2008 has been a very wild ride for all of us. For me it was an incredible year professionally and a tragic year personally. I am praying and expecting 2009 to be an even better year professionally without the person drama and tragedy (at least that's my request of the G to da O to da D).

Make sure you tell all ya friends about Urban Pop Life and check in with me regularly. There'll be tons of great new content and features, artist profiles, exhibit and event information, original videos, films and artwork and of course up to date news about upcoming product launches and entertainment ventures.

Enjoy the rest of 2008 and keep ya head held high, recession or not we're all in this together and together we'll make a bright new year.

Rick

For my info on me visit my official website
www.rickyday.net

Posted by rickyday at 06:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I have been here for a few days and Chicago is being it's normal icy, cold, slippery, dark, snowny, miserable self. I've been trapped indoors due to foul weather and of course my worrying Mother would prefer I not brave the elements (the roads are slippery, there's too much snow and they haven't cleaned the roads, etc. etc.)

All I have been able to do is sleep, eat, watch TV, eat, sleep, watch TV (and remember I generally HATE television especially mindless ass reality TV!!!), eat, sleep and do it all again and again. GEEZ...HOW DO PEOPLE LIVE LIKE THIS? If I lived here and wasn't blessed with a high metabolism I'm sure I'd gain 30 pounds in one winter!!!!

After this experience I promise I will not judge anyone's weight gain again(LOL). (Not that I typically do judge it anyway)

When I get back to NYC I am gonna walk circles around my dirty ass block until I'm too tired to continue, just because I will be FREE to WALK without fear of slipping on a sheet of ice and hurting myself. OMG...the sedentary life is NOT FOR ME!!!!!

On a higher note though, I am enjoying the time spent with my Moms. It feels good to know that my being here is helping to keep her happy and keep her mind off the loss of her husband, baby brother and mother in the last 18 months. Being here for her is the least I can do after all that she has done for me. So I am thankful that I have the means to be here with her.

To each of you, enjoy the rest of your holiday season.

Ok, that's her calling me now warning me that it is foggy outside..lol. Mothers, you gotta love 'em. I know I love mine.

For my info on me visit my official website
www.rickyday.net

Posted by rickyday at 06:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm on my way to Chicago for a cold...COLD Christmas with my Mom. I'm not sure if I will be able to blog while I am away so I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy and safe holiday season.

For my info on me visit my official website
www.rickyday.net

Posted by rickyday at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I am sorry to report that due to the weather the field trip to Rush Arts is postponed until a later date.

Sorry for the last minute change, but you know Mother Nature likes to run things.

Ricky

Posted by rickyday at 11:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm going to brave the ice, snow and cold and spend Christmas in Chicago. It's the first Christmas without my grandmother and Uncle for my Mother and I so you know I had to be there for her. While in town of course I'm going to check out some art. One of my stops will be the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA).

Now on View
The Museum of Contemporary Art Collection has outstanding examples of visual art from 1945 to the present with a strong focus on surrealism, minimalism, conceptual photography, and work by Chicago-based artists. These highlights from the 2,345 objects in the collection are arranged alphabetically by artist’s last name and range in media from painting, sculpture, and photography to installation and video. Each object is accompanied by an image and a short description. Although not represented here, the MCA also has nearly 2,500 examples in its collection of artists’ books.

Only a small percentage of collection works are on view at any given time and may be found in any of the museum spaces. These works are often used to create rotating thematic exhibitions.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is located at 220 East Chicago Avenue, just one block east of Michigan Avenue, in the heart of the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago.

General Telephone: 312.280.2660
Box Office Telephone: 312.397.4010
Admission Prices
Suggested General Admission $10
Students with ID and Senior Citizens $ 6
MCA Members and Children 12 and under, members of the military Free
Tuesdays - FREE Courtesy of TARGET

For my info on me visit my official website
www.rickyday.net

Posted by rickyday at 09:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

UPDATE: We realize that you have many options this evening and therefore, we are asking that people donate whatever they can at the event... We hope to see you all this evening.

www.PopUpCharity.org
Presents

FASHION for FOOD
on
Thursday, December 18th, 2008
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
at
The National Arts Club
15 Gramercy Park South, NYC

The Board of Governors, the President and the recently formed Contemporary Art Department of the National Arts Club invite you to a special cocktail reception to respond to the immediate need of hunger in New York and provide relief for the holidays.

Experimental Art Performances include:

MTV’s The Shop – Master Barber Turbo Teddy supplying art haircuts
SANTALOPE! Performance Intervention by Andrew Erdos
Art Performance by Dynasty Handbag
Curated by National Arts Club Chief Curator Contemporary Art, Stacy Engman

Fashion and art join together for an amazing awareness and fundraising evening to assist the FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY in their noble efforts during this difficult holiday season. Representatives from the Food Bank For NYC will be on hand to inform attendees how they can assist in ending food poverty in New York City. Food Bank of NYC supporters includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Helena Christensen, Kevin Bacon, Stephen Colbert, and many other prominent figures. There will also be a special fashion presentation by New York’s top Fashion Designers.

The evening will be filled with surprise "Pop-Up-Celebrity-Guests" from the worlds of fashion, art, food, and entertainment...

Includes admission to after party at
Citrine
59 West 21st Street, NYC
10:00 p.m. – until
rsvp@PopUpCharity.org

Posted by rickyday at 02:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Yesterday I took an afternoon trip to the Lower East Side of Manhattan (LES). The neighborhood has a ton of history and has recently undergone yet another transformation. While it hasn't surpassed Chelsea as the center of the New York art universe, it is well on it's way.

There are a ton of new galleries in the area showing great work. When you combine this with the great vibe of the neighborhood (yes it still actually feels like a real place), it makes for the kind of neighborhood you actually want to spend an afternoon wandering through. There's real people doing real work, there are restaurants, shops, schools, residences and of course galleries.

Of the nearly 8-9 galleries I managed to visit in my travels (there are many more) the shows and atmosphere in 3-4 of them really stood out for me. My favorite stop yesterday was Collette Blanchard Gallery. I met Collette briefly at a party during Art Basel Miami Beach and she was as friendly yesterday as she was in Miami. The space is a beautiful, well lit two floor space complete with an outdoor patio in the rear. There's tons of natural light flooding the main gallery which is my favorite type of lighting. The on-going show is AARON HOBSON Cinemascapes: Close Quarter Panoramics. Open Ended Narratives. It's a solo exhibition of Aaron Hobson's recent panoramic photographs. The ten photographs span the past three years of the artist's work and will be on view from November 13 through December 31, 2008.

