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La Vida Loca. The only reason not to go
back to Art Basel this year would be
because we hadn’t recovered from last
year’s event. Held in Miami in early December,
Art Basel is the largest and most prestigious art
show in the United States. It features modern
and contemporary art and is like Mardi Gras,
New Year’s Eve, and Cinco de Mayo rolled
into one. Think Lear Jets, Ferraris, Maseratis,
celebrities, supermodels, and conspicuous
consumption. And we haven’t even gotten to
the art yet.
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For art junkies Aniko Gaal Schott and
Marsha Ralls, the sights and sounds of Art
Basel evoke a sense of unreserved abandon: a
kaleidoscope of sumptuous, creative activity
blended with street vendors and sidewalk DJs.
“It’s fascinating to be in a global stampede
of art where $400 million can be spent in four
days – and it’s equally fascinating to observe the
very subtle ways of making a deal,” said Gaal
Schott, a Washington-based interior designer.
For Ralls, a Georgetown gallery owner,
it’s a place to replenish her stock and discover
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new artists while they’re still affordable. “Art
is organically grown – it is the spirit of the
community,” said in a recent interview.
Murano at Portofi no in Miami Beach, the
South Florida home of Washingtonians Hilda and
Arturo Brillembourg, served as welcome mat for
the Washington contingent’s fi rst party (where
guests included JoAnn and John Mason). Cohosted
by Isabel and Ricardo Ernst, the abundant
art and the spectacular view were preludes to an
unforgettable week.
“It’s a unique chance to witness contemporary
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