Scope Miami, Photo AFC
I’ll tell you what; Scope’s emerging artist grantees improve every year, the floor plans and organization of their booths has gotten better and their curatorial programs have seen real growth. All of this may be meaningless however, if the fair cannot start attracting quality exhibitors. They might also start refusing a few of the crappier galleries willing to pay their booth fees, or they’ll see the whole ship sink.
Sara Cook and Robert Munn’s Depthography (Center). The Proposition
Take husband and wife team Sara Cook and Robert Munn, who specialize in 3-D art; while the effect of their “depthography” loses something on this computer, this kind of familiar arcade poster doesn’t really need more attention than it already received through the mid 80’s. The Proposition‘s booth as a whole has an almost delightful so-bad-it’s-good quality to it, but it seems to come without the artist’s or gallery’s awareness, which of course renders it virtually meaningless.
Imagine this booth replicated with variation by 100 and you’re looking at Scope. It’s really not worth discussing all the bad work that was shown last week — there’s simply too much of it — but since I liked some of the Scope commissions I’ve posted a few below.
Dennis Oppenheim, Safety Cones, Photograph AFC
A self depreciating public sculpture? We approve!
Boris Hoppek’s Entrance Installation, Photograph AFC
This large and moderately appealing sculpture sits in the center of a spacious sitting area near the front entrance. As far as I could tell the inside was largely used as additional storage space, which means the man pictured inside the sculpture isn’t part of the piece.
Situ Studio and Matthew McGuinness
A reasonably decent biomorphic form graces the entrance of Scope. Situ Studio and Matthew McGuinness leave viewers with the mistaken impression that there was average work at the fair.
{ 31 comments }
Hasn’t this been obvious for awhile?
Since year one they seem like they’ve fallen behind the other start-ups. I have no idea how many people go, what they spend, etc but any fair that show’s Mike Weiss Gallery obviously needs help. (and not from Charlie Finch’s paid op-ed’s, either.)
Hasn’t this been obvious for awhile?
Since year one they seem like they’ve fallen behind the other start-ups. I have no idea how many people go, what they spend, etc but any fair that show’s Mike Weiss Gallery obviously needs help. (and not from Charlie Finch’s paid op-ed’s, either.)
Hasn’t this been obvious for awhile?
Since year one they seem like they’ve fallen behind the other start-ups. I have no idea how many people go, what they spend, etc but any fair that show’s Mike Weiss Gallery obviously needs help. (and not from Charlie Finch’s paid op-ed’s, either.)
I heard people bought a lot at that fair, which is presumably why they are still around. Sadly, Mike Weiss would be one of their stronger exhibitors.
But yea, it has been obvious for a while. They are a big fish because they got in early, but they are really suffering now with the satellite fair competition.
As a writer, there’s a limit to the number of Scope sucks for the fifteenth hundredth time posts I can write (it gets boring), so after a while, I try to either find something good or not write about them at all. They are still too big to ignore entirely.
I heard people bought a lot at that fair, which is presumably why they are still around. Sadly, Mike Weiss would be one of their stronger exhibitors.
But yea, it has been obvious for a while. They are a big fish because they got in early, but they are really suffering now with the satellite fair competition.
As a writer, there’s a limit to the number of Scope sucks for the fifteenth hundredth time posts I can write (it gets boring), so after a while, I try to either find something good or not write about them at all. They are still too big to ignore entirely.
There is never a limit.
There is never a limit.
There is never a limit.
The quality galleries that apply don’t get in or get treated poorly when the participate. So, needless to say, don’t apply again.
The quality galleries that apply don’t get in or get treated poorly when the participate. So, needless to say, don’t apply again.
The quality galleries that apply don’t get in or get treated poorly when the participate. So, needless to say, don’t apply again.
I’ve heard that had been a big problem 1 1/2 – 2 years ago, but hadn’t heard anything since. I hope they are getting their act together, though at this point it may already be too late.
I’ve heard that had been a big problem 1 1/2 – 2 years ago, but hadn’t heard anything since. I hope they are getting their act together, though at this point it may already be too late.
I’ve heard that had been a big problem 1 1/2 – 2 years ago, but hadn’t heard anything since. I hope they are getting their act together, though at this point it may already be too late.
