Art Basel's 8th Annual Master's Mystery Art Show

Nov. 22, 2011 - PRLog -- (MIAMI, Florida, November 2011) Celebrity designers, established and emerging artists from Miami and around the world and one of Miami’s “showman mixologists” converge November 30 at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach to launch Art Basel with the 8th installment of the Master’s Mystery Art Show (MMAS) to raise money for the Florida International University Master’s in Fine Arts Program. The private, evening cocktail reception, sponsored by Don Q, attracts art aficionados, fashion designers and the curious who purchase original 6x9-inch works of art signed on the back to reveal the artist’s name only after their sale. The mystery creates an artistic “whodunit” as guests sip cocktails and buzz around the mini masterpieces to identify and collect works to add to their collections. This year, some of the world’s top fashion designers are using white t-shirts as their canvases to create wearable art that knows no bounds. Each piece will be an original expression of the designer and be auctioned off that evening. As the only party of its kind during Art Basel, it is a coveted invitation and one of the most entertaining opening night parties. The show opens to the public the day after for one day only: Thursday, December 1 from 12 to 7 p.m.
Each mini masterpiece is just $50 each, with all proceeds benefitting Florida International University Master’s in Fine Arts program. More than 1,500 original 6 x 9 works of art are created by more than 300 artists from 31 countries. This year’s event features the TM Sisters, Monica Lopez De Victoria and Tasha Lopez De Victoria. They work in the mediums
of video, digital video performance, VJing, collage, social experiments, zines,
clothing, installations, and interactive video created along with their brother
Samuel and their art has been featured in publications like L’Officiel magazine, The Guardian, STEP Inside
Design, the New York Times, Vogue Italia, and on the cover of ARTnews
magazine for its 2007 “25 Trendsetters” article. Jillian Mayer is a visual and performance artist exhibiting her work across the US and internationally and is part of the permanent collection at the Frost Art Museum and the Girl’s Club Collection. Mayer's latest video work has been screened at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Art and at the Solomon Guggenheim Museum in NY, Bilbao, Venice and Berlin. David Castillo, holds degrees in History and Art History from Yale University and the Angelicum in Rome. Since 2000, he has dealt in important Latin American, European, and American secondary market works. He assists private clients in building their collections in addition to managing David Castillo Gallery and has lectured on various topics in art.
In addition, this year’s renowned Fashion Designer’s and Artists creating one of a kind T-shirts that will be auctioned the night of the opening, include: Romero Britto, Peruvian born Eduardo de las Casas who was recently at The White House, Mexico’s own Pineda Covalin, former head Designer for Bill Blass and Perry Ellis, Jacqueline Quinn, Uruguay’s most recognizable Fashion Designer Sergio Gau, Miami’s Top Designer’s Julian Chang and Viviana Gabeiras, to mention a few. The bidding for the t-shirts begins at $50.
The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, one of only two recognized “Art Hotels” on South Beach, is a complete restoration of an original 1953 Morris Lapidus-designed landmark in the city’s historic Art Deco district with personalized services and amenities unique to the property, including the Art Basel Ambassador, an art aficionado who, with advanced notice, creates personalized Art Basel itineraries for guests based on their time and interests, and the Club Level, the only VIP level of any South Beach hotel. It is the only Ritz-Carlton in the country with music choreographed for every location at different times of day by renowned music stylist, Felix Cutillo, who broke ground as the first music curator for Bergdorf Goodman. The oceanfront hotel has the largest Mobil Four Star spa on Miami Beach, the world’s only Tanning Butler, a multi-million dollar art collection, and is conveniently situated steps away from Lincoln Road, a thriving 10-block pedestrian esplanade with myriad dining, shopping, entertainment and nightlife options.
For reservations or additional information, please contact your travel agent, The Ritz-Carlton toll-free at 1-800-241-3333, the hotel directly at 786-276-4000 or www.ritzcarlton.com.

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