Strandbeest Southbeach

One of the most anticipated events I have heard about happening during the first week of December in Miami is the appearance of Theo Jensen's STRANDBEESTS.  Positioned on the beach close the Miami Beach Convention Center, six of the wind-powered kinetic sculptures will be on display, and twice a day on December 3-7, there will be daily performances of the Strandbeests at 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM on the beach between 21st and 22nd Streets!

Organized by a partnership between The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) of Salem, Massachusetts and Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Audemars Piguet, this preliminary exhibition is a prelude to a national tour beginning in 2015, and will also featured are photographs of the Strandbeests by Lena Herzog, to honor her new book, STRANDBEEST: The Dream Machines of Theo Jansen.  The PEM is preparing to launch the full US tour of the Strandbeests, which will include anticipated stops in  Chicago, San Francisco and New York City.

After 25 years of experimentation on the Dutch coast, Theo Jensen has directed the evolution of his artificial life forms from simple rudimentary sculptures to complex kinetic dynamos capable of not just graceful movement across the sand, but possessing power storing innovations as well as environmental sensing to increase their lifespan on the coast.  Most fascinating to me is the strict use of PVC tubing in the construction of the frames of the Beests - it is a lifeless inert material only someone as exceptionally creative as  Theo Jensen could give life, motion and meaning to. 

Jensen's online shop also features 3D printed moveable models of the Strandbeests so you can invite one into your home!

Daily Performances of the Strandbeests: 3 - 7 December 2014, 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM
Audemars Piguet's Strandbeest exhibition, Oceanfront between 21st & 22nd streets

Talk - Theo Jansen and Michael Friedman, Audemars Piguet Historian, in Discussion 
Date: Thursday, 4 December at 2pm.
Location: Audemars Piguet's Strandbeest exhibition, Oceanfront between 21st & 22nd streets. Prior Accreditation is essential for access into the event
Please RSVP to: emma@suttonpr.com

Art Basel Salon: Theo Jansen, Lena Herzog, and Peabody Essex Museum Curator Trevor Smith in Discussion, Introduced by András Szántó 
Date: Friday, 5 December at 3pm.Location: Art Basel in Miami Beach, Auditorium, Hall C, Miami Beach Convention Center
Please RSVP to: emma@suttonpr.com
 
Media Briefing: 3 December 2014, 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Location: Audemars Piguet's Lounge in the Collectors' Lounge of Art Basel in Miami Beach Prior accreditation is essential for access to the event
Please RSVP to: emma@suttonpr.com

Media Reception to view the Strandbeests on the beach: 4 December 2014, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Audemars Piguet's Strandbeest exhibition, Oceanfront between 21st & 22nd streets
Please RSVP to: emma@suttonpr.com


Please click on link to view an exclusive clip of Theo Jansen's work provided by Audemars Piguet http://youtu.be/4RzXrmX8JWk 

Tim Burton's new movie Big Eyes at the Colony Theater Friday Dec 5th

Tim Burton has a new movie coming out, although quite different from what I think of as "traditional" Tim Burton movies if there is such a thing.  Big Eyes is based on a true story of American artist Margaret Keane, whose work during the 1950s and 1960s was believed to have been done by her then-husband, Walter Keane, because her husband took credit for her work during early shows.  They both kept up the ruse, and made a fortune, until their divorce.  I guess I should say "spoiler alert" but does that apply to a true story that was published in the news and is revealed in the trailer?  Kinda like Titanic, you should already know how this story ends.

To catch the movie before it's official release, travel to the Colony Theater at 1040 Lincoln Road on South Beach Friday December 5th at 8:30PM for a free showing.  Entry is free but seating is limited.  General release in the US is Christmas Day, which makes total sense since this is obviously a holiday movie right?  I wish they would have saved it for Valentine's Day instead.

The complete list of films and events came out in a press release by Art Basel Miami Beach yesterday and can  be found at the ABMB website. I am glad to hear they are putting in a proper viewing space for film inside the Convention Center!  

Back to Burton, I had the opportunity to see one of his early shorts this year.  Vincent from 1982 is a story about a man obsessed by horror and Vincent Price, and the film is narrated by Vincent Price himself.  I guess Vincent was done with his voice over work for Michael Jackson's Thriller, and found time for working on a short with a basically unknown Tim Burton.  This short is a gem.

In and Out of Untitled

Damn I hope this tent entrance looks this good when Untitled's temporary tent is finished.  I normally hate fuschia.  Maybe the vaginal reference was intentional or not, but it is undeniable. Today must be opposite day or something because I can't wait to get into Untitled.

link to full size

Information from the website about the structure: "Situated directly on the beach with natural light and ocean views, UNTITLED. is working with internationally recognized architecture firm K/R, under the direction of John Keenen, to reconstruct the design of its temporary pavilion in order to integrate international galleries and not-for-profit spaces, and a designated space for the fair’s programming."

Library Street Collective from Detroit at Art Basel Miami Beach 2014!

Wow I can't wait to see what the Library Street Collective has in store for its pop-up space in Wynwood.  The list of artists that participate in the Collective is impressive, full of bigger names and lesser knowns of the street art community.  As a fellow Michigander, I am beyond thrilled to see another group interested in revitalizing and rebuilding Detroit, but their efforts would impress anyone, even those not from Upper or Lower Peninsula.

From the LSC website - "Library Street Collective specializes in cutting edge modern and contemporary fine art with a primary focus on artists who have developed their skills and visual art in public spaces. Our mission is to share what we believe to be some of the most important and inspiring art and artists today. Located in the heart of downtown Detroit, Library Street Collective continues to cultivate a culture of exploration and art appreciation.  Library Street Collective | 1260 Library Street, Detroit, MI 48226 | (313) 600-7443 | info@LSCgallery.com | Thursday - Saturday : 11AM - 3PM

Back home, the Library Street Collective is also helping the young people of Detroit, as well as the artists and collectors.

This month in the first of a series of shows entitled Public Matter in Detroit's newly redeveloped "Belt", LSC teamed up with POSE and Bedrock to have named Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences, a Detroit-based charter school that views artistic development as central to the education of today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders, as its community partner in this endeavor. One of the large-scale paintings will be donated to the school at the conclusion of POSE’s exhibition in Public Matter. The artwork will be displayed in the school’s common areas for the students to interact with on a daily basis.

This is what POSE had to say about his first Public Matter show:

“Exhibiting at Public Matter represents things coming full circle in the best possible way for me as an artist. Putting work on the street is a way for people to view it in the most honest way. There are no barriers to entry or prerequisites to viewing. It’s just there. Everyone owns it and can have their own dialogue with it. It’s completely accessible and democratic— An open forum. This is the world I come from, and how I came to being as an artist.”

The Public Matter grand opening coincides with POSE’s exhibit LEMONADE, which opens at Library Street Collective the same night.

I would be selfish not to mention this REVOK limited edition print that LSC and the artist are putting together in honor of the Miami Wynwood popup space, but I am putting it at the bottom because I really want one of those prints and I am not helping my chances by mentioning this!  If you are interested in ordering, visit LSC's online store. 

 REVOK
12-color Hand Pulled Screen Print on Coventry Rag Archival Paper
36" x 36"
Edition of 50 (4 color ways)