Art Fort Lauderdale 2020, A Welcome Change of Pace
As we all hunker down and isolate in attempts to curb the impact of COVID-19, what better time to catch up on some overdue reviews of great experiences from earlier in the year. In the coming days and weeks we’ll be revisiting some events from better days, as well as looking ahead to a hopefully brighter future and things to look forward to for after the dust settles.
While generally I avoid going north of NE 163rd street or south of Downtown, every now and then something will force me out of my cozy 305 centralized bubble. Art Fort Lauderdale proved to be the siren’s song that would lure me all the way up to the 954 for the second time since the fair started. Having just completed its fourth annual edition the fair is not yet deeply embedded, but has proven up to the challenge of delivering an experience worth returning for year after year.
A unique concept, the fair takes artwork out of the usually dry and sterile tented and convention center environments we’re used to and puts them into vacant multi-million dollar homes along Ft Lauderdale’s Intracoastal waterways. The homes, available for purchase in addition to the art, are diverse in size and style with each one showcasing a curated range of work following different themes. Don’t worry about navigating these upscale neighborhoods and getting lost by the way; there are designated water taxis that shuttle you from one house to the next along the canals (which also means you can enjoy some adult libations without worrying about a DUI). This aspect alone turns the fair experience from one that’s usually more stressful marathon than anything else into an enjoyable leisurely outing. The number of houses has fluctuated year to year but it’s always a balance of enough to see without having to rush your way through any of them.
It seems so logical, and yet co-founders Evan Snow and Andrew Martineau were the first that I’m aware of to connect the dots and bring something like this to life. Taking the idea of a marketplace for serious art buyers, and making it feel like something different than an upscale flea market or trade show. Going one step further and linking the real estate market with the commercial art world, two things that already kind of go hand in hand. They’ve managed to forge partnerships with real estate agencies, artists, gallerists, and a variety of others bringing everyone together for a sum greater than its parts.
The art on display was impressively diverse, though there was a bit more traditional contemporary art and installations. In addition to your usual canvases and sculptures, there were some nice unique work that was more adapted to interior design and furniture. Another nice touch with the fair was the easy to use option of scanning QR codes next to each piece pulling up details and the ability to purchase it on the spot.
Below you’ll find a selection of some of the pieces that caught our eye:
Keep tabs on the latest developments with Art Ft Lauderdale HERE on their website and we’ll see how things are looking by the time the next edition rolls around.