Why we skipped Art Basel Miami Beach for a trip to Arizona
It’s that time of year in the art world, where flights down to Miami, Florida are filled and the party invites flood inboxes–of a select group–to celebrate Art Basel Miami. This year, instead of heading down to the exclusive parties and well-established shows, we decided to do something different.
We’ve always focused on emerging artists — so it felt justified to consider this time of year through the lens of someone who may not be able to join the festivities in Miami Beach, a traditionally expensive locale that only gets pricier in December. Instead, we thought about all the people across the country who may not yet have had access to see a digital art show in hubs like Miami, New York, or Los Angeles.
Many may not know that there are towns across the U.S. that share a name with Miami, FL, though the population sizes vary greatly. Luckily for us, Miami, Arizona already has an arts scene and a fantastic gallery, owned by local artist Michael Twentythree. He and his community welcomed us with open arms, showing us the true power of art bringing us all closer together.
So, this week, Miami Art Works welcomed four new screens that showcased a moving collection of 30 artworks from Voice. The artists featured come from around the world but could show in this locale without hesitation–another testament to the power of digital art.
Michael speaks eloquently about his decision to build an arts haven in Miami, a small mining town with a population of 1,837. “American artists no longer need to flock to the big cities to find their audience and creative community,’’ he says.
“Art after gentrification means relocation–and rural America has thousands of spots for artists to find community and thrive.”
The week was inspiring and encouraging in all the right ways, and we can’t wait to continue to spread the message of Art For All around the world in years to come.
