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Fair Price There’s Plenty to See at Art Basel Miami Beach and Attendant Fairs, but What If You Actually Want to Buy Something?
By Samantha Smith
As one of the galleries that will be presenting shows during Art Basel Miami Beach, Art Center/South Florida held an informal seminar a full month ahead of the big affair detailing all that Art Basel Miami Beach, which runs from Thursday through Sunday, has to offer, including the numerous smaller fairs piggybacking on the giant happening.
Basically a how-to for art fair novices with representatives from those various fairs ready and eager to field questions, a popular topic of conversation at the discussion turned out to be pricing art. Carol Damian, an art professor and chair of the visual arts program at Florida International University, moderated, asking panelists how someone unfamiliar with the art market can go about buying art. Tim Fleming is the director of Photo Miami, which is organized by Artfairs Inc., the host of similar fairs in Los Angeles and New York. He suggested the Web site artnet.com for potential buyers. “It’s a great site and you can really learn a lot about fair pricing.”
“Payment plans are not unheard of [when buying art],” Brian Heller, a representative of Miami Art Museum, said to the apparent surprise of many in the audience. The panel was not shy on advice about purchasing pieces: “Talk to the [art] dealers; that’s what they are there for!” Heather Hubbs, one of the organizers of the NADA Art Fair, exclaimed. She went on to say, “The most important factor when buying a piece is that it really speaks to you.”
Many audience members expressed concern about finding time to visit all of the fairs and, moreover, all of the various art stalls within each fair. “There are going to be literally thousands of pieces of art on display simultaneously. How does one get to everything?” Damian asked. Short answer: You can’t. “You have to prioritize; you can’t possibly do everything,” Heller said. “Do your homework first and figure out what fairs or exhibits you just can’t miss.”
The art fairs, which span Miami Beach, the Design District and Wynwood, are expected to draw local, national and international art lovers. While Art Basel takes place at the Miami Beach Convention Center, many of the smaller fairs have opted to move inland. Hubshman, -scope Miami’s founder and president, is excited about being located in the new 40,000-square-foot pavilion in Roberto Clemente Park, the heart of Wynwood. “It is great to be in a community where we can really make an impact, not only through art but also financially,” Hubshman said. Once forlorn and downright scary, Wynwood, while still dilapidated, has received a boost from the many artists and galleries who now call the neighborhood home. Some even refer to Wynwood as the new Greenwich Village.
With all that’s being offered this week, the only question left is, where do I park and, of course, how much will it cost me?
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