Miami Life: Art Basel, Faena, Cat Woman, Paul Anka

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The gallery lineup for Art Basel 2023 has been announced, and there are 277 galleries. Art lovers around the world will also be heading to the Faena Hotel in Miami Beach to see what unique installation they will be exhibiting this year—I got a sneak peek. There’s an HBO documentary coming out about Jocelyn Alice Wildenstein, aka the “Cat Woman,” and how she went from riches to rags and now lives in Miami. March 18 may seem like a long way off but it’s not too early to buy tickets to see Paul Anka perform at the Broward Center.

Art Basel Announces Its Gallery Lineup For 2023 Show

Most of the people who attend Art Basel every December can’t wait to see the list of participating galleries. It’s like finding out which actors will be picked to present the awards at the Oscars. You are hoping for your favorites. You might get lucky because this year there will be 24 first-time exhibitors.

The show will have its usual VIP and preview days on December 6 and 7th. It will open to the public December 8th to 10th. The other satellite fairs, including NADA, Design Miami, Untitled, and Scope, will run concurrently.

There are 277 galleries participating this year with a focus on the Latin America scene and the Caribbean diaspora. Art Basel, ABMB, (Art Basel Miami Beach) also welcome galleries from Egypt, Iceland, the Philippines, and Poland. Participating galleries come from 33 countries and regions; nearly two-thirds are from North and South America. They will be joined by galleries from across Europe, as well as a handful from Asia and Africa.

Get the details and the full list of galleries participating at Art Basel Miami Beach 2023.

The Faena Hotel Become a Major Destination During Art Basel

The Faena in Miami Beach has no formal association with Art Basel yet art lovers from all over the world will be going to 3201 Collins Avenue to see what unique installation the hotel will be exhibiting this year. After getting a sneak preview at the plans, I can assure you that they built something so extraordinary that tongues will be wagging for months.

This year the exhibit will be directly on the beach, and it’s called “Maze: Journey Through the Algorithmic Self.” The description says, “A Monumental Immersive Artwork” And “Battle of The Corporate Nations” by Sebastian Errazuriz.

As you can see in the promotional poster, this exhibit is just not for people who love art. This masterpiece will become a destination for anyone who wants to see a creation they never thought possible.

Alan Faena, the owner and creator, designs his hotels to boast unique architecture, modern art and gourmet dining. He currently has locations in Buenos Aires and Miami. Both hotels are more like compounds because they are made up of several separate areas for specific activities. Be sure to explore all of the grounds for unannounced surprises. VISIT FAENA HOTEL HERE.



Jocelyn Alice Wildenstein Is Alive, And Poor, Living in Miami Beach
My husband Eliot keeps asking me how someone who received a $100 million a year, for a number of years, in a divorce settlement, claims to be poor now.  I tell him to watch the upcoming HBO documentary on the reclusive socialite, Jocelyn Wildenstein, aka the “Cat Woman.” It will tell the whole story of her life and how she is surviving on a budget in Miami Beach.

For those of you who do not remember, Jocelyn was married to one of the most successful art dealers in the world, Alec Wildenstein, from 1978 to 1999.  We are talking about billions, not millions. That was the kind of enormous fortune that most rich people never reach. To this day, financial investigators are still questioning the legitimacy of all that money.  Read the recent profile of the entire Wildenstein family in the New York Times.

1-The Sunday Read: ‘The Inheritance Case That Could Unravel an Art Dynasty’

2-Wildenstein Art Dynasty Faces a Tax Trial in France — Again

The New York Times explains that her late husband’s family cut her off and now she has nothing. Some of my Miami Beach friends, who are friends with Jocelyn, say she lives very simply. It’s so difficult to believe considering the fast and famous life she lived in her younger years. Page Six of The New York Post used to follow her everywhere to report on her fashion updates and the latest in her extensive surgeries. Rumors were that she was trying to look like a cat because her philandering husband loved felines. Well, she did a great job accomplishing that.

It’s easy to spot Jocelyn because her face screams “meow.”  There are a lot of other women who have had a lot of facial surgery in Miami Beach. I don’t know what they were thinking. They too resemble cats.  Joan Rivers looked like that for a while. Every time I want to do a little nip and tuck, I think of them. Would I rather live with my ever-increasing wrinkled face, or dare to smooth things out? Time will tell.

Good luck Jocelyn! As Ivana Trump used to say, “Don’t get mad — get everything!”

March 18. Paul Anka at the Broward Center

Every baby boomer in South Florida will want to attend this concert because it might be one of Anka’s last. At 81, how many more times will he be willing to belt out “Puppy Love?”

I could listen to Anka forever. He represents our youth in the most romantic way. He is one of the most successful singer/songwriters in music with over 100 million albums sold. Paul Anka has the distinction of being the only artist in history to have a song on the Billboard charts during seven consecutive decades. This concert will feature his instantly recognizable hits from the last seven decades including “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” “Diana,” “My Way,” “Puppy Love” and “Lonely Boy,” among many others.

A recent ad for the concert said, “Paul Anka is a force of nature and a consummate showman, commanding every audience and playing to standing ovations around the world backed by his all-star band.”

Some of his other signature songs are: “Diana“, “Lonely Boy“, “Put Your Head on My Shoulder“, and “(You’re) Having My Baby“. Anka also wrote the theme for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; one of Tom Jones‘ biggest hits, “She’s a Lady“; and the English lyrics to Claude François and Jacques Revaux‘s music for Frank Sinatra‘s signature song “My Way“, which has been recorded by many, including Elvis Presley. He co-wrote three songs with Michael Jackson: “This Is It” (originally titled “I Never Heard”)[1] “Love Never Felt So Good“, and “Don’t Matter to Me“, which became posthumous hits for Jackson in 2009, 2014, and 2018, respectively.

There are times when I just don’t feel like attending a concert from my youth. I prefer looking forward rather than getting all misty-eyed thinking about my teenage years. However, when it comes to Anka, I will be first on line to pay tribute to one of the greatest performers ever. GET YOUR TICKETS.

 

As Co-Founder and President of HWH PR, Lois Whitman-Hess has been actively involved in public relations for a vast array of business sectors including technology, Internet-based companies, entertainment, law, publishing, fashion, beauty and art. For the last eight years, Lois has authored a daily blog called “Digidame.” It mostly covers her personal journeys as well as tech innovations, art, travel, and entertainment. In addition, Lois co-hosts a weekly podcast called “Lying on the Beach” with TV personality Steve Greenberg who is a contributor on NBC's Today Show. They interview luminaries who discuss their expertise and views on current events.

Lois Whitman-Hess

As Co-Founder and President of HWH PR, Lois Whitman-Hess has been actively involved in public relations for a vast array of business sectors including technology, Internet-based companies, entertainment, law, publishing, fashion, beauty and art. For the last eight years, Lois has authored a daily blog called “Digidame.” It mostly covers her personal journeys as well as tech innovations, art, travel, and entertainment. In addition, Lois co-hosts a weekly podcast called “Lying on the Beach” with TV personality Steve Greenberg who is a contributor on NBC's Today Show. They interview luminaries who discuss their expertise and views on current events.

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