Art Basel is about to hit the southern coast of Florida. Great white tents are popping up in Miami and along the beach. A snow-covered chalet will soon be floating in Biscayne Bay. Doug Aitken is thinking about his public talk. Kate Gilmore is preparing her opening night performance in Collins Park. Galleries from around the world are shipping art to Miami and praying that 2013 will be a good year. Since Miami Beach is now HQ for Fresh Art International, we’re eye witnesses to this brewing storm of creative enterprise.
Though you may not yet be represented by a gallery or have the chance to display your work during this sprawling art event, you should still beat a path to Miami for the international phenom that will take place the first week of December. This will be an awesome opportunity to see some of the hottest, if not the best art on the planet!
Consider this a template for how you might approach any multi-venue art fair.
TEN Steps to Success at Art Basel Miami Beach 2013
- Prepare yourself for a challenging full body experience. Pack a simple wardrobe and wear comfortable shoes. Use sunscreen. Carry water, energy bars, an umbrella and a hoodie in your backpack.
- Order a ton of business cards featuring the basics: your name, address, email, phone, website, and current gallery affiliation.
- Store a mobile portfolio on your smart phone: Create a 10-image gallery and/or a few one-minute excerpts of your latest performance, video or sound art projects and set up a hot link to your website on your phone’s browser.
- Prepare and practice out loud a thoughtful 50-word description of your current work.
- No matter whether you’re looking to be inspired or hoping to be discovered, plan your time in Miami. Pace yourself and make sure that relaxing at the beach is on your itin.
- Explore the Art Basel Miami Beach website and scan through the online catalogue. Make note of the galleries/art you absolutely must see.
- Use Art Basel’s online Event Schedule as a starting point to create your own daily schedule, with the time, date and location of Conversations (free), Salons (ticketed), film screenings, and public performances that you absolutely must experience.
- Plan to broaden your exposure by adding to your itinerary at least three satellite fairs and events. Use this MAP to get your bearings and plot your course. Here are links to many of the fairs:
Miami Beach Art Fairs
Art Basel Miami Beach | Aqua Art Miami | Design Miami | Ink Miami | NADA Art Fair | New Material Art Fair | Scope Miami | SELECT Fair Miami | Untitled.Miami Art Fairs
Art Miami | ArtSpot Miami International Art Fair | Brazil Art Fair | CONTEXT | FriDgE ArT FAiR | Miami Project | Miami River Art Fair | PULSE Miami | Red Dot Miami | SPECTRUM Miami | ZONES Art FairSource: Art-Collecting.com
- Once you’re here, be present and open. Carpe Diem! This is an amazing opportunity to meet artists, collectors and gallerists from around the world!
- Collect info as you go. Take photos and keep notes on your phone. Jot a few words on the back of each card you pick up, e.g., the name of the rep you met and what you liked best about a particular space/exhibit.
- P.S.Once you get home, take time to communicate with at least five spaces and/or artists that impressed you. Include a link to your site in your note, with an invitation to join your mailing list.
What are you doing to prepare for Art Basel Miami Beach 2013?
