Art: Second Saturday for Dummies, Part I: Beginner
By Shana Mason
Not to sound harsh, but unless you’re a) fresh off the plane from New York, Los Angeles, London or Paris (and not meaning from vacation there), b) a curator, consultant or museum professional, or c) one of the three-dozen or so galleries between Wynwood and the Design District, this guide applies to ALL of you.
Two years ago, Second Saturday Artwalk felt very different than it does today. I ran a gallery for a brief time in Wynwood, and each event was terrifying. Young ramblers seeking out free alcohol and meandering hoodlums would come perilously close to spilling wine on exposed canvases. Not one gallery could hope to make a sale because of the rambunctious attitude of the party-goers. It all felt hopeless. And yes, the galleries themselves offered drinks and such to passers-by, but I can assure you that they all wanted what I wanted out of the experience: a genuine experience, so to speak. It simply seemed like a disorganized street parade.
Now, with the sectioned-off food trucks, late-night bands outside on NW 2nd Avenue and a slew of foreign art aficionados flooding the streets, Second Saturday is getting to be serious business. This is a good thing, a VERY good thing. To keep it as such, though, Miami has to do its part. So here are a few pointers to getting an artful, intellectually and recreationally enriching evening:
- Plan on which galleries you’d like to see. Even if you arrive around 7:30 or 8pm, it will take you some time to wander through the crowds and to physically get in front of the art.
- Since this art-viewing thingamajig is a new frontier, don’t step into a gallery where you’re immediately going to say ‘this is ridiculous. I don’t understand this.’ The next step will offer good ‘starter’ galleries for you.
- Galleries and environments with user-friendly approaches to contemporary art do exist in Wynwood, and their directors are well prepared to answer even, what may seem to be, the most basic questions. A few examples: Miguel Paredes Studio, the Wynwood Walls, Ideobox, Kavachnina Contemporary and Ascanio Gallery are all reasonable choices for first-time art curios.
- Part of the Second Saturday experience is the food. Whether you choose to hit the streets for the food trucks (which serve everything from tacos, to ice cream, to pizza) or join the hip crowd at Joey’s, Wynwood Kitchen & Bar, Morgan’s or Gigi, make sure you leave at least an hour to eat, digest and then continue onwards. If you decide to eat towards the end of the evening, you’d do well to make reservations at a sit-down since the crowds do intensify later on.
- If you’re looking to document your experience with a camera, ask the gallerists first if it’s permissible to take photos. Artists are very sensitive about copyright and fraud issues, so it never hurts to ask first. Most galleries welcome photography, but some installations or works might be damaged by the flash (the same logic applies for works in a museum).
- Take literature with you when you leave the gallery. Even if it’s a card or a pamphlet, it will make you more comfortable knowing names when you return for your next Artwalk. Also, this is a great way for the galleries to keep you in the loop about future exhibitions and exciting news.
- If you’re serious about purchasing an artwork during Second Saturday, its often a hectic atmosphere for the gallerists and guests alike, so it might not be the best time to whip out your checkbook. Approach the gallerist and express your interest, leave your information, and follow up on Tuesday or Wednesday (most galleries are closed Sundays and Mondays). They will have ample time and attention to work with you then.
- Tell others about your great experience! Wynwood is still developing its own identity and there’s no greater press than word-of-mouth.
The next column will feature more in-depth routes into the heart of Wynwood, including more challenging galleries to absorb and ways to engage keenly and quickly. The ultimate goal is to be an art connoisseur on-the-fly: to be able to appreciate and take in the experience of Second Saturday without feeling grumpy or overwhelmed. And even after you’ve read through all of this, we all (and that does mean galleries and experts alike) have a LONG way to go.
