At the opening night of the Palm Beach Modern and Contemporary Show, British photographer Harry Benson was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. At 92, Benson is full of wit and humor. His career spans over 60 years, from refugee camps in Africa to royals and presidents, but perhaps his most recognizable photographs are of the Beatles. Nowadays, he lives in Florida with his wife Gigi and two dogs. "The first thing I'll do is when I get home I'll show it to my dogs," he said accepting his award. The show collaborated with Holden Luntz Gallery to exhibit some of Benson's most prominent works. Jodi Luntz shared with me the backstory of the iconic photograph "The Pillow Fight" at George V hotel in Paris.
Anti-War Rally | New York
Due the current situation in Ukraine, anti-war rallies are held in multiple cities, including New York. It’s mainly a grassroots movement, organized through social media. I met a few protesters, who are creative professionals, at these rallies. They are collecting donations to help Ukraine.
Mortimer’s Moments In Time | Swifty’s Palm Beach
On February 22, 2022, Swifty's Palm Beach at the Colony Hotel was hosting a book signing party "Mortimer's Moments In Time." The famed Upper East Side establishment was a favorite spot of the New York social crowd in the late 70s, 80s, and 90s. Robert Caravaggi, the Swifty's owner, was one of its maître d's back then, under the tutelage of restaurateur Glenn Bernbaum. The book is a collaboration of Robin Baker Leacock, and Mary Hilliard, preface by Robert Caravaggi and forward by David Patrick Columbia (New York Social Diary).
Frieze Los Angeles 2022
After skipping a year due to the pandemic, the third edition of Frieze Los Angeles is back and has a new venue called “The Tent” in Beverly Hills. It’s designed by LA-based architect Kulapat Yantrasast, a darling of the art world. Also, the fair has a new director, Christine Messineo. It’s always nice to see a woman at the helm. One of the highlights of the fair is a participatory installation “Dreamer's Folly” (2010) at Gagosian. It’s designed by the late L.A. artist Chris Burden and consists of three joined cast-iron gazebos covered in lace. A separate exhibition BIPOC EXCHANGE is curated by LA-based artist Tanya Aguiñiga and showcases ten local non-profits.
Art Basel Miami 2021
After a skipped year due to the pandemic, Art Basel Miami is back. It's December in Florida, in the high 70s☀️, and it's Miami Art Week here. There are several smaller shows happening simultaneously, including Art Miami and Context Art Miami, art events and installations at Faena Art Forum. It's impossible to be everywhere (I'm a one-woman band after all), but here is my (limited) take on it. Like in Basel earlier this year, masks and wristbands are required (I got a nice pink one). Despite the pandemic, the show attracted about 60,000 visitors, lots of first-timers - both among the visitors and exhibitors. I heard that the entry requirements are more lenient this year, and some art is quite perplexing (I left it out 🤷🏻♀️ but I am no expert), and the rumor goes that some old-timers are not happy...The poster child of the art world, NFTs are ubiquitous (I covered NFTs last year in one of my posts). After three years of schlepping around art fairs, I finally can recognize same artists and galleries, and the experience is not a complete vertigo, but still overwhelming especially carrying all my equipment like a sherpa. But I wouldn't do it any other way, and the best thing about shows, is meeting new interesting people. I just wish I could do more and better... Whoever is watching, if only one person, enjoy and thank you! Plain Jane 😘
Greaves Productions 