Art Basel 2014: A Walk Through the Wynwood Arts District of Miami
If you don't know, now ya know: Wynwood Art District is the place to be in Miami, and not just for artists! It's a community of more than seventy art galleries, antique and retail shops, unique funky bars and restaurants, and an array of breathtaking street art said to be one of the world's largest outdoor "open-air" collections.
I remember years ago, when I first ventured into Wynwood, before it was the happenin' place to be… I was in my early teens, my aunt found a great thrift shop in the area and ended up convincing my mom to buy me a beautiful antique bedroom set there for $100! Bed frame, headboard, footboard, tallboy dresser, and a desk/vanity with mirror and chair for 100 beans. But I digress, I will talk about that place in detail some other day, unfortunately as the neighborhood's popularity grows, so do their prices. Yup, those were the good'ol days, back when not many knew about this gem, back when few frequented the lonesome charity antique shop or the Salvation Army up the street. The point is, those days of "venturing" into Wynwood are over. It was once a sketchy area, but things have come a long way in the last ten years.
I remember years ago, when I first ventured into Wynwood, before it was the happenin' place to be… I was in my early teens, my aunt found a great thrift shop in the area and ended up convincing my mom to buy me a beautiful antique bedroom set there for $100! Bed frame, headboard, footboard, tallboy dresser, and a desk/vanity with mirror and chair for 100 beans. But I digress, I will talk about that place in detail some other day, unfortunately as the neighborhood's popularity grows, so do their prices. Yup, those were the good'ol days, back when not many knew about this gem, back when few frequented the lonesome charity antique shop or the Salvation Army up the street. The point is, those days of "venturing" into Wynwood are over. It was once a sketchy area, but things have come a long way in the last ten years.
You see, gentrification got a hold of Wynwood a few years back and has yet to let go. It has been unfortunate for many of the longtime original residents - no longer able to afford living there, or at least no longer able to hold out to the financial charms of drooling developers. I mention this aspect of Wynwood because it's a reality that should be discussed, and since I have a degree in Sociology/Anthropology - why wouldn't I bring it up? Regretfully, gentrification is one of the inevitable negative repercussions of urban renewal and rapidly spreading development. However, the revival of this former warehouse and manufacturing district of Miami was much needed, and in turn has spurred extensive artistic growth within Miami. Formerly abandoned buildings, used and abused warehouses, and worn out factories have found new life through the emerging art community throughout the neighborhood.
Back in 2009, The Wynwood Arts District Association set out to improve the neighborhood, and today it is considered "...one of the largest and most prominent creative communities in the United States." (via About Wynwood Miami). Now, the abundance of used and abused warehouses, buildings, and factories in the area are the stars of a booming art and cultural nightlife scene with no end in sight. Numerous galleries, art complexes, restaurants, cafes, performing arts centers, and countless other creative businesses are storming the scene and transforming a once forgotten and rundown area of town into a vibrant and inspiring community of artists and entrepreneurs.
In the years since its rebirth, an Art Walk has been established - it takes place every second Saturday of the month. Additionally, in 2002 the well known Art Basel fair strolled in and took root, rapidly accelerating the growing popularity and global recognition of the Wynwood Arts District. Every year since then, Art Basel has gotten better and better, inspiring, evolving and flourishing within this talented community of artists, helping it become what it is today.
I attended Art Basel a handful of times in the past, mostly during the years when I worked in the Interior Design industry, and then a few years back to visit the gallery of a Dutch artist who I met through blogging. However, this past year was by far my best experience at Art Basel in Wynwood, it was exploding with talent in every direction. Not to mention, the colorful larger-than-life murals that cover the buildings lining each street are fascinating to behold - which I happen to like more than most of the art in the galleries! There's even a specific bike tour organized for this purpose - an ideal way to explore all the art throughout the district without so much walking.
Anywho, I'll quit my rambling so you can check out some of the galleries and art that I spotted during Art Basel 2014 in the Wynwood Arts District of Miami. Behold....
:)
Brace yourselves, this is some of the coolest most creative art that I spotted at Art Basel 2014:
The artist is named Peter Robinson-Smith and his collection is called Body Language:
The artist sculpts fine wire mesh into human figures… The detailed forms that he creates with the mesh are excellent on their own, but the true masterpiece is revealed when light is projected through the mesh and a shadow forms on the wall that is truly impressive!
Let me tell you, his art is absolutely captivating in person! Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to meet the artist, he wasn't there and the card table had run out of his business cards. Although, I Googled his name and found a great video on Youtube with an interview about his art.
Fantastic!
These sculptures were pretty neat! The shadow is a plus
Stay tuned, I'll be back with some more posts about the Wynwood Arts District, including a feature on Wynwood Walls, eclectic street murals, the rampant sidewalk stencil graffiti messages, and some of the cool bars and shops that I've visited so far. In the meantime, you might be interested in some of my past articles:
Art and Design
Garden
Fashion
Travel
About Inspire Bohemia
About Me
My Garden
My Travels
My Art
(All images in this article are the property of Inspire Bohemia and protected under copyright, please do not use without written permission.)