Brooklyn College Plays Large Role in Annual Miami Art Show Scene
1/8/2009
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| Brooklyn College’s Archie Rand (left), presidential professor of art, and art historian Jack Flam meet at 2008’s Art Basel Miami Beach show. |
Illustrious Brooklyn College faculty members and alumni as well as a number of talented grad students were on hand for this year’s Art Basel Miami Beach—considered one of the largest and most significant art shows on the American cultural and social scene.
The latest edition of this annual event took place December 4-7 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Florida. As happens every year, a slew of art fairs and gallery showings dedicated to young artists, public art, and video art were scheduled in galleries within walking distance of the convention center.
Each year the week-long southern Florida event draws works from roughly two hundred galleries from thirty countries and features art from nearly two thousand artists from around the world. Art Basel Miami Beach covers virtually all fields of art, including painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, photography, editions, performance, digital and video arts. Roughly forty percent of the exhibitors were from the U.S. and Canada, half from Europe and the rest from Latin America, Asia and Africa.
The work of Brooklyn College M.F.A. candidate Emily Bicht was on display at the "Fountain" art fair. Professor of Art Jennifer McCoy collaborated with her husband Kevin on a video, "Pulse" Art Fair. Also representing the College were Distinguished Professor of Art History Jack Flam, who presented a talk and was featured on a panel discussion at the art fair.
Among the important faculty members in attendance at the event were Brooklyn College Presidential Professor of Art Archie Rand and his wife Maria, director of the Brooklyn College Art Gallery.
A notable happening that drew many artists, collectors, curators, and critics was the "breakfast" tour of the Rubell Family Collection belonging to Donald Rubell and his wife Mera Sosnowicki Rubell, Brooklyn College Class of '65.
For the past seven years the Miami Beach show has served as a stateside sister event to Switzerland's 39-year-old Art Basel, judged by those active in the arts as the most prestigious international art show in existence.
