Scoping out Art Basel

Our first stop after we get some sleep is Basel, Switzerland. We will have to take the train from Zurich (our home base for 4 days). I think it is about an hour away.

Art Basel is the only Art Fair we are going to. It runs for only a few days so I expect it will be very crowded with lookers and buyers. We will need to get tickets and I want to do that before I leave home.

Art Basel takes place in two halls in the Swiss Exhibition Center. Hall 1 was constructed in 1999 by a Swiss architect and art collector Theo Hotz. I believe it is constructed out of glass. Hall 2 was constructed in the 1950s by Hans Hoffmann. Art from 300 galleries will be on display. Maybe one of us will come home with something new.

A new idea this year will be a curated project between two artists. Supposedly there are 16 of these. There will also be 25 one-person shows by young artists. I am most interested in this.

One of our first stops I hope will be to see the "Untitled Concert" developed by Rirkrit Tiravanija from Thailand. I can't really tell what it is, but time is June 11 at 7pm. After I hear it I'll make some more comments.

Be sure to stop in daily for our updates.

Anish Kapoor in Chicago

Washington's Corcoran Gallery of Art docents visit this sculpture in Millenium Park. Read more about the artist Anish Kapoor. The angle is so strange because it is reflected in this gigantic bean that is one of the highlights of the Park. You can also see a beautiful sculpture/band shell by Frank Gehry.

Help? More on the phone problem

I thought technology would be easy. After all, IM is readily available. But yesterday Ilearned my phone will not work in Europe. I can buy a new phone and a SIM card. Then I can upgrade my own cell phone to international for a small cost. Finally, when I am ready to leave, I will arrange to forward my calls to my new phone. Supposedly that will let me make calls from Europe for a fraction of the cost.

Should I believe this? I can't imagine that it will happen.

Does anyone out there have a better idea?

Maril with the Gulf of Finland in the distance

Our Grand Tour

Every ten years these 4 events occur at the same time. So 2007 is the year to take the GrandTour. While Art Basel is an annual occurrence, the Venice Biennale occurs every other year. Documenta is on a 5 year cycle.

Munster Skulptur Projekte is on a 10 year cycle. The first such project began in 1977. Considered controversial, by 1987 it received an international recognition. They deal in public sculpture. AT least two artists have appeared more than once. Michael Asher in each of the years with an installation called Installation Munster Caravan and Thomas Schutte in the three of the four installations.

So here we go. We will try to publish pictures from each venue if possible.

Eleven Days and Counting

In less than 2 weeks, we will be departing for our own GrandTour of the art happenings in summer 2007. Tickets, hotels, etc. have been arranged. Now the fun begins.

Art Basel is our first stop. I'm not sure what to expect, but if it is anything like Art Basel Miami, we are in for huge crowds. We don't plan to buy anything, but then you never know. We will fly into Zurich and stay there as well. We plan to make our way by train between the two cities.

Documenta 12 is next on our list. We hope to drive there from Frankfurt. While in Kassel, Germany, we will also visit the other sights, including the birthplace of the Grimm brothers.

Munster Skulptur Project is our third place. A train ride takes about 2 hours, but we will go by car.

Venice Biennale is our last stop on this tour. Flying from Frankfurt, we will reach Venice and stay near the Accademia Bridge.http://www.grandtour2007.com/ should provide an overview.