Miami Art Week is in full swing in South Florida, anchored by Art Basel Miami Beach. We were on the scene for parties in the area that featured the performer Janelle Monáe, the filmmaker Harmony Korine and prominent figures from the art world.
Harmony Korine Introduces Miami to Edglrd
Camila Cabello with Harmony Korine on Thursday night in Little Havana. Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
The pop star Camila Cabello greeted Harmony Korine enthusiastically on Thursday night just inside El Palenque nightclub in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.
Mr. Korine, the filmmaker and artist, drew about 600 people, including Ms. Cabello, to the sprawling space decorated with red neon lights. It was an introduction, for many, to his new design collective, Edglrd, pronounced “edge lord,” which is a reference to internet trolls known for courting and relishing in controversy.
“I just want to work on future content,” Mr. Korine, 50, said, adding, “I just think it’s what comes after linear logic. What’s more sensory? What’s more integrated into a specific feeling or the kind of things that are beyond simple articulation?”
Inside the club, the D.J. pit was surrounded by LED screens with visual effects and animation mimicking Mr. Korine’s new film, “Aggro Dr1ft,” which was screened this year at film festivals in Toronto and New York.
The crowd at the event included the comedian Hannibal Buress, the artist Alex Israel and the skater Evan Mock. The party was hosted with Boiler Room, an online broadcaster and club promoter. The night opened with a set from AraabMuzik, who did the score for Mr. Korine’s film, followed by BLP Kosher, a rapper from Florida, and Yung Lean, a rapper from Sweden.
Around 1 a.m., Mr. Korine, wearing a skull-like yellow mask with horns that was a nod to “Aggro Dr1ft,” stepped up to a turntable for what he said was his public debut as a D.J.
Mr. Korine described the sound, an aggressive blend of Brazilian phonk with elements of trap music, South Florida rap, ’90s pop and metal, as something made by “gamers in favelas.”
Around him, people in white body suits and masks bobbed to the beat of the music, and women with long, neon green wigs stood still and stared ahead.
To prepare for the set, Mr. Korine said, he was “doing a lot of menthol vapes, a ton of Mountain Dew and eating Sweet Tarts, and sitting on a houseboat, and listening to a lot of Brazilian music.”
He wanted to try his hand at the craft, he said, because, “I just thought it was the right time.”
From left, Barrie Segal, Buck Weiers, Chad Trausch and Stephanie Hoo. Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
From left, Reid Waters; the artist Alex Israel; and Mr. Korine.Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
Dulcinee DeGuere and Lio Mehiel. Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
Hannibal Buress, the comedian.Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
Rachel Korine, an actress and Mr. Korine’s partner.Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
The party, held at El Palenque nightclub, drew about 600 people. Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
Mickalene Thomas Toasts Art Basel with Janelle Monáe
Mickalene Thomas and Janelle Monáe in Miami Beach.Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
On Wednesday night, artists, curators and musicians convened under palm trees for an event celebrating the artist Mickalene Thomas at the Miami Beach Edition hotel.
Ms. Thomas was showing work at Art Basel Miami Beach and had released a capsule collection with Shop with Google, which included T-shirts, a sweatshirt and a baseball cap featuring some of her motifs.
“What excites me about tonight is the community of people here together,” Ms. Thomas said. “It’s about women celebrating women.”
Guests, including the actress Tasha Smith, the musician George Clinton and the gallerist Yancey Richardson, wrapped around a poolside bar sipping rosé as servers passed pepperoni pizza pockets and endive salads.
Around 8:30 p.m., the performer Janelle Monáe climbed to the top of the diving board hanging over the pool wearing a custom cape made of ruched black-and-white fabric roses that she had designed with Rey Ortiz.
“Happy birthday, baby!” the actress Yvonne Orji called out as Ms. Monáe, 38, took a microphone.
Over about 30 minutes, Ms. Monáe performed several of her songs, including “Float,” “Make Me Feel” and “Come Alive.”
“I’m here for you, Mickalene,” she told the crowd. “I love you so much. One of the greatest artists of our time. My friend. My sister.”
As she wrapped up her set, Ms. Monáe walked into the blue water behind her, fully dressed, and swam to the other side.
