by Onajídé Shabaka - 16 Jan., 2007

   PalmBeach3 2007

    by Onajídé Shabaka

Next on the art fair agenda, PalmBeach3. This fair usually has more established and blue chip artists and, this year didn't fail. Money was again being exchanged and prices openly quoted. "Oh, this smallish unique polaroid is not expensive at $1200," spoken to me. Other works quoted to me were in the range of $45K. Two sandwiches, two glasses of wine, and a bowl of fruit, $40. That was over priced even if the sandwiches were good.

International Fine Art Expositions, parent company of PalmBeah3, has struggled to find a niche for its contemporary art fair since it was founded 10 years ago. The task became more difficult after Art Basel Miami Beach arrived in December 2002, muscling its way to the top of the heap and spawning 12 satellite fairs. [New director, Ms. Fran] Kaufman, is the third professional to take a shot at directing IFAE's contemporary art fair since dmg world media bought the company from David and LeeAnn Lester (who were in attendance) in 2001.

Kaufman has never directed an art fair before. For the past 16 years, she's been a partner in Rosenberg & Kaufman Fine Art, a contemporary art and photography gallery in the SoHo district of New York. The gallery closed last fall when her partner, Stephen Rosenberg, became a private dealer.

In addition to running her gallery, she's worked independently as a consultant and curator. She set up the fine art sales division at Magnum Photos, where she developed her enthusiasm for photography. She has judged photography competitions and taught photographic aesthetics. (Palm Beach Daily News)

The one thing one was not likely to see at PalmBeach3 was the experimental work so evident at ABMB's satellite fairs. This fair featured work well polished, excellent craftsmanship, and in high quality frames. That, of course, did not mean there was not experimentation in the art at all. There was quite a bit but, it was a bit more controlled in nature. Photography was one of the main features of this fair, along with fine crafts (glass), and covered a pretty broad time period. There was much to be chosen from including up to-the-moment contemporary works printed digitally.

Bernice Steinbaum and Sarah Gavlak had large spacious booths with praiseworthy works. Ms. Gavlak has become the premiere gallery for contemporary art in Palm Beach County and, featured collages and the work of José Alvarez with his works made of mica.

Hung Liu at Bernice Steinbaum Gallery

José Alvarez at Sarah Gavlak Projects
(title not known)

Fair director Fran Kaufman's ex-partner, Stephen Rosenberg, had a booth featuring primarily photography. Mr. Rosenberg had some of the more interesting photographic (Polaroid) works made by an artist who travels to the four corners area (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado) to create unique works using flashlights to trace light over his own body. Also at his booth was the work of Lucio Boschi which was dark and brooding but, very intense.

Lucio Boschi
Untitled (skulls of ancestors), 2006
Gelatin Silver print
edition of 9
h: 60 x w: 50 cm / h: 23.6 x w: 19.7 in

Kaarina Kaikkonen's wall installation of women's old shoes looked like large seedpods opening with the shadows emphasizing the peeling away of the outer skin to reveal the kernel. But, once one gets closer the works reveal themselves to be something quite different. Kaarina Kaikkonen uses clothing to create works of stark humanity in the absence of the human flesh yet, some of her works become more sculptural than the human dimension. Erwin Wurm also uses clothing to create sculptural works yet his works do not always point to the human-as-flesh-and-bones in the way Kaikkonen does. Ms. Kaikkonen is currently exhibiting work on the grounds of the Bass Museum, Miami Beach.

Kaarina Kaikkonen at Remy Toledo Gallery
Queen of Night, 2005
used women's shoes

Bold, rich, and sensual abstraction of brilliant red flower blossoms that fill the page and explode beyond it. In this compelling work, Donald Sultan blurs the line between abstraction and realism by increasing scale and intensifying the color. The dark contrast of the flowers and background add texture that deepens the intensity of the color. Sultan's works are notoriously weighty because of the materials he uses, spackle and wood with wood supports.

Donald Sultan at Scott White Contemporary Art
(title not known)
enamel, flock, tar, and spackle on tile over wood
(approx. 18 x 18 in.)

Nicloa Hicks (Flowers Gallery, UK) bronze dogs shown here were full of character even if frozen in a moment in time. The sculptures were paired together for the fair but, make a perfect compliment to each other. They both had a beautiful surface texture and were perfectly cast with lifelike reality. Also at Flowers Gallery was one of the better paintings at the fair. Unfortunately, the beautiful blending of colours and, light, airy strokes can only faintly be detected by the provided image.

Nicola Hicks - Flowers Gallery (l. to r.)
Seal, 2006 1/6
bronze
27 x 51¼ x 12 in.

Good Old Wiggy, 2006
bronze
30 x 50 x 12¼ in.

Tai-Shan Schierenberg at Flowers Gallery
Lynn, 2006
oil on canvas
38¼ x 40¼ in.

After the fair, I continued north to Fort Pierce, where I formally lived, and found an exhibition of Ansel Adams and Clyde Butcher who presented a slide lecture on Saturday afternoon. Of course, before returning it was necessary to visit some of my favorite nature hideaways. I accidentally walked up on two gopher tortoises battling but, when they saw me they stopped and scurried off to get away from the evil, dangerous human.

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