I also enjoyed my visits to Lehmann Maupin which presented a great show of works by the Japaneese artist Mr. He is one of several artists represented by Takshi Murakami's Kai Kai Ki Ki company. I also enjoyed DCKT Contemporary and Sunday L.E.S. and of course don't forget about The New Museum located at 235 Bowery, New York, NY 10002 (212.219.1222). It serves as the anchor for the new gallery scene and more than holds it's own as one of New York's iconic art institutions.

Collette Blanchard Gallery
26 Clinton Street
New York, NY 10002
917.639.3912
Wednesday - Sunday, 12-6
http://www.colletteblanchard.com/

New Museum
235 Bowery
New York, NY 10002
212.219.1222
http://www.newmuseum.org/

Sunday
237 Eldridge Street
South Storefront
New York, NY
10002 USA
http://www.sundaynyc.com/index.html

DCKT Contemporary
Dennis Christie & Ken Tyburski
195 Bowery, ground floor
New York, NY 10002
Phone: 212.741.9955
http://www.dcktcontemporary.com/

Lehmann Maupin (Bowery)
201 Chrystie Street
New York, New York
http://www.lehmannmaupin.com/

For my info on me visit my official website
www.rickyday.net

Posted by rickyday at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Red" 36" x 48" acrylic on canvas

For those of you who expressed an interest in this weekend's field trip here's the details. We're going to visit Rush Arts Gallery this Saturday. We will meet at 1:45PM (sharp) at BBQ's on 23rd street and 8th Avenue. From there we'll walk over to visit Rush Arts. Afterward anyone who wants to can grab lunch with us at a nearby eatery.

This should be a nice afternoon of culture, camaraderie and affordable cuisine.

"White Lies, Black Noise"
FREE ADMISSION
at Rush Arts Gallery at 526 W 26th Street 3rd Floor
(between 10th & 11th Avenues)
Viewing until January 24th, 2008
Call Rush Arts at: 212.691.9552 for opening hours and other info.

Posted by rickyday at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here's the final installment in the four part Prince proteges flashbacks. Enjoy.

Jesse Johnson

I Wanna Be Your Man

Wendy and Lisa

Sideshow

Taja Seville

Love is Contagious

Posted by rickyday at 01:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

More Prince proteges for you...peep these.

Jill Jones

Mia Bocca

Vanity 6

Drive Me Wild

Posted by rickyday at 01:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I have assisted a couple of notable fashion photographers over the past year. While working on such a shoot I was asked to stand in so he could adjust the lighting. While I was doing my job he snapped this image of me. This image has not been retouched or anything and as you know I am NO SPRING CHICKEN...lol. I am far from perfect and in today's glamorous times the temptation would be to retouch and enhance this image to death. But my friend who sent it to me and I both share the same sentiment..it IS WHO I AM...and I embrace and even love it!

The point of sharing this with you is to demonstrate the power of being captured and shown in great light. Great lighting makes everything look better because it captures the spirit of what is essentially true. This is true for photos, but it is also a philosophical and social reality. You should always do your best to live and think in the best light possible. It makes all your flaws just another element in the essence of who you are and allows your imperfections to humanize you.

Be the best you that you can be, be loving, be thoughtful, be human. This is the greatest light and it always makes for a great picture.

Posted by rickyday at 02:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Eternal Bachelor had a holiday party and sale last night and it was a great evening of fashion, food and fun. Here are a few pics from the event.

Posted by rickyday at 01:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

She showed him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Here's the next set of Prince protege video flashbacks. Enjoy.

Mazarati

100 MPH

Players Ball

Sheen Easton

Sugar Walls

Posted by rickyday at 01:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Check out the new Eternal Bachelor winter campaign shot by yourz truly. Fohat Aird is the designer and the models are all fresh faces with the exception of Anthony who was a successful commercial model who's coming back to rock the catalouges and newspapers once again.

Enjoy and if you see something you like by all means go to the website and pick up a Christmas gift for that special someone. All tee shirts are recession priced as well. Tell 'em you heard about it on Urban Pop Life.

www.eternalbachelor.com

Posted by rickyday at 12:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There's this cool ass tee shirt line called Eternal Bachelor created by an old friend of mine Fohat Aird. Earlier this year I shot images for the website (www.eternalbachelor.com). A few days ago I shot a new set of images for their winter campaign called Put A Little Color into Your Winter. The shoot was a lot of fun and we used fresh unsigned faces for the models.

Peep the ads and keep ya eyes open for more images and product from Eternal Bachelor coming soon. This Monday, December 15, 2008 come out and celebrate the holidays at the ETERNAL BACHELOR Holiday Truck Show Party.The party is hosted by R&B’s Best Kept Secret TL CROSS.

Join the designer Fohat Aird, of this trendy new male clothing line, and pick up some great gifts at the Sample Sale of limited edition Tee’s as they clear out inventory in preparation for the Spring ’09 Eternal Bachelor Line.

Happy Hour Specials all night long

6 to 10PM

Alibi Lounge
116 MacDougal St.
Btwn Bleeker and 3rd
1 block from West 4th

Complimentary Horderves 6-7
NO COVER ALL NIGHT

Posted by rickyday at 11:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I just finished a shoot for the winter campaign for Eternal Bachelor. I am now officially on vacation. I plan to read, take long walks, see my Moms for Xmas, think about next year and thank God for all that I have. I do plan to blog away so don't fear...LOL. Here's to some much needed rest. Enjoy your weekend and make sure you Pop everyday.

Posted by rickyday at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My friend Malcolm Harris has put together a great event to help raise funds for local food banks. As you may or may not know food banks around the country have been affected by the global economic crisis and a number of food banks are on the verge of disappearing completely. There is no excuse for anyone to be hungry in the richest country on earth. So please do what you can to help.

The fashion and food industries join together for an amazing awareness and fundraiser to assist the Food Bank of New York City in their noble efforts during this holiday season. Food Bank of NYC supporters include Gwyneth Paltrow, Helena Christensen, Kevin Bacon, Stephen Colbert, any many other prominent figures. We will have representatives from the Food Bank of NYC to inform attendees how they can assist in ending food poverty in New York City as well as help to spread the word. There will be a fashion presentation by New York’s top Fashion Designers.

Event Info

Fashion For Food Network

Fundraiser

Thursday, December 18, 2008

8:00pm - 11:00pm

CITRINE

59 West 21st Street

East New York, NY

Tickets cost $50.00. To purchase tickets click on the link below.

Fashion-for-Food

Posted by rickyday at 05:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Kalup Linzy (born July 23, 1977) is an American video and performance artist currently living and working in Brooklyn.
Born in Stuckey, Florida, Linzy graduated from the MFA program at the University of South Florida in 2003. He also attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture video art workshop, and in 2005 received a grant from the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation. Recently, he was named a Guggenheim fellow for 2007-2008.