You got your facts wrong in this article. Robert Munn & Sara Cook are not and never have been married. They also sold most of the work they had at Scope Miami this year. Sounds like sour grapes on your part.
You got your facts wrong in this article. Robert Munn & Sara Cook are not and never have been married. They also sold most of the work they had at Scope Miami this year. Sounds like sour grapes on your part.
Ana: The gallery told me they were a husband and wife team. I didn’t fact check what the gallery had told me, I assumed they would know. Additionally, I made no statement about how well their work sold because its purchase has no bearing on its intrinsic worth as an object. It’s still lousy work.
As for Scope, I wish them only the best, and hope they can pull their fair together. Criticism isn’t sour grapes or personal in any way. It’s simply an honest evaluation of what I’ve seen.
Ana: The gallery told me they were a husband and wife team. I didn’t fact check what the gallery had told me, I assumed they would know. Additionally, I made no statement about how well their work sold because its purchase has no bearing on its intrinsic worth as an object. It’s still lousy work.
As for Scope, I wish them only the best, and hope they can pull their fair together. Criticism isn’t sour grapes or personal in any way. It’s simply an honest evaluation of what I’ve seen.
I agree completely with the above critics.
SCOPE will now rebuild its exhibitor list for NY08, Basel 08 and London 08.
This is our number one goal
I agree completely with the above critics.
SCOPE will now rebuild its exhibitor list for NY08, Basel 08 and London 08.
This is our number one goal
I agree completely with the above critics.
SCOPE will now rebuild its exhibitor list for NY08, Basel 08 and London 08.
This is our number one goal
I hope you all will keep up the feed back so we can realize our potential.
Thank you again AFC for always being a straight shooter.
I hope you all will keep up the feed back so we can realize our potential.
Thank you again AFC for always being a straight shooter.
Unfortunately the non-blue chip art fairs are suffering from Ralph Nader complex. And right now there’s too many Ralph Naders. They are all taking away from each other, and none from the big dog. If they could collaborate and combine their best exhibitors, they’d have a shot. There should be 3 levels of exhibiting during any of the major art fairs. The Million dollar mark, the mid career, and the emerging artists. Right now, you either shop at Basel, or you shop at any of the 4 satellites. It’d be nice if people could hit them all.
Solution? Get the small art fairs to collaborate on promoting the shit out of one massive alternative fair with more glitz and glamor then Basel. Make it a legitimate stand alone fair rather then the bastard stepchild. No offense to any bastard step children.
Unfortunately the non-blue chip art fairs are suffering from Ralph Nader complex. And right now there’s too many Ralph Naders. They are all taking away from each other, and none from the big dog. If they could collaborate and combine their best exhibitors, they’d have a shot. There should be 3 levels of exhibiting during any of the major art fairs. The Million dollar mark, the mid career, and the emerging artists. Right now, you either shop at Basel, or you shop at any of the 4 satellites. It’d be nice if people could hit them all.
Solution? Get the small art fairs to collaborate on promoting the shit out of one massive alternative fair with more glitz and glamor then Basel. Make it a legitimate stand alone fair rather then the bastard stepchild. No offense to any bastard step children.
This is just censorship of art and wrong. The artists who you criticize are very innovative. Robert Munn and Sara Cook showcased depth as an abstract effect in the lenticular medium. Who else in the world has showcased that to this date? You totally missed the boat.
This is just censorship of art and wrong. The artists who you criticize are very innovative. Robert Munn and Sara Cook showcased depth as an abstract effect in the lenticular medium. Who else in the world has showcased that to this date? You totally missed the boat.
This is just censorship of art and wrong. The artists who you criticize are very innovative. Robert Munn and Sara Cook showcased depth as an abstract effect in the lenticular medium. Who else in the world has showcased that to this date? You totally missed the boat.
Ana: Nobody is censoring anyone. If Scope wants to show bad work, it’s up to them. The fact that it’s bad work however isn’t a debatable topic.
Ana: Nobody is censoring anyone. If Scope wants to show bad work, it’s up to them. The fact that it’s bad work however isn’t a debatable topic.
Ana: Nobody is censoring anyone. If Scope wants to show bad work, it’s up to them. The fact that it’s bad work however isn’t a debatable topic.
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