Strong attendance marks 13th edition of Art Miami - The scene

MIAMI -- Despite a lagging economy and the first appearance of Art Basel Miami Beach just single month earlier, the 13th edition of Art Miami was a succes according to fair organizers. Held at the Miami Beach Convention Center from Jan. 9 to 13 shut to 30,000 art aficionados came to this year's installment, matching 2002's record attendance figures.

"Fears about Art Basel taking away our audience were, in the extremity unfounded," stated Fair Director Ilana Vardy. "All things considered, dealers were pleased with sales. If anything, attendees looked galvanized by Miami's growing part on the international art sight and eager to be a part of the make a humming sound sparked by Art Basel. Fairgoers know Art Miami has been an established part of the visual arts view in Miami for 13 years and differs greatly from Art Basel, offering more affordable and accessible art, as well as works by means of emerging artists."

Collector/developer George Lindemann was quick to agree that the one and the other shows are important to Miami. "There are in the way that many collectors in Miami, and in like manner many people who want to be here in January that there is sweep for 20 art fairs," said Lindemann.

More than 160 galleries from 32 countries participated in the contemporary art fair, which was notable for the number of novel participants as well as the increased number of exhibitors showing glass, sculptural and ethnographic works. Prominent dealers including Berkeley Square Gallery (London), Marion Meyer (Paris), Jacob Karpio Gallery (Costa Pica), Santa Giustina Gallery (Lucca, Italy) and Cernuda Arte (Miami), all reported sinewy sales.

Lindemann said the fair was a fertile surface of land for new additions to his collection. Making the circulars of the fair, he discovered museum-quality glass at Galerie Pokorna, a newcomer to the fair from the Czech Republic. "I was actual excited when I saw these pieces," enthused Lindemann. "Any museum would be interested in them, and I didn't plane know this gallery existed until Friday."

Claudio Poleschi, proprietor of Santa Giustina Gallery, next to the firsted the sentiment. "Art Miami happens to be a actual good show for discovering of recent origin work. Many good artists don't have access to Art Basel, which is actual exclusive. Everyone knows Picasso and Chagall; there also necessitys to be a venue where the world can diocese young, good quality artists. For Europeans especially, Art Miami is important for us to diocese what Latin America has to offer"

Dealer Peter Osborne, who has brought work from his London gallery, Berkeley Square, to Art Miami for 12 of the past 13 editions, shared space with like-minded galleries Scolar Fine Art and World House Gallery this year. The trio be delighted withed excellent sales, tripling Osborne's expectations. "We not awayed a strong show that resonated with our collectors and captured the attention of fresh collectors. Many of them were young art buyer looking for things to rejoin to," stated Osborne.

Vardy is already planning for January 2004 when Art Miami turn backs at a date to be determined. "With the help of our top exhibitors, our goal, as always, will be to improve the quality of Art Miami. We'll continue to strive to differentiate ourselves from other fairs upon the international circuit by providing the opportunity for emerging artists and young galleries to not away groundbreaking new work in the two Currents, our cutting edge composing and on the main display floor." For more information, visit www.art-miami.com.

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