Linzy's best known work is a series of video art pieces satirizing the tone and narrative approach of television soap opera.[citation needed] Linzy performs most of the characters himself, many of them in drag.
Linzy also performs on stage using many of the same characters.
His work has been reviewed in The New York Times [2], Art in America, and Artforum.

Exhibitions

Solo
Le Petit Versailles, East Village, NY (2004).
Kalup Linzy and Charles Nelson, Romo Gallery, Atlanta, GA (2005)
All My Churen, LAXART, Los Angeles, CA (2006)
Kalup Linzy, P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, New York (2006)
Taxter & Spengemann, New York (2006)

Group
Sunday in the Arts, Scarfone/Hartley Gallery, Tampa, FL (2002).
All Together Now, Rush Arts Gallery, New York, NY (2003)
Faith, Champion Fine Art, Culver City, CA (2004)
Mommy! I'm! Not! An! Animal!, Capsule Gallery, New York, NY (2004)
African Queen, Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, NY (2005)
Frequency, Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, NY (2005)
Do You Think I'm Disco, Longwood Art Gallery, Bronx, NY (2006)
Masquerade: Representation and the Self in Contemporary Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia (2006)
Black Alphabet, Zacheta National Gallery of Art, Warsaw, Poland (2006)
Empathetic, Temple Gallery, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA (2006)
AFI FEST 2006, Los Angeles, CA
Vocal Verbal, Studentski Center, Zegreb, Croatia (2007)
Uncertain States of America - American Video Art in the 3rd Millennium, Moscow Biennial, Moscow, Russia (2007)
Spotlight Film and Video Series, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Madison, Wisconsin (2007)
Prospect.1 New Orleans (2008)

http://www.kaluplinzy.net/

Posted by rickyday at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As you all know I recently returned from a great trip to Miami for Art Basel. In addition to being a lot of fun and an opportunity to see great art it was also an opportunity to interact with some of the world's most talented artists. During the weekend I met an incredibly talented performance and video artist named Kalup Linzy. I am embarrassed to admit that I had seen very little of Kalup works before I set foot in the "30 Americans" show at the Rubell Family Collection. When I wandered into the video gallery I had no idea what to expect. His work is entertaining and HYSTERICAL!

Since Miami I've had the pleasure of speaking with Kalup a few times and recently we had one of my "Urban Pop Conversations." Take a few minutes to read the conversation, check out Kalups bio and a few samples of his work. I'm pretty sure you will find it as entertaining, engaging and thought provoking as I did.

Here it is in it's entirety.

Ricky
Hey Kalup thanks for having this little chat with me.
How are you?

Kalup
I'm good

Ricky
So tell my readers a little about yourself...where are you from?

Kalup
I'm from a small rural community in Florida called Stuckey. I attended college at the University of South Florida where I earned a BA and a MFA in Studio Art.

Ricky
Where in Florida is Stuckey? North of Miami?

Kalup
Yes. Central Florida. It's located between Tampa and Orlando.

Ricky
How large of a city is it?

Kalup
Maybe a mile or two long. Not sure of the width. Less than 500 people. Way less. It's a settlement. Not really a town. Very close-knit.

Ricky
What was it like growing up in a small town? Did you long for the big city or was it a great experience growing up in a small town?

Kalup
We (kids from Stuckey), depended on our imaginations alot. When it was boring, it was boring. But there were times when it was so much fun. And that fun often stemmed from the relationships you had with those around you.

Ricky
So tell my readers a little bit about what you do

Kalup
I am a video and performance artist. Early in my life, I had dreams of being a musician, an actor, filmmaker, and so on. By the time I finished grad school, I had evolved into a video and performance artist.

Ricky
For the layman describe what a performance artist is and what you do

Kalup
In the majority of my video work, I pre-record or overdubbed all the dialogue using my voice, which i then manipulate. I play the lead characters and my friends take on the supporting roles. There are a few videos in which i decided not to do the overdubbed thing because i was unsure of how my work was resonating with people.

Ricky
At what age did you start wanting to be a performer?

Kalup
I was performing since i could remember. 4 or 5. It was always my second nature.

Ricky
That seems to be the case with most performers...when did you decide to pursue fine art performance in lieu of being a pop star or movie actor?
Actually that was an assumption, maybe you haven't made that choice at all...lol

Kalup
I was in Mass Communications in undergrad and it was suggested I go over to the fine arts department. the advisor suggested florida state film school. I stayed there and because things shifted to digital, I have been able to carve out a place for myself. Mainly because of the shift in the art world and the industry. My work has been said to fall somewhere in between. However, my base is the artworld. But I have relationships with people in both the film and music industries.

Ricky
You perform in drag why did you make that particular choice? Waht does it bring to your work?

Kalup
I like to explore ideas surrounding gender roles and identity. I have always been in touch with my feminine and masculine side. In this exploration, things can get a little confusion. But because I use the structures of the soap opera and music videos people stay along for the ride. It is also intended to spark conversations. Especially those that deal with the construction of identity. A conversation that was started by artist before me. My work continues that tradition.

Ricky
How has the south influenced your work?

Kalup
Language and debates around it. Some of my characters speak in a dialect that is specific to my hometown and others speak in what we consider to be standard English. They all have a southern accent, which I haven't been able to shred. Most actors used to be told to get rid of their accents or learn how not to use it when they act, which i totally get. However, I decided to create video and performance work in which i could continue to embrace that part of me.

Ricky
Your bio says you are gay, I assume this is the case…__When did you realize you were different from the other boyz?_

Kalup
I knew I was gay early in childhood, but waited until my late teens to really acknowledge it. If I would have turned out Bi, I probably would have never publicly addressed it.

Ricky
I hear you...are you at peace with your sexuality now or is something that you're working out in your work?

Kalup
I am definitely still working through some stuff. And I often explore those issues through my work. I am more at peace than i was before.

Ricky
Is your family supportive of you and your work?

Kalup
Yes. We don't really get into it too deep. Some YouTube clips they enjoy more than others, but for the most part they haven't seen the pieces in their entirety. And for some, they are not apart of the audience that would appreciate the type of work i do. So it's really all good.

Ricky

Do you include other types of expression in your art practice?

Kalup
Other than video and performance, I create works on paper which include drawings and prints.

Ricky

What are some of your favorite characters you’ve created? Give me the top three and why?

Kalup
That's a difficult one. I would say...
Wow... give me a moment

Ricky

LOL...

