Arts entertainment

MIAMI, FL — Any time that you duct tape a banana to a wall and call it art, you have to figure there's going to be a chance of monkey business. That's exactly what happened at Art Basel in Miami on Saturday when one artist found another's just a little too appealing. New York-based performance artist David Datuna happened upon a piece in which a banana is duct taped to a wall. It was a piece called, "Comedian" by Maurizio Cattelan, an artist from Tblisi who now lives in Italy. The banana has been the hit of Basel since the show opened last week and the piece reportedly just sold for $120,000. It wasn't just the banana that the buyer got. It came with a 12-page book of instructions on how to install it. On Saturday, Datuna walked up to the banana, calmly removed he duct tape, peeled the banana, and starting eating it as people looked on with looks ranging from amusement to horror. Datuna later posted video of the aftermath to his Instagram page. "Are you kidding," an official at … [Read more...] about Art Basel’s $120,000 Banana Installation Eaten By Another Artist

Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog. ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- The $1.5 Million contract with Janet Echelman for a floating art canopy for Spa Beach was rejected by City Council in a 4-3 vote. The project, which never made any practical sense for Spa Beach, may be looking for a new home. You can get the details from a Tampa Bay Times article by Waveney Ann Moore: Grounded: St. Pete City Council rejects Echelman's aerial artwork. The size of the project had shrunk considerably, but the price had not totaling some $2.8 million with some likely over runs and no idea about the ongoing cost or subsidy that would be required to keep the floating art actually floating. Council member Gerdes gushed; Council member Rice raved; Mayor Kriseman called the floating art exciting and council voted 4-3 not to fund it, at least not at Spa Beach. After the vote, there was talk of finding another location along the waterfront in the Pier district. I suspect any location … [Read more...] about Echelman Floating Art – Where To Put It

January 12-13, 2019 sees the return of the 7th annual Sarasota Winter Fine Art Festival. Each year the event is held downtown on Gulf Stream. The Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC) graciously hosts this spectacular art event, one of the finest art events in Florida. Over 130 artisans from across America showcase their art, creating an outdoor gallery of spectacular painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography, glass and ceramics, interwoven with fiber and wearable art, mixed-media, metalwork, graphics, woodworking and more. Find a diversity of styles, techniques and materials in each medium guided by the unique visions of each artisan. The Sarasota Winter Fine Art Festival is open 10am – 5pm both Saturday and Sunday and is 'admission-free'. While at the event, please take a moment to stop by the HSSC's "Big Mac" mobile adoption center to say "hi" to the dedicated staff. Meet their extended family of friends awaiting adoption and perhaps find a new, loving life companion … [Read more...] about 7th Annual Sarasota Winter Fine Art Festival

MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – Miami Beach is feeling a bit more crowded this week as the city hosts Miami Art Week 2019, Art Basel and all of those satellite shows and art installations that surround the global art event in South Florida. Art Basel begins Thursday and runs through Dec. 8. at the Miami Beach Convention Center while Miami Art Week is already underway and also runs through Dec. 8. “For the 18th consecutive year Miami Beach will be the center of the art world,” shared Mayor Dan Gelber. “Art enthusiasts will experience this international event in the newly renovated Miami Beach Convention Center, and they will also have access to the various Public Art installations throughout our city.” There are 269 galleries participating in Art Basel, and even more fairs, exhibits, and openings that make up Miami Art Week. A few of the highlights include Wynwood Walls, known for the largest concentration of street art in the country. Wynwood Walls is … [Read more...] about The City of Miami Beach Hosts 2019 Art Week Including Art Basel

MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) — Art Basel is back. The world-renowned art show kicked off with a private, VIP preview Wednesday. Some of the richest art dealers, collectors, celebrities, and media gathered at the Miami Beach Convention Center to see what Art Basel’s 18th edition has to offer. “Well, there are 269 galleries with work that goes from the 1990’s to right now,” said Art Basel’s Global Director Mark Spiegler. “I would say wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, and don’t see it one fell swoop.” Art Basel preview event at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Dec. 4, 2019. (CBS4) Art Basel ranks as the premier art show of the Americas offering a platform for renowned artists and galleries. RELATED: The City of Miami Beach Hosts 2019 Art Week Including Art Basel Miami billionaire businessman and avid art collector Norman Braman says this fair just keep getting better and better. “I think the … [Read more...] about Art Basel Miami Beach Kicks Off With VIP Preview