“The Future of the Arts in South Florida: A Conversation between Thom Collins and Dennis Scholl.”
On Friday, 14 January
Thom Collins, Director, Miami Art Museum
Dennis Scholl, Miami collector and Vice-President/Arts and Miami Program Director, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Thom Collins, recently appointed director of Miami Art Museum, talked about the future of the museum and the City of Miami with Miami collector Dennis Scholl, who is involved with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Arts Partnership, an initiative that has given millions in grants to South Florida cultural institutions.
“Better than expected” was the resounding refrain among exhibitors as the first edition of the Miami International Art Fair (MIA) drew to a close on Sunday, Jan. 10, when attendance spiked, bringing the official count for the fair, which opened Jan. 6, to 17,000 visitors. Expectations are lower in the current economic climate, especially for a new venture, but attendance was further affected by unseasonably low temperatures that nearly froze Florida and kept some locals at home. (Margery Gordon for Artinfo.com)
This was the setting for an interesting bit of conversation on a late Friday afternoon. People don’t normally come to art fairs to hear speakers or presentations. They come for the art.
There have been, however, good talks on art at all the art fairs over the years, if one wanted to attend one. They have been more than readily available.
Miami Art Museum recently broke ground for their new building on its future site overlooking Biscayne Bay. In June, 2010, MAM named former Neuberger Museum of Art head Thom Collins as Terrance Riley’s successor, and the new director has had his job cut out for him keeping the skeptics at bay. Your author has honestly been one of them, although I have always wanted the museum to succeed.
Collins talked about the “Utopia” in which we live. That the museum space is a place that presents a reflective way to see the outside world, was how it was discussed.
This “New” Herzog & de Meuron structure will also break ground in the way the museum will be designed as a non-linear configuration, with exhibitions open to new ideas about display, and with new exhibition and educational spaces. Also being planned are a number of undesignated social spaces where people can gather informally if they so choose to. The venue will also be media intensive and have various media embedded into its design. One thing that had been previously mentioned was how the programmed darkening of the windows and temperature control in those areas where glass is exposed to the sun, would be cutting edge technology.
One important discussion ended the meat of the conversation, and that was about the Miami Art Museum’s collection. Collins feels the collection as it is at the moment is less important an issue than the press is making out. He feels the collection will take care of itself as the museum grows, in the same manner as many other great museums have done.
Although I’m not sure the art fair was the best place for the conversation, it was appropriate that Thom Collins was out amongst the art public. We should have more of it. Actually, that will happen as Thom Collins will be at the Art Palm Beach art fair on Sturday, 22 Jan., at 5:00 pm.
Fair Information
239 495 9834 or info@ifae.com
Location
Palm Beach County Convention Center
650 Okeechobee Boulevard
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401