Where are they?: Art Center Sarasota visits Art Basel

Art Basel is a massive, open-air exhibition and gallery space that takes over all of South Beach and downtown Miami for the first week of December. Artists from around the country showcase their work to hordes of arts fans.

Sarasota photographer Arnold Berns went on the trip because he enjoys art and seeing what other artists create. He says he wouldn’t have gone if Art Center Sarasota hadn’t hosted a tour. While there, he photographed some of the art deco hotels in the area. The photos will be displayed in a Jan. 20 exhibition at Studio 41 B&W Fine Art Gallery, 253 S. Links Ave., in Towles Court. He drew a lot of inspiration from the many artists exhibiting, and he paid close attention to how the art was hung to inspire ideas for his own new gallery.

Artist Larry Fogard, who was also on the trip, was equally inspired by what he saw. He compared the experience to a World’s Fair because so many international art enthusiasts and artist flocked to Miami for the event. He mostly traveled by himself because he believes art viewing is a personal experience. If the Art Center goes again next year, so will Fogard.

Amy Ernst said she had such a great experience, she’d like to extend the trip next year to include the pre-parties and black tie functions. As the granddaughter of Max Ernst, she was mostly interested in seeing his contemporaries’ work, but was also interested in printmaking. Ernst, a printmaker, bought three prints while she was there. Ernst has only lived in Sarasota for a year and was hoping the trip would introduce her to other artists in the area. She was glad that her wishes came true.

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