MIAMI — Art Basel has officially arrived to South Florida as the main event for Miami Art Week.
It’s the biggest week of the year for art and culture in the city.
Planning what to do during Art Basel can be stressful because there is so much going on, and if you don’t want to pay crazy prices to experience it, Local 10 has got you covered!
Taking over Miami Beach is Faena Art’s glowing beach installation. It’s a massive 50-foot rotating bookshelf sculpture.
They will have daily reading experiences and artist talks.
Over in Wynwood, nine artists are creating brand-new murals live in front of your eyes inside the Wynwood Walls.
And this year’s theme hits deep—“Only Human.”
“What we really wanted to do is celebrate what makes art uniquely human. That’s lived experiences, trauma, joy, pain, global perspectives,” Nicole De Aguiar, director of marketing for the Wynwood Walls, said.
And that humanity shows up everywhere you look, like with stencil artist Joe Iurato painting his largest installation ever.
“We had a giant aluminum cut out made in the shape that I’m going to be painting, and then I had stencils created for it,” he said. “There are a few inspirations, but the main inspiration is a prose poem on how to live a simple life.”
And then there’s Ms. Birdie, whose fantasy-style mural is rooted in real loss.
“This piece is supposed to represent what grief feels like,” she explained while showing off her mural. “So I lost both of my parents over the years. I wanted to do an homage to what it feels like to try and give love and light to somebody that is no longer around.”
Over in Opa-locka, an official Art Basel partner, the Ten North Group, is transforming the neighborhood into a global arts campus with six exhibitions.
“We are bringing art to community, we are engaging neighbors who don’t get an opportunity to participate in Art Basel and we’re also bringing Basel to the neighborhood,” Ten North Group CEO Willie Logan said.
Their centerpiece — a three-container installation called Memories in Motion, reflects Africa, the Middle Passage, and the Americas, and it’s staying open through February.
“It’s free. We’re showing maybe 20 or so artists -- eight international,” Logan said.
And of course, it wouldn’t be Art Week without the parties.
Maxim is taking over Queen Miami Beach with DJ Ruckus and a high-glam runway moment. If you’re looking for the fashion crowd, that’s where they’ll be.
And speaking of fashion, Art Hearts Fashion is also running shows all weekend, from Kiki on the River to Habibi — so don’t be surprised if you walk into a restaurant and it suddenly turns into a runway.
Major Lazer is throwing a mixtape release block party at Coyo Taco in Wynwood and it all supports Hurricane Melissa relief in Jamaica.
If you’re looking for other Art Basel events to attend this weekend, click here.
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