OHWOW!

All over Miami, there are countless openings and private art parties. On my second night in Miami, I went to the OHWOW opening in the Design District, entitled It Ain’t Fair, a clever play on the show’s separation from the convention hall style fairs. OHWOW has been putting on the It Ain’t Fair show since its establishment in 2008. The show featured works by Barry McGee, Neck Face, and photographer Tim Barber. The work tends to be a bit edgier and more like street art, what OHWOW refers to as progressive contemporary art. Like in much of the Design District and Wynwood areas of the art fair, this style of work and alternative setting draws a greater number of young people. It is nice to see that type of crowd viewing work by young and emerging artists and it’s a bit of a relief from the way the main convention can feel a bit stuffy, crowded at times with older, wealthy collectors buying art from fifty years ago.

And some of the work was really great:

Michael Genovese's highly reflective sculptures are reminiscent of ancient texts, like Hammurabi's Code

I love Aurel Schmidt's Prismacolor drawings/collages!

Visitors view photographs by Julia Ziegler-Haynes.

This little guy sat on top of a crate labelled and ready to go to the MOMA!

Sculpture by Lucien Marc Smith

Art at the Aqua!

4:00 PM on Saturday: After a couple hours at the Convention Center and an amazing lunch at La Sandwicherie (a great sandwich, walk-up, outdoor, counter-like place, that a friend recommended), we stumbled onto a little gem on our way back to feed the meter. Almost three hours later (whoops!), I was more than happy we had the detour—stumbling upon Aqua Art Fair!

The intimate setting of the fair, located inside the Aqua Hotel on Collins Avenue, instantly puts you at ease. The hotel rooms themselves are completely cleared out and each one is then occupied by one of forty-four galleries. The feeling is more intimate and far less intimidating than the main fair. The vibes are just good, with lights in the trees, lounge chairs, a hot tub, and a bar all in the courtyard surrounded by two stories of the renovated hotel, which still holds on to its mid-century charms.

And the art: AWESOME! Most of the galleries are from smaller cities in the U.S. and Canada (well, smaller than NYC or Berlin, like at Art Basel), like San Francisco, Philadelphia and even Tucson. And there are still those big city showings like NYC and Toronto—all in all, a great mix of work from everyone showing. In addition, most of the gallery owners and docents were welcoming, ready to answer questions, and offered information even before you asked.

The work shown reflected the broad range of mediums and ideas that artists working today are using. There was a lot of work that used unusual materials and surfaces like Jessica Drenk’s toilet paper sculptures or Gary Emrich’s photo transfers onto old paintbrushes (below).

And I was super happy to see a large number of encaustic works, including some beautiful work at Conrad Wilde Gallery and at Blunt Collective/AWOL Gallery!

These works and the galleries felt more in reach as a young artist. I left with the feeling that I could actually make it in the art world or be in a fair like this in the (maybe?) near future. I even met and talked with one of the artists who was nearby as I admired his work, which I loved and totally related to my own style of painting—Matthew Schofield.

The evening ended after almost three hours of careful browsing with my feet soaking in the hot tub in the courtyard and talking to new friends…the perfect ending to a perfect afternoon of art in Miami. And then it was back to real-life duties, like that meter and dinner, which would be the leftovers I was carrying around in a bag for a few hours!

And now for what I think was the best of Aqua (these pictures are by me and you can click ‘em to make ‘em larger!):

Carrie Seid, aluminum and mylar covered in silk; can ya see it?

Jaq Chartier, acrylic, gesso, and stain on panel

Amy Casey, Circling Wagons, 2008, acrylic on paper

I love how it's completely made up of shades of browns!

Megan Whitmarsh's embroidered creations!

Eamon O'Kane, ink on paper

This artist also does beautiful architectural paintings and sculptures.

Lauren DiCioccio had a number of works at Jack Fischer Gallery, all stitching including an entire deck of hand embroidered cloth playing cards. I loved these books, where every word is carefully stitched over!

Of course I was stopped in my tracks by this moon by David Joron. Ah, the likeness is astounding...

David E. Peterson

Diem Chau makes these delicately embroidered organza pieces and then stretches them over China bowls and plates.

Carved wooden coat hangers by Maskull Lasserre--there was a whole set!

Casey Roberts takes the chemicals for developing Cyanotypes and uses chemical reactions to create the colors in her paintings. I have no idea how this works but the result is amazing and beautiful!

Sidnea D'Amico

Rocky Grimes, I took home a little t-shirt souvenir screen-printed by this artist. Yay for inexpensive souvenirs that are also art!