I knew it would be hard, but I'm curious

Kalup
Taiwan, because i get to explore my musical side. write songs and perfprm them. Katonya, who I use to create the drawings that sell faster than the videos themselves. And Labisha, because she was one of the first I performed live and she tends to be the most outspoken and can say almost anything. I love all the my characters. Even the one i don't actually portray.

Ricky

You wanna tell us more about the one you don't portray?

Kalup
sure. I love the character Matissa from Play wit de Churen. As well as Grace Jackson from Melody Set Me Free.

Ricky

What did you like most about art school?

Kalup
The freedom, but I still had to learn how to defend my work. I realized how great school was once it was over, but in it, I didn't have the easiest time.

Ricky

Do you think all artists should attend art school?

Kalup
No. It's not necessary for everyone. It really depends on what your needs are at a particular time in your life. For me introduce me to new people to support my career and focus. But it didn't give me my natural talents. Some artists don't practice art once school is over.

Ricky

2 or 3 more questions and we're done man...Who are some of your most important influences?

Kalup
Soap Operas, The Black Male Body by Thelma Golden, John Waters, Black Comedians (In Living Color/Def Comedy Jam), Spike Lee, and soul music from the 60s and 70s.

Ricky

To wrap this up imma do a rapid fire sorta thing...just answer with the first thing that comes to mind…u ready?

Kalup
yes

Ricky

Quick answers Kalup..imma put u on blast if u cheat…LOL

Kalup
okay

Ricky

chocolate or vanilla?

Kalup
chocalate

Ricky

up or down?

Kalup
up

Ricky

top or bottom?

Kalup
tricky.

Ricky

hmmm huh …LOL / video or radio?

lol

u're cheatin Kalup

Kalup
Video…and i'm not cheating...lol

Ricky

top or bottom?

Kalup

i do multiple things on top

Ricky

LOL…imma leave that alone

New York or LA?

Kalup
seriously
New York

Ricky

Hip hop or R&B?

Kalup
R&B

Ricky

Young and The Restless or All MY Children?

Kalup
Young and the Restless

Ricky

favorite ice cream?

Kalup
butter pecan

Ricky

favorite artist?

Kalup
whitney houston

Ricky

and where do you want to see your career five years from now?

Kalup
feature film completed, more museum shows, and tv series

Ricky

Kalup I really appreciate you taking the time to speak with me

Kalup
thanks for inviting me

Ricky

We had a lil convo about my portrait project This is The Life...I wanna get you on record you're gonna pose for it right?

LOL..no pressure

Kalup
yes

Ricky

Well have a great day and make sure you tell all your friends to check out the blog man. As we discussed I think it's up to people like you and me to share fine art with as many people as possible

www.UrbanPopLife.net

Kalup
will do

Ricky

Have a great weekend.

Kalup
You too.

Posted by rickyday at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Prince is clearly a musical icon and will be remembered for all time. However, there is another great contribution that he made that I wanna remind you of and share...his so called proteges. A man as talented as Prince had too many ideas for his mind, body and creative soul to hold. As a result he often combined forces with other talented musicians to create side projects and/or to produce albums of great (and sometimes not so great) music under other names and for other artists. In addition to projects he was directly involved in, Prince opened the doors for a whole slew of artists from Minneapolis to emerge unto the music scene and do their thing. Next week I'm going to share videos and memories of several of these artists. Here's a taste of what's to come.

Sheila E.

Love Bizzare

The Family

Screams Of Passion

Posted by rickyday at 12:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well I left the sun, surf and art of Miami to return to the cold, dark night called winter in New York. My second consecutive visit to Miami for Art Basel was everything I wanted it to be and more!

I met new friends, did plenty of networking, saw lots of great art, hung out with some incredible artists, curators, collectors and characters from all over the world. You can easily forget how big and diverse the world is when you spend too much time in one place. Art Basel Miami Beach is a reminder of how big, diverse, entertaining and colorful the world really is.

Regrettably I don't have a ton of photos for you because most of the fairs didn't allow cameras or I simply didn't feel like dragging a camera around. Also, some of the events I attended like private parties were hardly places for cameras so I left mine at my Miami home.

Thursday was a great day. I relaxed a bit, had a nice brunch at Balans on Lincoln Road and then went to Photo Miami (which was probably my favorite fair of them all this year). The highlight of that event was seeing Charles Guice's booth. He is the dealer for one of my favorite artists and associate Hank Willis Thomas (more on Hank in an upcoming artist profile). The booth was a solo presentation of Hanks' "Un-Branded" series which sold extremely well all weekend. I am very happy for Charles and Hank. They are both great guys who are among the first people in the art world to be kind to me and offer words of encouragement. My long time homey and rep Jarvis DuBois arrived late Thursday.

Friday Jarvis and I took in the Photo Miami (2nd time for me), Scope and Art Miami fairs. After a nice dinner at Nexxt on Lincoln Road we met up with our friend and super talented artist Iona Rozell Brown and went to Russell Simmons and Mickalene Thomas' hot little party at the Mondrian. That party was off the chain. It was a who's who of the movers and shakers in contemporary art. Though it was a very diverse crowd, it was also the biggest concentration of successful African-Americans in fine art I have been at since the Kehinde Wiley opening at the Studio Museum. As I honestly admit, I am a new face in this world and sorta like a freshman on campus. As such you can imagine how nice it felt when Mickalene Thomas' assistant Jordan Buschur recognized me because she reads this blog. (Special shout out to Mickalene and Jordan I really appreciate the kind words and your welcoming me).

After the party Jarvis and I got a late night snack at a Diner and did a 10 minute walkthru of one of the clubs on Washington Avenue before we each got some much needed rest.

Saturday Jarvis and I went to see "30 Americans" at The Rubell Family Collection which was incredible! There'll be a separate post about this show featuring African-American artists a little later. Then we hopped a shuttle back to South Beach to peep the "main fair" ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH. The show was good and of course it has to be when the biggest galleries in the world are showing their superstar artists, but it wasn't my favorite. We did get to stop and see friends and associates like Jack Shainman, stop in to see great booths like Dietch Projects where I met Nicola (who is incredibly talented, supremely beautiful and with whom I share a mutual friend in (clothing designer Malcolm Harris). After a quick change, we hopped BACK ON THE DAMN SHUTTLE (lol) and went to the Rush Arts reception for their show on display in Miami's design district.

As if all that art wasn't enough, I had to hit the streets too and I caught up with my people in Miami and hit up a night club as well.

On Sunday, Jarvis caught a flight back to DC and I spent the day hanging with another friend as I returned to Photo Miami to pick up my copy of Jessica Backhaus's new photo book called "What Still Remains" and made a brief visit to the Pulse and Gensai art fairs.

