MIAMI — I’ve made it to Friday without forgetting my Uber Press Pass or in Develop coffeeRelevant heart palpitations, by Miami Art Week standards I consider this a win. Yesterday we discussed serious issues like the financial sustainability of the art fair ecosystem, but today we are tired and sadly on our third margarita at Baccarat, so we will focus on the arts.
I saw a dazzling array of great work at Art Basel Miami Beach, NADA Miami, and Untitled Art Show, but the most underrated ticket this week was The Open Invitational, a new fair for nonprofits and galleries, dedicated to disabled artists or “progressive art studios.” I spoke with co-founder David Fierman during Monday’s opening night, and he stressed the importance of seeing the world differently.
“There’s a lot of purity to this job that’s lacking at some of the top levels in the market,” Firman told me. “Let’s tell a story about people making a positive impact on people’s lives and do it in a truly sustainable, person-to-person way.”
Without further ado, below I’ll share some of my favorite pieces from Art Basel Miami Beach, NADA, Open Invitations, and Untitled Art—from the ceramics of Mapuche artist Seba Calfuqueo to the simple text paintings of Michael Angelo Mangino and Alissa Alfonso of whimsical sculptures.
Hop and Lydia Peternell are co-founders of Route 29 Studio in New Jersey, a “progressive arts studio” that supports the creative practice of adults with developmental disabilities
