sound off . . . art basel

Posted on by moderninkadmin

 

Art Basel: Miami (The Afterhours . . . )

Words & Photography by Elena Gorelik

 

 

Miami recently held its 10th Art Basel, a contemporary international art fair deemed the Olympics of the art world, with founding roots dating back to 1970 in the city of its namesake.

 

Everyone who is anyone in the art world makes the compulsory annual pilgrimage, if not in participation of Miami’s Basel, in opposition or perhaps in answer to it vis a vis other arguably more democratic competing art fairs, such as the New Art Dealer’s Alliance (NADA), to name but one.  The result is a cross-pollinating, albeit at times competing, mix of artists, art wheelers and dealers, and sundry hangers-on all gathered for the purpose of bringing new work into the hands of consumers . . .  or is the point really to party and rub shoulders with the who’s-who of the industry elite?  Regardless, the weekend is an irreverent good time―for it seems that where art goes, dance music, along with it some seriously professional partiers, seem to follow in the afterhours.

 

So here is a smattering of captures of the beloved traveling circus of DJs, party instigators and techno tourists doing what they do, in this case, with Miami’s Art Basel as both raison d’etre and convenient point of focus to gather and get the party started.  Shout out to Listed for their always immaculately vibe-curated events that have come to resemble distant family-reunions of freaky, fun-obsessed kin more than public proceedings with world-class musical talent.

 

Respect and homage to the Crosstown Rebels crew and hospitality of The Electric Pickle for yet another epic 17 hour Get Lost party where, well . . . we all seem to have lost ourselves in one way or another . . .  and big love to friends near and far for whom I remain unwilling to grow up and who inspire journeys―literal, figurative and cosmic.

 

(above: Clive Henry and one of the members of Droog)

(above: Damien Lazarus―founder of the Crosstown Rebels label)

(above: Atish, a resident DJ for Listed)

 

Click here to learn more about the upcoming Art Basel 2012.