The audience cheered, and Ms. Monáe returned to the stage, finished the performance and walked off, draping herself in a large, white towel.
The artist MissMe, center. Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
Stephanie Horton, the global consumer marketing director of commerce at Google.Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
Jason Wallace, an artist.Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
Ms. Monáe performed for about 30 minutes. Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
Yvonne Orji, the actress.Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
Gagosian Channels the Amalfi Coast
Jeremy Pope, an artist and actor. Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
On Tuesday evening, blocks from the palatial accommodations of Collins Avenue, a disco ball spun slowly above a pool as a D.J. played a blend of Afro-Caribbean jazz, disco and Italo pop.
Just before Art Basel Miami Beach opened to V.I.P. clients, the blue-chip gallery Gagosian hosted a party at the Freehand Miami, with a crowd of more than 600 gathering in the hotel’s Broken Shaker bar and 27 Restaurant.
The evening was designed, in part, to channel the calming energy of Italy’s Le Sirenuse hotel before a week devoted to art fairs and luxury consumption shifted into high gear.
“Relax,” intoned Antonio Sersale, the proprietor of Le Sirenuse, as he circled the patio with the joyful air of a hotelier who deals in the good life. Servers floated by with fried oysters, and stations were set up with tacos and ceviche.
(Members of Gagosian’s staff, as well as many of the gallery’s clients, are fans and frequent guests at the five-star, family-owned hotel, organizers said.)
The crowd included Jeremy Pope, an actor and artist with work at the Scope Art Show; the photographer Tyler Mitchell; the artist Chloe Wise; and Meredith Darrow, an art adviser whose clients include Kim Kardashian. Guests drank champagne and margaritas by the pool and chatted with work friends. Larry Gagosian, the gallery owner, did not attend.
Ms. Wise, who is showing her work at Art Basel Miami Beach, said she planned to celebrate her birthday, see art and go to the beach.
“I feel very connected to Miami and Florida in a humorous and inspiring way,” she said, specifically referring to the bikini shops near the beach.
She continued: “It’s this combination of something I would like to satirize, something I look at, something I’m participating in, and I find it to be a very American consumerist sort of hilarious, yet meaningful, space.”
Chloe Wise, the artist, and Antonio Sersale, the proprietor of Le Sirenuse.Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
The event was held at the Freehand Miami, and guests gathered in the hotel’s Broken Shaker bar and 27 restaurant.Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
Arman Naféei was responsible for the music for the night, a blend of Afro-Caribbean jazz, disco and Italo pop.Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
Tyler Mitchell, the photographer.Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
LONDON (AP) — With a few daubs of a paintbrush, the Brontë sisters have got their dots back.
More than eight decades after it was installed, a memorial to the three 19th-century sibling novelists in London’s Westminster Abbey was amended Thursday to restore the diaereses – the two dots over the e in their surname.
The dots — which indicate that the name is pronounced “brontay” rather than “bront” — were omitted when the stone tablet commemorating Charlotte, Emily and Anne was erected in the abbey’s Poets’ Corner in October 1939, just after the outbreak of World War II.
They were restored after Brontë historian Sharon Wright, editor of the Brontë Society Gazette, raised the issue with Dean of Westminster David Hoyle. The abbey asked its stonemason to tap in the dots and its conservator to paint them.
“There’s no paper record for anyone complaining about this or mentioning this, so I just wanted to put it right, really,” Wright said. “These three Yorkshire women deserve their place here, but they also deserve to have their name spelled correctly.”
It’s believed the writers’ Irish father Patrick changed the spelling of his surname from Brunty or Prunty when he went to university in England.
Raised on the wild Yorkshire moors, all three sisters died before they were 40, leaving enduring novels including Charlotte’s “Jane Eyre,” Emily’s “Wuthering Heights” and Anne’s “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.”
Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Society, welcomed the restoration.
“As the Brontës and their work are loved and respected all over the world, it’s entirely appropriate that their name is spelled correctly on their memorial,” she said.
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.
Alleged Fraud Scheme
Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.
Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.
Massive Seizure of Artworks
In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.
Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.
Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed
In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.
Court Proceedings Ongoing
The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.
Impact on the Local Art Community
The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.
For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.
As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.
While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.
Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.
As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.
