A Brief Trip to Miami
This time every year, if my busy schedule allows, I try to visit Miami, Florida's modern and contemporary art fairs - these events are full of information, inspiration, and fun.
Not long ago, I attended the Art Basel fair in Miami - the premier venue for collecting, exhibiting, collaborating, and discussing collectible design and upcoming trends in art. While there, I also fit in a brief visit to the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, some antiques shopping, and a wonderful dinner with none other than Clive Davis.
Enjoy these photos.
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- We arrived in Miami under the bluest of skies. One of our first stops was Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, previously known as Villa Vizcaya. It is the former villa and estate of businessman James Deering, of the Deering McCormick-International Harvester fortune, on Biscayne Bay. The early 20th century estate includes Italian Renaissance gardens, native woodland landscape, and a historic village outbuildings compound.
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- The Sutri Fountain is the centerpiece of Vizcaya. It was originally constructed in 1722 for a town just outside Rome. The fountain was disassembled in 1908 in favor of a smaller fountain and eventually purchased by James Deering and transported to the United States. It is made of Tivoli travertine in a design attributed to the Late Baroque architect Filippo Barigioni.
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- The ornate landscape and architecture of Vizcaya were influenced by Veneto and Tuscan Italian Renaissance models and designed with Baroque elements. F. Burrall Hoffman was the architect, Paul Chalfin was the design director, and Diego Suarez was the landscape architect.
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- The exterior gardens were also inspired by French Renaissance parterres. They continue to be well-manicured and maintained today.
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- Here we drove by the Miami Biltmore Hotel – a luxury hotel in Coral Gables. It was designed by Schultze and Weaver and was built in 1926 by John McEntee Bowman and George Merrick. The tower is inspired by the Giralda, the medieval tower of the cathedral of Seville. When completed it became the tallest building in Florida at 315 feet holding the record until 1928 when the Dade County Courthouse was built.
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- This brightly colored building is the Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ built in 1923. It is considered a fine example of Spanish colonial revival architecture and listed on the national register of historic places. The church is the oldest established building and organization in Coral Gables.
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- That night was warm and pleasant – it was nice to be able to dine out with friends once again. We ate at the Italian-American restaurant, Carbone.
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- Look closely, I had dinner with record producer, Clive Davis and his cousin, Jo Shuman Silver, along with my longtime publicist, Susan Magrino, my makeup artist, Daisy Schwartzberg Toye, Kevin Sharkey, Clive’s friend, Greg Schriefer, and his well-behaved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
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- Dinner was served al fresco, meaning “in the open air.” Here is another photo of me and my new furred friend.
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- The next day, I fit in some antiquing and shopping. I always take photos of the items I see – they provide great inspiration for my business. This chair is in the Michel Contessa Antiques gallery which specializes in 20th decorative arts.
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- I also came upon this mirror with such an interesting frame.
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- Not far, we also stopped into Shapes by Mario Perez – Mid Century Modern Furniture, Art and Accessories. Kevin and I admired these two pedestals.
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- That evening, we went to a great restaurant in Brickell called Komodo – an expansive eatery that spans three stories and features 300 tabletop, booth, and bar seats. Its cuisine offers a take on Southeast Asian dishes. See more photos on my Instagram @MarthaStewart48.
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- And then the next morning, we hit the art-scene. Art Basel is a for-profit, privately owned and managed, international art fair staged annually in Miami Beach, Florida; Basel, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. Art Basel works in collaboration with the host city’s local institutions to help grow and develop art programs. works by masters of Modern and contemporary art, as well as the new generation of emerging stars.
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- This piece is called “Inseparable” by artist Bob Pruitt. It is made using acrylic, enamel, and glitter in a hand-painted frame.
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- This is is “Farmed Painting” – organic matter on canvas by artist David Balula.
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- Artist Ulrich Erben created this untitled piece. Here he “defines the Infinite” with acrylic and pigment on canvas. It was completed in 2019.
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- This piece is by Raymond Jonson. It is called “City Ultimate and was done in 1936. This oil on canvas piece imeasures 54-inches by 38-inches.
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- This piece is aptly named “Cosmic Connection.” Made in 1971 by James Phillips using acrylic on canvas.
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- And this untitled work is by artist Seung-Taek Lee. Art Basel Miami is the most celebrated art show in the Americas, with more than 260 prominent galleries taking part from North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. This art fair exhibits the works of thousands of artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. If you’re ever in the area, I encourage you to attend Art Basel and Miami Art Week – you’ll want to go back year after year.
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