Recently,
Pope Francis discussed, “the idolatry of money”
as well as “trickle-down economics.” He wrote that this philosophy, “expresses
a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power."
Immediately, kind, thoughtful souls like Rush Limbaugh responded
sympathetically, bravely and lovingly accusing the Pope of Marxism.
This is an art column, not about political one, or should I say manifesto. I do not wish to get in the middle of a dispute between Francis and a talking mule, but considering the recent Art Basel revelries, the issue merits mention.
This
year, Art Basel careened wildly from full blown artistic event to full blown
artistic opportunism. Whether this is due to Pope Francis’ previously mentioned
worship of the almighty Benjamin and those forces in the art sphere hoping for
some trickle down or simply old fashioned human ingenuity, I will leave this
for you to decide. However, there are some signs that perhaps his holiness
spent the first weekend of December thinking about conspicuous Miami clubbing
and shows opening while attaching himself to the events that were being spread
like salt on snow in a northern winter.
Even
a lowly brother like me got invited to about a hundred events this year, many
of them marginally related to the pursuit of quality in the Arts. People I have
never heard of and who yielded few results in a Google search invited me to
exhibits I have never heard of where the proceeds were earmarked to a cause I have
never heard of benefiting a project I have never heard of all underwritten by a
vodka that I had heard of – Grey Goose. Then – a magazine that I had never
heard of invited me to a play I had had never heard of written by an author I
had never heard of starring four ex-NBA players long since forgotten that few
have ever heard of being held at the Colony Theater on the Beach. Another
offered admission to the most esteemed Italian furniture designers I have never
heard of building strong relationships with suppliers that I have never heard
of who show them in showrooms I have never heard of hosted by two guys with
cool Italian names that I had never heard of. Forgive my piling on to the
hyperbole, but never in the history of humankind has the word legendary been so
shamelessly used, abused, and misused. I could go on to the pop-up this
and its partnership with the development group that and its beneficiary this
or that.
Pope Francis – I’m feeling you!
Despite
my consternation, and make no mistake - as a proud elitist, sharing this event
with hungry and desperate, philistine promoters pains me - a select core of Art
Basel remains unbroken. Pulse retains all of its legitimate style in the city’s
most tasteful venue – the Ice Palace. Art Miami and CONTEXT get it right. Miami
Project’s Max Fishco and Jeffrey Wainhause keep it spacious and do not
overwhelm. Scope, despite its
collaboration with VH1 and gasp – Red Bull, continues to showcase fine work. NADA
deserves credit for being an incubator for new art and its non-profit status.
All
of which takes us back to Pope Francis and Rush. If Mr. Limbaugh were to come
to Miami, he would find a city thriving and profiting off the original paint
fumes emanating from the Convention Center on the Beach. He would extol the
virtues of all the money generating opportunities which have sprouted in the
last few years. He might even partake of a few free hors d’oeuvres, hang out in
a cheap cigar lounge, and enjoy Boy George spinning his favorites. He would
praise the snake oil sales folks peddling tees, smile at all the hustling entrepreneurs,
and beam at the Derek Zoolander wannabes needing to be seen and passing out
cards. He might even prepare an exhibit and preview it during Basel 2014:
Francis and Jesus: Marxists.
The
Pope would see the same things differently; rents rising, suffering artists
having to move, Wal-Mart expanding into Midtown paying low part time wages, and
venture capitalists swarming over Art Basel like vultures.
