auction. This season's auctions were scheduled too close to the main dealer show in New York, except that the attendance at AIPAD appeared to be very strong.

While venues (and the people behind the "curtain") make the difference for what price a work is estimated at and then ultimately sells for, the New York Auction houses filled a void for those worried about the investment value of their collection: essentially that photography remains a viable alternative to other mediums and even asset classes for the preservation of wealth.

As mentioned at the beginning of the week, Andreas Feininger's "The Photojournalist, 1951" exceeded it's estimate and closed at the true market price found at galleries (the 11" x 14" modern, limited edition print, signed). While a secondary work may not be in pristine condition as found from a primary gallery who works with the artist directly, this specific work underscores the importance of understanding each artist for his/her own merits. If the artist is not widely known, widely collected, or at least influential to the medium's legacy for art's sake, the value will not traditionally be more than an average annual rate of return for fine art (5% to 7%).

I cautiously mention art's implied return on investment merely to put to rest the current phenomenon found at contemporary art shows - Art Basel, Scope, Pulse and the like. At these shows, emerging to established artists are pushing prices higher partly because the attendance and interest in the venues has become a cultural phenomena. More exposure is leading to more collectors ultimately finding artists through galleries that otherwise would not be found. And yes pricing does change when works sell. Some of the pricing actually is not justified: because a work is an original work by an artist with one gallery does not entitle the gallery or the artist to blue chip pricing of a work. You will know when price is desperately out of whack - your gut will say "this is the ugliest, most absurd thing that my eyes have ever seen." And if you check your blackberry for a competing price - remember that your digital information is only as good as the source.

Talent leads price in fine art mediums. Those who can influence multiple guts, usually can benefit from multiples at the bank. The Winter/Spring art show season of '08 will wind up being strong in the United States. Partly because of the quality available to collectors in the United States and partly because international collectors are now traveling to the states for exceptional art. As for the mining of art for it's material content - you probably wont have to melt your bronzes anytime soon.