Marcia Perello Ramos

Welcome to Art Basel Miami 2010!

So I had to take a week to recover from the mental and physical exhaustion and visual overload that was my week in Miami. Now that I have had time to digest it all and having just unpacked today, I’m ready to review my very first Art Basel!

I tried to do the best possible job of planning for this year’s Art Basel Miami, especially seeing as I was a “first-timer.” I had researched the festival online, buying my tickets way in advance and viewing the schedules of lectures, events, and artist/gallery lists. I had even studied the map of the Convention Center and friended Art Basel Miami on Facebook to keep myself up-to-date. Nothing could prepare me for the sheer size of the main fair as well as the great number of other fairs. Basically, the art world takes over the entire city of Miami.

The word of the week was “overwhelmed.” I heard it from all of my friends who were there and overheard it from other fair-goers: “This is amazing, but I’m sorta overwhelmed.”

The first day of the fair was going to be all Convention Center. What I really should have planned was how to divide and conquer this ginormous space! I simply weaved in and out of galleries being distracted by something shiny or colorful around the corner, completely away from the aisle I was attempting to finish. And all the while, I’m quickly trying to jot down names and notes on works that I love.

After a few hours at the Convention Center, my friend and fellow artist, Kristy Bishop and I quickly drive over to NADA (New Art Dealers Alliance) Art Fair. The plan here is to run through really quickly, see what it’s about, and come back another day. An hour later, we decide it’s totally worth a complete visit and save it for another day (more on that later).

So, here are the highlights and my faves from the first day at the main fair:

Cy Twombly, Gaeta, 2004 at Greve

(image courtesy of Christie's online)

Vija Celmins at McKee Gallery, NYC (both pieces above)

Huge and beautiful Hiroshi Sugimoto photograph, Ohio Theater, 1980 (my favorite photogrpaher!)

The next three are all at Marlborough Gallery:

Claudio Bravo, Triptico azul y verde, oil on canvas, 2010

One of several self-portraits by Stephen Conroy

Raised acrylic painting (yes, all the little people come off the canvas about half an inch) by Juan Genoves

Kate Shepherd, Stones, Red Ache, enamel and oil on panel, 2010

(image courtesy of kateshepherd.com)

Erik Benson, Brownfield Playgrounds, acrylic on canvas, 2010

(image courtesy of oneartworld.com)

Jan Fabre's beetle shell and stuffed bird sculptures at Magazzino

Andrew Dadson's scraped paintings

(image courtesy of contemporaryartdaily.com)

Oh, and our first night in Miami (Dec. 1^st) was also awesome and the best possible start to the week: seeing Metric live on Miami Beach with hundreds of others and bumping into some good folks from Charleston while running about on the Beach!!

More coming soon, along with come pictures of artwork and the fairs that I actually took!!

Unearthed Closing Reception

Due to the success of our opening back in October, we are hosting another celebration with a little something extra!! Before the reception begins, there will be an art garage sale featuring over 10 local artists! It will be full garage sale style so bring cash or your checkbook! ARTWORK FOR ALL!!

Then, the closing reception will begin, with music from Wawona and champagne and sweets, featuring some delicious cupcakes from Three Little Birds Cafe.

Hope to see you there! More details on this awesome poster, designed by Haley Frano!

Hanging the Show

The opening of Unearthed on October 8th was a great success. Thanks again to everyone who came out! Also, we are planning a closing art garage sale and reception on the 20th of November...more to come on that!

Here are some pics of Kristy, Hirona, Nina and I hanging the show, which is half the fun!

Opening reception pictures coming soon!

Recently, I was interviewed for a profile in the Charleston City Paper's Fall Arts Issue. I am super excited with the result and the publicity. Here is the resulting article; CHECK IT OUT!

Unearthing Sarah Frierson

It's Been a While....

Here's one of my newer paintings, which was actually completed about two months ago. I've been pretty busy creating new work and I'm working on switching over to a regular website! Two things going on right now: (1) much of my work is at City Lights Coffee, up for a silent auction until the end of September and (2) working a LOT for a show I am co-curating with Kristy Bishop, entitled Unearthed, at Rick Rhodes Gallery in West Ashley, which opens October 8. This show will also include the work of Kristy and two other amazing Charleston artists, Nina Garner and Hirona Matsuda!!

Ok, back to the painting (image does not photograph well):

Untitled

2010

5 x 7 in.

oil and encaustic pour on wood