POST BY: PADDY JOHNSON
Pulse Miami, Photo courtesy: Art House
Kudos to Pulse Miami for not repeating their New York fair missteps earlier this year. The fair clearly isn’t as strong as NADA — expect to view roughly 25% more WTF booths — but there were a number of great showings regardless. Not that any of this seems to have any correlation to sales. Reports from dealers I spoke to varied, though no one was regaling massive success stories. No one seemed to be rushing out to see the fair this year.
Art House,’s human touch improves upon the similar 2007 Art Basel project, ShanghArt Super Market, which showcased the empty packaging of dumplings and other Chinese products with list prices in the country’s currency.
In the event any one has doubts, Pulse is worth the trip, if for no other reason than because the fair hosts Art House. One the most enjoyable works I’ve seen at any venue, the art-cum-“Okay Mountain”-convenience-store offers an array of handmade, mass-produced wears including a “No Choice” pregnancy test for 30 bucks, 7 dollar cardboard cookies, and “Things For Fishing” package of tackle priced at $60. I walked away with the free newspaper flyer, which lists only a fraction of these items.
Notably, the piece was part of the curated emerging exhibitors section of the fair (Impulse), which though inconsistent in quality, offered a bit of life to the main fair. Each had it’s own highlights of course, which we’ve put together below.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
Installation view Marx & Zavattero Gallery (Painting: Patrick Wilson, sculpture: Timothy Nolan)
The work of Patrick Wilson and Timothy Nolan stands out from the crowd at Marx & Zavattero Gallery. Both feel a bit staid for my tastes, but still quite thoughtfully put together.
Installation view, Gallery Joe
Gallery Joe from Philadelphia showcases a stable of obsessive Agnes Martin and Tara Donovan type artists, including Xylor Jane, Astrid Bowlby and Nicole Phungrasamee Fein. The gallery represents some of the strongest contemporary artists working in the genre.
THE INEXPLICABLE
Galerie Caprise Horn
We’re highlighting the priceless detail shot above from a larger Gothic installation at Galerie Caprice Horn for no other reason than it doesn’t make a lot of sense. It has surprise going for it. Maybe.
THE DISPUTABLE
Brian Dettmer, Do It Yourself, Altered set of handy man books, at Packer Shop Gallery Via: fitcola.
Packer Shop Gallery’s gimmicky Brian Bettmer books won second prize at Impulse, which should make any viewer suspicious of Pulse curation. I’m pretty sure I saw a few galleries in that section showcasing better booths than this.
THE LOWLIGHT
U-Ram Choe, Una Limino Ofrus, 2009, LEDs, polycarbonate casting, circuits, custom software, cpu board. Bitforms Gallery
I don’t trust the programming of any gallery that represents the fancy-titled motorized flowers of U-Ram Choe. It is precisely the kind of work that keeps main stream critics thinking that new media is a waste of time. Bitforms needs to re-evaluate their programming.
{ 4 comments }
Thanks for the round-up of the many Miami events.
Having never seen the work in person, I’m not sure I understand your criticism of U-Ram Choe’s flowers. Is it the fancy title for a simple piece? Would it be better if the flowers just held still? Does it look cheap in real life?
While I don’t disagree that Bitforms could update their programming (having been disappointed most times I’ve been to their Chelsea location), I wonder what direction you hope to see them move in.
Any counter-examples of what successful “new media” works look like? Or an explanation of what you think “new media” work is and can be about?
Thanks for the round-up of the many Miami events.
Having never seen the work in person, I’m not sure I understand your criticism of U-Ram Choe’s flowers. Is it the fancy title for a simple piece? Would it be better if the flowers just held still? Does it look cheap in real life?
While I don’t disagree that Bitforms could update their programming (having been disappointed most times I’ve been to their Chelsea location), I wonder what direction you hope to see them move in.
Any counter-examples of what successful “new media” works look like? Or an explanation of what you think “new media” work is and can be about?
“Street Market”
by Barry Mcgee, Stephen Powers, & Todd James 2000
http://www.deitch.com/projects/project_images.php?slideShowId=150&projId=128
“Street Market”
by Barry Mcgee, Stephen Powers, & Todd James 2000
http://www.deitch.com/projects/project_images.php?slideShowId=150&projId=128
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