Visiting The Bass Museum of Art
My calendar is always filled with business meetings, speaking engagements, and other media appearances, but whenever I travel, I always try to fit in visits to new places that are both informational and inspirational.
During my recent trip to Florida, a group of friends and I stopped at The Bass Museum of Art - a contemporary art museum founded in 1964 by the City of Miami Beach. The Bass Museum of Art is highly recognized for organizing solo museum exhibitions by distinguished artists from the United States and around the world. While there, we walked through “Art with a View” by Italian artist, Paola Pivi, and an exhibit titled "Ferngully" by Los Angeles-based designers, the Haas Brothers.
Here are some photos - enjoy.
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- This is one installation view of The Haas Brothers’ Ferngully exhibit. The twin artists hoped to capture a sense of childlike wonder with this display. It features animal sculptures in various shapes and colors – creatures made from Icelandic sheepskin with oversize heads and bronze legs.
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- This work is called Shaka King (2016) – the twins added a lot of humor in the names of their pieces.
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- And this is called Rita Chaise-worth (2017) – made from gray Icelandic sheepskin, cast bronze and carved ebony. It is 90-inches in length.
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- In another room – bronze toadstools embellished with colorful glass beads. These whimsical pieces were made in collaboration on beaded works with a group of South African women who dubbed themselves the Haas Sisters.
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- This is a closeup detail of the beading on Cream of Some Fungi (2016).
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- This is called Zitney Spears (2016) – also made of glass beads, wire and mixed fiber stuffing. This piece stands just 15-inches tall.
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- This is called Spotley Crue (2017) by the Haas Brothers – another glass bead piece with cast bronze.
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- This piece, Nangamso (2015) measures 32-inches by 14-inches by 27-inches.
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- These are three ceramic art pieces called Father Vases (2018). In all, the Brothers filled more than two large rooms showcasing their sculptures – from early works to pieces created specifically for the show.
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- Here’s a furniture piece called New Jersey Turnspike (2018), made from velvet, walnut wood, blown glass, electric wiring and light bulbs. This seat measures 60-inches by 50-inches by 50-inches.
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- This trio of fiber optics illuminated beaded palm treed are titled John Palm Goutier (2018), Pope John Palm (2018), and Palm Grier (2018). These were created using glass beads, waxed paracord, copper, carpet, steel, LED fiber optics and electrical wiring. They stand between 10 and 12 feet tall.
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- And this installation is called Cacti (2018). The Haas Brothers used velvet, brass and poly-fiber fill to make these 19 “cactus” plants all in various heights.
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- Here is a closer look at one of the “cactuses” complete with spines.
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- We also visited the works by Paola Pivi in an exhibit titled “Art with a View”. This piece is Call Me Anything You Want (2013). Paola Pivi is know for her use of varied media. Among the most well known are Pivi’s canvases covered with thousands of strings of pearls.
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- Each of the 20 separate compositions is made with thousands of delicate fresh water pearls in subtle shades of colors.
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- This is also by Paola Pivi – Untitled (muskox), (2008). A muskox is an Arctic hoofed mammal noted for its thick coat and for the strong “musky” odor emitted by males during mating season.
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- This Untitled (zebras), (2003), is a photographic print mounted on aluminum.
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- Here is another photo piece called Untitled (donkey), (2003) – also part of Paola’s “Art with a View”.
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- In this room, Paola features a display of constantly rotating bicycle wheels adorned with bird feathers. These spinning wheels provide a somewhat hypnotic experience.
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- The 10-pieces are installed on the museum’s white walls, allowing visitors to focus on the mesmerizing rotations. This is titled I Love Spinning (2016), and is made from aluminum and turkey feathers.
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- This one is I Don’t Have a Name (2016) – made from aluminum and ostrich feathers.
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- This room shows Paola’s globally recognized feather-covered polar bears climbing up the walls, sprawled on the floor, and hanging from the ceiling.
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- This is titled I Am Vitamin C (2018), and made with urethane foam, plastic and orange colored feathers.
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- Paola named this Mama, No More Diapers Please (2014).
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- And this is I Love My Life (2016).
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- World Record is a new installation created especially for this exhibition. It is comprised of two horizontal planes, each made of 40 white mattresses. The entire space is empty in this photo, but the piece encourages guests to enter, rest on the mattresses, and explore the work as a way to investigate the ‘space in between’. If you are ever in Miami, please visit The Bass Museum of Art – its exhibits are fun and thought provoking. Go to their web site for more in formation on their current and upcoming shows. https://thebass.org/
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