Montserrat Art Basel 2022

Montserrat Art Basel 2022

For the 2^nd year, Montserrat board and patrons traveled to Miami for Art Basel in partnership with Adventures in Art for three days of art-filled experiences.  The Art Basel fair has become a must-see event on a global scale for those in the contemporary and modern art scene.  The Montserrat group explored the fair, with works represented from five continents and were then guided by Art Advisor, Elizabeth Fiore of NYC to meet with various artists and gallery directors.

“Untitled” is a growing off-shoot of Art Basel and features a vast collection of galleries exhibiting new or under-represented artists, located in a sprawling tented space on the sands of Miami Beach.  There we visited with September Gallery’s founder, Kristin Dodge, who is a North Shore native now living in Kinderhook, NY who showcased the art of Reginald Madison, who in his 80’s continues to create vibrant oil paintings and sculptures of found metals from his home and studio in the Hudson NY. 

While the trip was centered around Art Basel, the museums, collections, and behind-the-scenes experiences that were visited made for a memorable experience for the ten guests. 

The group was welcomed to the home of Kathryn & Dan Mikesell, founders of the Fountainhead Artist in Residency program which began 13 years ago to “positively impact the lives and careers of artists and nurture and grow their local arts ecosystem”. (fountainheadarts.org). The residency program hosts national and international artists, with 480 Residency Alumni to date, from 47 countries.

We met Fountainhead Artist in Residence Andrey Zignnatto, an indigenous native of Brazil whose work reflects his ancestral heritage and the realities of living in the city of San Paulo that’s all but destroyed indigenous ways of life. Trained as a brickmaker, following his father’s trade, and resonating with the weaving his mother and grandmother created throughout their lives, Andrey creates ceramic sculptures in brick that are intricately carved to resemble a delicately woven fabric. His commitment to calling attention to the critical importance of saving indigenous lands and for honoring the trade and crafts of his heritage was compelling and inspiring. 

Montserrat President, Kurt Steinberg shared with the Mikesell’s Montserrat’s recent campaign initiative which has secured funding for a BIPOC residency on the Montserrat campus which will begin in the fall of 2023.  The partnership between Fountainhead and Montserrat could surely lead to future collaboration.

The group learned about the South Beach Art Deco movement with a private architectural tour of the area by an architect who is intricately involved in the historic preservation of the area.  We were guided through landmark buildings and out of the way gems that referenced Hollywood glamour, mob life and modern design.

Tours of El Espacio 23, which holds contemporary collections of Jorge Perez in a 28,000 square foot former warehouse, the immersive art experience at Super Blue, and guided tours of the Rubell and Bass Museums gave Montserrat’s guests an insider’s view of the variety and multitude of artistic opportunities and experiences in the Miami area.