The weekend ended with my safe return to the confines of the cold, dark and crowded city that I love so much. I'm energized, excited and ready to return to work on my current projects and elevate my art practice still higher.

FYI - All the images found in this post are from work by African-American artists featured in the "30 Americans" show at the Rubell Family Collection in Miami.
http://www.30americans.com/

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My friends at Rush Arts had a major presence at Art Basel Miami. First there was Freeze Frame on display at 4141 NE 2nd Avenue in a great little space that allowed them to put up a very nice show. Nico Wheadon the assistant curator at Rush curated the show. Freeze Frame presented a collection of video still prints by thirty international artists working in narrative, non-narrative, experimental and documentary video. Independent of it's original context a video still may convey the fragmented representation of a grander narrative, exploration or event where subjects and objects are inert, awaiting the progression of temporality. In basic terms for those of you bored with art world speak, essentially when you take still images from a video and view them out of context the images can be perceived in many different ways Freeze Frame embraces the immense possibilities this presents.

Saturday night Michael Cabrera and Max Pierre hosted a closing night reception which included performances. There was a second show called Satellite at Scope Miami. Satellite was a curatorial project that expenaded upon the conceptual framework of Freeze Frame and further deconstructed the visual narrative into it's constituent parts to test the durability of durational structures.

I've included some pictures from the reception on Saturday night.

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I wanna take a few sentences and words to shout out and thank some very talented, kind and essentially cool people, for making Art Basel 2008 a great event for me. I also wanna thank some people for making my entrance into the art world a pleasant one thus far.

Jarvis DuBois - You're a great young dealer and an even better friend. What a weekend.

Iona Rozeal Brown - You are the BEST! TALENTED - SINCERE - REAL!!!!!! Getting to know ya has been great so far and chilling in Miami was great. I'm looking forward to seeing you on your next visit to New York. Continued success to my new sister.

Mickalene Thomas and Jordan Buschur - Thanks for being kind, reading the blog and letting me into that great party at the Mondrian. Mickalene your work is beautiful as are you and Jordan is a great representative for you when you're not around. She's polite, professional and pretty damn cool too.

Hank Willis Thomas and Deborah Willis - As I said to Miss Willis in person (sorry it just doesn't feel right calling you Deborah...lol), thank you both for being the first people in the art community to welcome me with kind words and open arms. You are both professional, generous and kind. I know this sounds all formal and stuff, but I think it's a good idea to let people know that they are appreciated.

Derrick Adams and Nico Wheadon - Thanks for selecting me for White Lies:Black Noise and supporting my work. It's been great working with you both and I look forward to a great on-going relationship. Great show in Miami as well as here in New York.

Kalup Linzy - You are supremely talented and frickin hysterial. I look forward to working with you in the future and enjoying your work for years to come bro.

Wardell Milan - Love your work as you already know. Can't wait to see more. Still have your issue of Bleu for you man. Your interview was great and your artwork pops in print as much as it does in a gallery. It was fun hangin with ya again.

Charles Guice - Thanks for the great conversation and insight on collecting. My first Hank Willis Thomas purchase will come from you. Congrats on a great weekend.

Special shouts to other people who made the weekend great Kehinde Wiley, Jack Shainman, Collette Blanchard, Jirard Von Washington, Booker (America's Next Top Male Model), Jarvis DuBois, Horace Brockington, Marisa Sage and anyone who I forgot to mention.

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Enjoy this piece of 80's Urban Pop.

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While in Miami for Art Basel I was fortunate enough to see a great new exhibit called "30 Americans."

The show features some of the greatest African-American artists of all time along side contemporary African-American artists who are already doing incredible work. All the work comes from the collection of the Rubell family. I enjoyed the show thoroughly. It gave me an opportunity to see great works I'd only seen in books and on Saturday a chance to actually hear a few of the artists speak during a series of artist talks with the Rubell family themselves. The featured artists include: Nina Chanel Abney, John Bankston, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Mark Bradford, Iona Rozeal Brown, Nick Cave, Robert Colescott, Noah Davis, Leonardo Drew, Mickalene Thomas, Kehinde Wiley, Carrie Mae Weems, Barkley L. Hendricks, Kalub Linzy, Hank Willis Thomas, Renee Green, David Hammons, Rashid Johnson, Glenn Ligon, Kerry James Marshall, Rodney McMillian, Wangechi Mutu, William Pope L., Gary Simmons, Xaviera SimmonsLorna Simpson, Shinique Smith, Jeff Sonhouse, Henry Taylor, Kara Walker, Pervis Young

The Rubell Family Collection (RFC) is one of the leading collections of contemporary art in the world. Started in 1964, soon after Don and Mera Rubell were married, the collecting group expanded some years later when their children Jason and Jennifer, then quite young, joined their parents in buying and collecting art. Recently Jason’s wife Michelle joined the collecting team alongside her husband. The family’s extensive collection of works dates from the 1960s to the present. You've got plenty of time to see the show because it is open until November 28, 2009.

Rubell Family Collection
95 NW 29th Street
Miami, Florida 33127
Phone: (305) 573-6090
Fax: (305) 573-6023
info@rfc.museum

You can get more infor on the show by visiting the official website. http://www.30americans.com/

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If you know me, then you know I am oddly democratic in my entertainment tastes. Sometimes it seems lkek I hate everything, then I am in love with the cheesiest stuff ever!!!! Bottom line is I work and play hard, but try not to take anything including myself too seriously, though this is not always an easy thing to do. Anyway, all this preamble exists so I can say IT'S HERE PEOPLE..THE NEW BRITNEY VIDEO FOR THE TITLE TRACK FROM HER NEW CD CIRCUS. ENJOY.

Britney Spears "Circus" -new music video

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Great art, great parties, new friends, lots of sunshine and a much needed break from NYC. I'm feeling very blessed today. Art Basel Miami has been so much more than I thought it would be this year. More details and cool pics to come. Enjoy your weekend wherever u are.

Rick

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Boy George and Culture Club are touchstones for 80's music and culture and the LGBT community worldwide. I'll be the first to admit I was confused as hell the first time he came across my television screen. Is this a man? Is this a girl? What da f*&K? LOL...

After awhile it simply didn't matter because I LOVED THE MUSIC! I don't feel da need to live in the past, but a little part of me misses the 80's.

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This blog is a lot of fun to do and has taken on a life of its own. However, it is simply a small part of my much more broad wild and wonderful world. Make sure to periodically check out my website (www.RickyDay.net) to see old and new work in painting, printmaking, digital media and photography. My online store is coming soon as well.

The website is also where you can find up to date information about upcoming exhibits and other special events. I wanna share my world, my art and my experiences with you, as well as introduce you to the world of fine art and Urban Pop culture as I live it.

