The New York Times send photographer Michael F. McElroy to cover the fair. Here’s some of what he saw. And here’s what Karen Rosenberg had to say:

The art, however, is big — much of it sized for museums, foundations and private warehouses. And the larger scene surrounding the event, which is now in its eighth year, remains daunting, with upwards of 15 satellite fairs and the usual calendar of dinners, parties, concerts and talks. From the evidence here, the art fair, as a species, is not endangered: collectors are too attached to its convenience and competitive vibe. […]

Blue-chip art by Americans is everywhere, from vintage work by Joan Mitchell at Cheim & Read and by James Rosenquist at Acquavella to Alex Katz’s new, eye-popping portraits on cheery yellow and orange grounds, which are at Pace and Jablonka. (The presence of so much high-quality work by sought-after artists may have had something to do with the thriving secondary market fed by collectors in need of quick cash.)

Miami Fair: Big Pieces, Smaller Prices and Relief (New York Times)

New York’s Alexandra Peers reports on Val Kilmer’s purchase of a big Roxy Paine work:

Roxy Paine, whose twisting stainless-steel garden, “Maelstrom,” took over the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s rooftop last summer, is the main fair’s art star. Actor Val Kilmer, a relatively new art collector, is here in Miami and has arranged to purchase the huge sculpture that the Met had on display, people familiar with the matter say. James Cohan Gallery, which represents Paine, won’t confirm this, but Jane Cohan notes that Kilmer “recently met the artist and is really excited by his work.” As for Kilmer, chatting tableside at the W Hotel with John McEnroe last night, he didn’t comment on the purchase but did say “I’m building the world’s biggest sculpture garden at my ranch in New Mexico.” The price was undisclosed, but Eli Broad, the collector who has his own building at the L.A. County Museum of Art, bought a smaller Roxy Paine from the gallery, this one for about $500,000.

So much for a sober ABMB this year. The Wall Street Journal‘s Candace Jackson reports that the parties are back on as long as they’re not being sponsored by the corporate folk:

Late Wednesday night, singer Santigold, in a sparkly top and silver pants, performed underneath al fresco chandeliers at the Raleigh Hotel in South Beach at a bash thrown by New York art dealer Jeffrey Deitch. Throngs of partiers sat at VIP tables or stood in the sand underneath palm trees, holding their stiletto heels and sweating in the late-night humidity while sipping pink Campari cocktails. “There’s no compromise,” said Mr. Deitch of his annual Art Basel fetes, which always feature an up-and-coming musical act. “We go all the way with parties.”Continue Reading

Lindsay Pollock offers a few more sales from ABMB:

Zach Feuer

• New York real estate developer Arthur Zeckendorf attended the opening with one purchase in mind: a work by Dana Schutz “Hugging, Mugging, Climbing,” depicting two intertwined, sneaker-clad boys who appear to be doing all three at once. he had seen only in digital form. […] “This is beyond my expectations,” he said, concluding he would take it. By the afternoon, Feuer confirmed he had sold all six Schutz paintings to various buyers, priced $45,000 to $100,000.Continue Reading