Art attack: your time is valuable and so is the Art Basel experience. How to maximize a tour of its potentially dizzying array of international contemporary art and attendant satellite fairs

South Florida CEO, Nov, 2007 by Johanna Marmon

The December days that mark the arrival of contemporary art fair Art Basel Miami Beach are attorney and collector Alan J. Kluger's favorite time of year. He recently returned from a multi-city tour of Spain, spends three weeks annually in South America (scoping out Latin American artists, his passion) and was in Switzerland earlier this summer for Art Basel, the sister show of the stateside spectacular. But all of that, says Kluger, a partner at Miami-based Kluger, Peretz, Kaplan & Berlin PL, has nothing on Art Basel Miami Beach (ABMB). "Art Basel Miami Beach is the No.1 art fair in the world," he says, "It's a fascinating week."

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Fascinating, yes. But with 200 galleries from 30 nations under one roof at the Miami Beach Convention Center--not to mention 17 unaffiliated fairs running concurrently and an endless parade of VIP events and parties--the word "overwhelming" also springs to mind. Add to that an array of video- and sound-art lounges, an open-air cinema and a beachfront crop of shipping containers filled with cutting-edge art, plus 40,000 visitors from around the world, and suddenly you have something bordering on madness.

Where to begin? Start with the realization that it will be virtually impossible--or would take superhuman stamina--to see everything. However, with a little planning, visitors can see a lot of important art. "The trick is to constantly read about art," says Richard Shack, a respected Miami collector who, among other art-related affiliations, is the chairman emeritus of the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami. "Go to galleries as frequently as you can before Art Basel, and you'll come away with a feel for what you particularly like," he advises.

The key to getting the most out of ABMB is doing the legwork beforehand. "Before you go, spend some time with a complete listing of what's at the show," says Arthur Halsey Rice, a contemporary-art collector and partner in the Fort Lauderdale-based law firm of Rice, Pugatch, Robinson & Schiller PA. "Devote as much time as you can to researching. And once you're there, ask questions about artists you're interested in."

Visitors who do their homework, adds Shack--who hosts a VIP open house with wife Ruth during ABMB to showcase their extensive private collection--have less chance of feeling overwhelmed and can more easily seek out galleries that pique their interest.

Attending the Show

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The fair runs from Dec. 6 to 9 at the Miami Beach Convention Center; expect crowds every day. For a slightly thinner crowd (but still a crowd), look for a ticket to Vernissage. This invitation-only advance showing on Wednesday, Dec. 5 is often where many of the sales happen. Although Vernissage invitations are tough to come by, if you work with a local gallery, an art advisor or even a wealth manager, it is worth asking if they have tickets.

It is tough to determine which galleries will have the most important and valuable works. As of press time, most still had not decided which pieces to bring. And collectors on the level of Shack (who has been named one of the top 200 collectors in the world, though he rejects the idea) are reluctant to name specific Art Basel Miami Beach galleries as must-sees; to him, that would defeat the notion of individuality that defines art. He did say he is particularly looking forward to seeing the Marian Goodman Gallery (from New York and Paris) and the Goodman Gallery (from Johannesburg, South Africa).

For his part, Kluger--set to host a private dinner for gallerists who hail from Miami, South America, Mexico, London and New York in his home during ABMB--is excited about the ever-growing stable of Latin American galleries represented during the fair each year. On his list, among many others, are Brito Cimino (from Sao Paulo), Galeria Fortes Vilaca (Sao Paulo) and Ruth Benzacar Galleria (Buenos Aires).

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ABMB is known as the icon of contemporary art fairs, specializing in art created after World War II. But visitors can view an impressive array of pieces by modern masters as well, including earlier 20th century works.

Montreal-based Landau Fine Arts, one of the world's top modern galleries, is planning to bring some "showstoppers" to ABMB, owner Robert Landau says. His gallery--which houses works from the likes of Le Corbusier, Giacometti and Miro--has exhibited works at ABMB since it began in 2002. "Art Basel Miami Beach counts on us to bring classical modern works," Landau says. Peter Vetsch, communications manager for ABMB, adds that galleries like Richard Gray Gallery (Chicago, New York), Acquavella (New York) and Adler & Conkright Fine Art (New York) also will be important exhibitors of modern classics. "Of course," Vetsch says, "it all depends on what you're after."

About 10 percent of this year's galleries--chosen by a selection committee from a record 850 applicants--are notable newcomers in both the contemporary and modern spheres. Esther Schipper (Berlin), Roberts & Tilton (Los Angeles) and Galleria Christian Stein (Milan) fall into the former category, whereas dealers in modern masterworks include Galerie Cazeau-Beraudiere (Paris), Helly Nahmad Gallery and Michael Rosenfeld (both from New York).