Peace and be funky.

Ricky Day
www,RickyDay.net

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Miami Art Fairs / December 2008

If you're an art junkie, then print this out and use it as your guide because I am sure you are already down here or arriving shortly. If you're not, then this is sort of a window into the world of fine art. Fine art isn't on television everyday and it is not always the sexiest thing in the world, but it is HUGE! The art world is classy and sophisticated, but it is also shallow and ridiculous sometimes like all other industries. Bottom line is that it is what yo make of it, but ultimately there's lots of talent, lots of great work and lots of great ways to experience it. Sometimes buying and collecting things you love turns out to be a great investment by default.

Below is the rundown on all the fairs taking place in Miami right now. Print this out, plan your weekend and have a ball.

Art Basel Miami is here. In addition to the big fair located at the Miami Beach Convention Center, be sure to visit some of the other art fairs. Last year, the satellite fairs provided tremendous visual treats and museum quality works. Visit them and you'll see talented, established and emerging artists represented by top tier art galleries from around the world. Local museums and galleries are also planning special events and parties. If you're interested in visual art, the first week of December you should be in Miami.

Additional details about each art fair, including pictures from
last year, visit http://art-collecting.com/

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Art Basel Miami Beach
December 4-7, 2008
220 leading art galleries from around the world will be exhibiting 20th and 21st century art works by over 2000 artists. There are also numerous special exhibits and events organized by the fair. Some exhibitions and private openings occur on the December 3rd, be sure to check their website for additional details listed under visitor information.

http://www.artbaselmiamibeach.com/

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artASIA
December 4-7, 2008
Wynwood Art District, 3000 NE 1st Avenue, Miami
artASIA will inaugurate it’s first International Asian Contemporary Art Fair in 2008 from December 4-7 with a special preview on December 3rd. The fair will host 60-80 leading world galleries selected through an international selection committee and will further feature a strong program of talks, presentations and discussions by leading authorities in contemporary art – curators, artists, critics, notable collectors and other art specialists – concerning issues that matter in Asian contemporary art today.

http://www.artasiafair.com/

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Aqua Art Miami - Aqua Hotel
December 4-7, 2008
Aqua Hotel, 1530 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
This art fair features 44 galleries, with a strong representation of west coast dealers especially Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The hotel is a nice venue for both looking at art and enjoying the outdoors; all of the rooms face an outside courtyard. You'll also find several other hotel art fairs within walking distance, plan on spending a whole day looking at art fairs on Collins Avenue.

http://www.aquaartmiami.com/

Aqua Art Miami - Wynwood
December 3-7, 2008
Wynwood Art District, 42 NE 25th Street, Miami
50 galleries exhibiting contemporary art. This fair like the Aqua Hotel has a strong showing of west coast galleries. The fair is located in the Wynwood district not far from Pulse and will most likely be open during the evening of the Wynwood art walk.

http://www.aquaartmiami.com/

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Art Miami
December 3-7, 2008
Miami Midtown Arts District, located just north of downtown Miami along Biscayne Boulevard. Midtown Blvd (NE 1st Avenue) between NE 32nd & NE 31st Street.
More than 100 leading national and international galleries participated in the 2007 fair, which attracted more than 20,000 attendees. Plans are currently in progress for this year’s fair to include a designer VIP Lounge, a café offering delectable cuisine and beverages, ample parking, space for outdoor sculptures. Shuttle service will be available between select Miami Beach hotels, the Miami Beach Convention Center (Art Basel) and Art Miami.

http://www.art-miami.com/

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Art Now Fair
December 4-7, 2008
The South Seas Hotel, 1751 Collins Avenue, between 17th and 18th Streets, Miami Beach
This fair encourages participation from new and emerging galleries as well as established galleries new to the art fair scene. The South Seas offers a unique one of a kind oceanfront hotel location with access to the beach. Located close to several of the other art fairs, dining and bars on Collins Avenue including, the Bridge Art Fair, The Artist Fair, Ink and Aqua.

http://www.artnowfair.com/

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The Artist Fair
December 4-7, 2008
The Shelborne Hotel, 1801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
This fair was created as a resource for artists to exhibit during the prime Art Basel Miami Beach week. Most of the existing fairs cater only to galleries, leaving no opportunity for talented, successful and working artists to participate. The Artist Fair was created to fill this void and to allow professional artists to exhibit without gallery representation their paintings, photographs, mixed media and works on paper. The fair is also open to galleries who wish to exhibit a solo artist, curators and installation artists.

http://www.theartistfair.com/

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Bridge Miami Beach
December 4-7, 2008
Catalina and Maxine Hotels, 1732 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
This is the third year for Bridge Miami Beach, and they are conveniently located within a few blocks of Art Basel Miami and the convention center. Visitors can browse nearly 80 rooms of international emerging and contemporary art. Each Bridge Art Fair features an international focus, defined both by geography and culture, providing each show with its own distinctive curatorial premise. Shuttles will run between each Bridge Fair locations 12pm-10pm daily. Several other art fairs are within walking distance, including Art Basel Miami at the convention center, Art Now, Ink Miami, The Artist Fair, and Aqua Art Miami, plus hotel bars and restaurants on Collins Avenue.

http://www.bridgeartfair.com/

Bridge Miami Wynwood
December 3-7, 2008
NE 1st Avenue and NW 34th Street, Miami
Building on three highly successful years in Miami Beach, Bridge will host their inaugural Bridge Miami Wynwood. The fair will feature some of the best in international emerging art, presented in a modular, museum grade exhibition space, built on a 60,000 square foot development in Miami Midtown, immediately adjacent to Art Miami, Photo Miami, and centrally located between Scope, Pulse and Aqua. In addition to a spectacular booth fair, Bridge Miami Wynwood will also showcase an outdoor sculpture project. Shuttles will run between the Bridge Fair locations 12pm-10pm daily.

http://www.bridgeartfair.com/

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Design Miami
December 3-6, 2008
NE 39th Street and 1st Court, Miami
Inspired by the galvanizing effect of Art Basel Miami Beach, the founders of Design Miami/ set out to create a design fair unlike any other that came before. Design Miami/ is the global forum for collecting, exhibiting, discussing, and creating design. The Design Miami/ show includes the Design Galleries, Satellite Exhibitions, Design Talks, and the Designer of the Year Award.

http://www.designmiami.com/

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Full House PooL Art Fair
December 5-7, 2008
Cavalier Hotel, 1320 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
The simple, modest approach of the PooL Art Fair offers an exciting alternative to the "art fair" experience for dealers and collectors as well as the general public. PooL's purpose is to create a meeting ground for outstanding artists, primarily those artists who do not yet have gallery representation. The show will be comprised of young contemporary art dealers, artist agents, emerging galleries, artists' collectives, and non-profit organizations.

http://www.poolartfair.com/pool_miami_08/index.html

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GEISAI Miami
December, 2008
Wynwood Art District, 2136 NW 1st Avenue, Miami
On July 14th, we were told that Geisai Miami would be back for 2008. Six years since the first inception of GEISAI in Japan in the summer of 2001, this is the American debut of a fair that has been a launch pad into the art world for many emerging artists. Artist are selected by jury and not charged a fee. Last year the fair was hosted by the Pulse Art Fair and they were located in the same complex, no details about this year’s location but most likely the same.

http://www.geisai.us/

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INK Miami
December 4-7, 2008
Suites of Dorchester, 1850 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Thirteen notable publishers and dealers will exhibit new publications, projects and acquisitions by leading contemporary artists. If you're looking to purchase prints or works on paper, you should plan on attending this small art fair. It is located just a few blocks from the convention center and Art Basel Miami. Sponsored by the International Fine Print Dealers Association.

http://www.inkartfair.com/

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NADA ART FAIR MIAMI 2008
December 3-7, 2008
Ice Palace, 1400 N. Miami Avenue, Miami
Organized by New Art Dealers Alliance, in 2007 this fair featured eighty-one dealers and galleries showing contemporary artists from around the world. They also featured a section for small publishers and one of the best "Art T-Shirt" selections in Miami.

http://www.newartdealers.org/

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Photo Miami
December 3 - 7, 2008
Wynwood Art District, Miami (31st and North Miami Avenue)
This is primarily a contemporary photography art fair, showing photo based art, video and new media. Over 60 new and established galleries will present highly anticipated works many that will be seen in the U.S. for the first time. Photo MIAMI 2008 will also have a dedicated Solo Projects section. If you are looking to see the latest trends in photography check out this fair.

http://www.artfairsinc.com/

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Pulse Miami
December 3-7, 2008
Wynwood Art District, 2136 NW 1st Avenue, NW 21st Street, Miami
The fair will follow its successful invitational format, representing about 70 galleries invited by the Pulse Invitational Committee. They will be located in the same venue as last year and also have a shuttle service running to Art Basel. They usually have a wonderful preview party; if you have a chance to attend don't miss it. Shuttle service available.

http://www.pulse-art.com/

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Red Dot Fair
December 3-7, 2008
Wynwood Art District, Miami
Red Dot Miami's move to a booth-based event in a temporary structure will provide the exhibitors with a sophisticated, friendly environment, and ample space in which to build upon the engaging presentations and diverse styles that the fair has already established. Last year this art fair was hotel based. Approximately 60 galleries will be showing contemporary art.

http://www.reddotfair.com/

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Sculpt Miami
December 3 - 7, 2008
Wynwood Art District, 46 NW 36 Street, Miami
The fair is created to exhibit an outstanding sculpture collection by prominent modern artists from around the world (Jorge Blanco, John Berry, James Taylor, L’oriano Galloni, among many others). It focuses on the newest aesthetic tendencies in contemporary art, innovative techniques and the use of original materials. Sculpt Miami will be the only art space completely dedicated to showcasing contemporary sculptures, making it a vital source for art lovers who wish to discover the new developments in modern sculpturing. This is the first time in Miami.

http://www.sculptmiami.com/

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A surprise video preview - just press play

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Although I'm in South Beach doing the art thing, I'm also feelin real 80's this week. Keep ya eyes open for a series of 80's artists and 80's inspired videos. Here's the first hot entry and a full profile on Blondie.

This term I came up with "Urban Pop" is clearly not a black thing. It's more of a way to describe the kind of pop culture contributions born or nurtured in an urban landscape, particularly New York the Greatest City on Earth. The profile today definitely qualifies as an Urban Pop Icon, the band called Blondie. Deborah Harry and crew made amazing contributions to American music. As their Wikipedia bio and the attached videos will show, they were creative, funky and cutting edge. Check out one of my favorite artists Jean Michel Basquiat in the video for Rapture.

Enjoy.

Blondie is an American rock band that first gained fame in the late 1970s and has so far sold over 60 million records. The band was a pioneer in the early American new wave and punk rock scenes. Its first two albums contained strong elements of these genres, and although successful in the United Kingdom and Australia, Blondie was regarded as an underground band in the United States until the release of Parallel Lines in 1978. Over the next three years, the band achieved several hit singles and was noted for its eclectic mix of musical styles incorporating elements of disco, pop and reggae, while retaining a basic style as a new wave band.

Parallel Lines, Blondie's third album, was produced by Mike Chapman. Its first two singles were "Picture This" and "Hanging on the Telephone". "Heart of Glass" was their first U.S. hit. It was a reworking of a rock song that the group had performed since its formation, but updated with strong elements of disco music. Clem Burke later said the revamped version was inspired partly by Kraftwerk and partly by the Bee Gee's "Stayin' Alive", whose drum beat Burke tried to emulate. He and Stein gave Jimmy Destri much of the credit for the final result, noting that Destri's appreciation of technology had led him to introduce synthesizers and to rework the keyboard sections.

Although some members of the British music press condemned Blondie for "selling out", the song became a popular worldwide success. Selling more than one million copies and garnering major airplay, the single reached number one in many countries including the U.S., where, for the most part, Blondie had previously been considered an "underground" band. The song was accompanied by a music video that showcased Deborah Harry's hard-edged and playfully sexual persona, and she began to attain a celebrity status that set her apart from the other band members, who were largely ignored by the media.

Blondie's next single in the U.S. was a more aggressive rock song, "One Way or Another", and became their second hit single in the United States. Meanwhile in the UK, an alternate single choice, "Sunday Girl", became another number one smash.

Their fourth album, Eat to the Beat, was well received by critics as a suitable follow-up to Parallel Lines, but in the U.S. it failed to achieve the same level of success.[3] In the UK, the single "Atomic" reached number one, "Dreaming" number two, and "Union City Blue" was another top 20 hit, while in the U.S. their singles did not chart as strongly.

Deborah Harry worked with the Italian songwriter and producer Giorgio Moroder, who had been responsible for Donna Summer's biggest hits, and they composed the song "Call Me" for the soundtrack of the film American Gigolo. The song spent six weeks at number one in the U.S. and became a hit throughout the world. Their album Autoamerican was released later that year and contained two more worldwide hits, the reggae-styled "The Tide Is High" and the rap-flavored "Rapture", which was the first song containing elements of hip-hop and rap vocals to reach number one in the U.S. and helped introduce the then-underground rap genre to a larger audience. "Rapture" would be the band's only single to achieve a higher chart position on the U.S. charts than in the UK, where it peaked at number five. By the end 1980, Blondie was one of the hottest bands in the country and were international sensations.

Lead singer Deborah Harry achieved a level of celebrity that eclipsed other band members, leading to tension within the group. Following a poorly received album and with core member Chris Stein diagnosed with a potentially fatal disease, the group disbanded in 1982. As members pursued other projects, Blondie's reputation grew over the following decade and the group reformed in 1997, achieving renewed success and a number one single in the United Kingdom with "Maria" in 1999. The group toured and performed throughout the world over the following years, and was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the RockWalk of Fame in 2006.

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Ori Gersht - Blow Up #1, 2007 - Light jet print mounted on aluminum

PULSE Contemporary Art Fair is pleased to announce PULSE Miami 2008, which returns to Soho Studios in the Wynwood Art District to present its largest edition, with more than 100 national and international exhibitors. Taking place December 3-7, 2008, concurrent with Art Basel Miami Beach, PULSE will feature a range of new exhibitors, and its highest proportion of international exhibitors to date. PULSE’s critically acclaimed original programming will debut a series of panel discussions on the contemporary art market hosted by the Financial Times and CORE:, and host an expanded GEISAI Miami.

PULSE Miami 2008 is pleased to host the second edition of the acclaimed GEISAI Miami. Produced by Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd., the studio founded by Takashi Murakami, GEISAI Miami will provide a group of 20 artists the opportunity to present their work directly to the public in a professional art fair setting. In a special twist on last year’s fair, GEISAI Miami has also invited five award winners from past Japanese editions of the fair to exhibit in Miami.

Complimentary Shuttle Service
PULSE Miami is pleased to provide complimentary shuttle between PULSE Miami and The LOEWS Hotel at 1601 Collins Avenue (at 16th Street); Art Basel Miami Beach at The Miami Beach Convention Center (Please note that shuttles at the Convention Center will on the N W corner of 17th and Washington); NADA and Design Miami.

General Information:
PULSE Miami will take place Wednesday, December 3 - Sunday, December 7, 2008 at Soho Studios, 2136 NW 1st Avenue (entrance on NW 21st Street), Wynwood Art District, Miami.

About PULSE Contemporary Art Fair:
PULSE Contemporary Art Fair is held annually in New York and Miami and presents high-quality artworks in an environment that serves both seasoned and emerging collectors. The format is divided between a main section devoted to a select choice of international galleries, and the IMPULSE section featuring solo and two person exhibitions by emerging galleries invited by the Selection Committee. The Fair provides a friendly, highly selective and innovative context for all of its constituents.

For more information about PULSE Contemporary Art Fairs, please visit
http://www.pulse-art.com or call +1 (212) 255-2327

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Welcome

Waz goin on people? Sorry it's been awhile since I posted any new entries. I've been very busy with some semi-secret stuff that you're gonna love when I can share. I was also getting prepared for the trip I am on now. I am in South Beach for Art Basel Miami Beach. I will drop in all week to share images and more from this great weekend or art, parties and more art. Check out this post for an explanation of what Art Basel Miami Beach is. The crazy thing is that there are like 10 other art fairs going on at the same time. This city is FULL OF dealers, collectors, artists and hangers on from all over the world!

Art Basel Miami Beach takes place December 4 - 7, 2008.

Art Basel Miami Beach is the most important art show in the United States, a cultural and social highlight for the Americas. As the sister event of Switzerland's Art Basel, the most prestigious art show worldwide for the past 39 years, Art Basel Miami Beach combines an international selection of top galleries with an exciting program of special exhibitions, parties and crossover events featuring music, film, architecture and design. Exhibition sites are located in the city's beautiful Art Deco District, within walking distance of the beach and many hotels.

An exclusive selection of more than 250 leading art galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa will exhibit 20th and 21st century artworks by over 2,000 artists. The exhibiting galleries are among the world's most respected art dealers, offering exceptional pieces by both renowned artists and cutting-edge newcomers. Special exhibition sections feature young galleries, performance art, public art projects and video art. The show will be a vital source for art lovers, allowing them to both discover new developments in contemporary art and experience rare museum-calibre artworks.

Top-quality exhibitions in the museums of South Florida and special programs for art collectors and curators also help make the event a special time for encountering art. And every year, a greater number of art collectors, artists, dealers, curators, critics and art enthusiasts from around the world participate in Art Basel Miami Beach - the favorite winter meeting place for the international art world.

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The Panza Collection
October 23, 2008 to January 11, 2009
Count Giuseppe Panza di Biumo is one of the world's foremost collectors of American and European contemporary art. The Hirshhorn recently acquired thirty-nine works from Dr. Panza's collection, all of which are on view this fall. As a group, the pieces provide an overview of the critical premises driving Conceptual, Light and Space, Minimal, and Environmental art. Created in the late 1960s and early 1970s by an international roster of artists, the works shed light on an era when many artists began to reject traditional media and aesthetic concerns. Instead, they redefined art in a broader range, from Conceptual works that favored ideas over the creation of unique objects to large-scale installations that challenge prevalent notions about the boundaries between an artwork and the surrounding environment.

The Panza Collection features paintings, sculptures, installations, film, and wall drawings that attest to the remarkable diversity of artistic practices that flourished amidst a wide-ranging interrogation of the nature and meaning of art. These artists dismissed conventional concerns in favor of an avid engagement with ideas, processes, social and political issues, the body, and phenomenological experiences. The acquisition includes multiple works by Joseph Kosuth, Robert Irwin, Robert Barry, Hamish Fulton, and On Kawara, among others, which will enable the Museum to survey these individuals' most salient projects during a critical period in both their individual development and the trajectory of twentieth-century art.

Dr. Panza distinguished himself by his willingness to collect art that few museums or private collectors at the time were willing to acquire, such as Conceptual works that exist only as documentary certificates or room-sized installations that require vast storage space and significant resources to install. Now, as part of the Hirshhorn's collection, these works offer visitors new perspectives on the art of this pivotal historical moment, as well as the ways contemporary artists continue to both draw on and reconsider the ideas of previous generations. This exhibition is organized by Associate Curator Evelyn Hankins in association with Giuseppe Panza.

HOURS
Open daily except December 25
Museum: 10 am to 5:30 pm (EST)
Plaza: 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
Sculpture Garden: 7:30 am to dusk
Admission is free.
Information: 202-633-1000 or 202-633-5285 (TTY)
Street Address: Independence Avenue at Seventh Street SW

http://hirshhorn.si.edu/

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