MIAMI ART WEEK SPOTLIGHT - ART GAYSEL 3: MÉNAGE À TROIS
By Rafa Carvajal
& Michael Bustamante
Photos of artworks
provided by Hôtel Gaythering
Miami Art Week is back in town December 4-10, and the eyes of the art world are all focused on our Magic City. Thousands of art lovers from around the world are in Miami and Miami Beach, and billions of dollars in art are on display throughout multiple art fairs. From Art Basel Miami Beach, the grandaddy of all art fairs, to Art Miami, celebrating its 28th year, to SCOPE, PULSE, and so many other great fairs, there is plenty of art for us to see, enjoy and purchase. Our Miami Art Week 2017 Guide in this week’s issue highlights the major art fairs, so you can chart your way to all the fairs.
Thanks to Hôtel Gaythering, our LGBTQ community has its very own art fair. We can celebrate queer art like never before during Miami Art Week 2017, as Art Gaysel returns for its third consecutive year, this time cleverly titled “Ménage à Trois.” Art Gaysel’s founder and curator Alex Guerra has expanded the gay art fair to eight Hôtel Gaythering guest rooms, where the artists will sleep and exhibit their works, allowing us get to know them in a more intimate setting. The group show at the Gaythering library will also differ from previous years, upgrading the mini booths for a gallery wall, allowing more artists to showcase their works. This year, Art Gaysel has also incorporated a People of Color exhibit featuring black queer artists, themes and subjects, giving some much needed exposure to gay artists of color who are poorly represented in the mainstream media.
Powered by Absolut vodka, Art Gaysel will take place at Hôtel Gaythering, December 6-10, with numerous events. Opening night will be held December 6, 8 p.m. to midnight, where attendees will be greeted with wine and light snacks as they peruse this year’s fair, with first dibs at purchasing the works. For more information, visit gaythering.com/en-us/artgaysel, where you will also be able to see a lineup of all of this year’s diverse artists.
To preview Art Gaysel 3 Ménage à Trois, Wire Magazine sat down with Alex Guerra to find out more about the idea behind the gay art fair, the events taking place and what attendees can expect this year. We also sat down with Pascual Rodríguez, one of four Spanish artists showcasing their works at this year’s Art Gaysel, to find out what inspires his art and what he is looking forward to the most at this year’s Art Gaysel Ménage à Trois.
Alex Guerra
Rafa
Carvajal: Tell us about Art Gaysel 3 Ménage à Trois. What will
this year’s Art Gaysel entail and how will it be different/better than in the
two previous years?
Alex
Guerra: Art Gaysel is bigger this year! We are expanding the
fair to eight guest rooms, along with the usual space in our Library. The guest
rooms will double as sleeping quarters and exhibit space for the ten artists
and one pop-up shop featured this year. Gaysel enthusiasts will get to tour the
rooms, see and purchase art, and meet the artists themselves.
The group show held in the library will look a little different this year as well. We are trading in our “mini booths” for a gallery wall. The change allows for more artists to exhibit in a gallery setting. This change was crucial as we usually have 13 artists exhibiting, but this year we have over 20. An addition to this year’s show is a dedication to queer artists of color and subjects of color in queer art. Queer artists of color are poorly represented in the mainstream media, but do exist. I wanted to feature some that I have found along with those works of other queer artists with POC (People of Color) in their works. Also back this year is Queef Latina with “Queef’s Corner,” featuring works by local queer artists specifically in the realm of Miami counterculture.
RC:
What is the meaning behind this year’s theme, “Ménage à Trois?”
AG:
This year’s theme is a play on year three and the holy trinity of art (artist,
art and collector).
RC:
How did you select the artists for this year’s Art Gaysel and what type of art
do they focus on?
AG:
Choosing the artists this year was no different than previous years. I spend
the year finding and admiring queer artists on Instagram, and I approach them
to be in the fair. The goal is to find emerging artists and give them a space
during one of the most important weeks in art. Finding representation by a
gallery is not easy, but Instagram has given us a platform to discover these
artists and get to know them in ways you would never know an artist by visiting
a gallery.
RC:
Tell us about your idea behind “An emerging, affordable, gay art
fair.”
AG:
The idea behind an “affordable fair” is to make collectors of every
day individuals who appreciate original art. It affords collectors of many
levels access to accessible art. At Art Gaysel, you can purchase an original
piece of art for $80-$2,000.
RC:
What special events are taking place for Art Gaysel December 6-10?
AG:
December 6 is our opening night from 8 p.m. - midnight. Guests will be treated
to wine and light snacks while they get the very first glimpse at the fair, and
first access at purchasing the works. On December 8, we will be highlighting
two of our queer artists of color – digital collage artist DePaul Vera, and
photographer Derick Whitson from 5-8 p.m. Guests will get to hear what drives
the inspiration for their work in a Q&A setting, featuring drinks by
Hennessey. This event is in conjunction with our monthly “First
Fridays” event, which is a networking event for black professionals. We
just decided to make it a “Second Friday” to coincide with the event.
December 10 is our closing BBQ from 5-8 p.m. with complimentary burgers, hot
dogs and snacks.
RC:
Any standout artists we should look out for this year?
AG:
You’ve basically just asked your mom to pick her favorite, ha-ha. I love all of
these guys, but make sure to check out our Spanish boys, which have made it
across the pond, (some for the first time ever), Pascual Rodríguez, Bran Solo,
Daniel “El Dibujo” and Fran Munyoz – all very talented painters in
different styles. I would also like to highlight DePaul Vera and his digital
collage work, which is saturated in commentary on this country’s current social
climate.
RC:
What is your favorite art piece this year and who is it by?
AG:
That would depend on where I’m looking at a given time. What makes Art Gaysel
extra special is that it’s completely curated, so all the work is my favorite.
RC:
Why did you decide to create Art Gaysel and why do you think it is so important
for our community?
AG:
Art Gaysel is one of those events that make having Gaythering so worth it. We
have created a safe place for our community and allies, and this event is a
celebration of queer life in the form of art.
RC:
Tell us about the new pink rooms at Hôtel Gaythering.
AG:
Earlier this year, I took an image of one of our rooms and photo shopped a new
look. My goal was to revamp the rooms and take Gaythering in an updated
direction, while we go into our fourth year in business. I’m currently obsessed
with what is now known as “millennial pink,” and I wanted to
incorporate it into our “handsome industrial design,” which is mostly
grey, red and black. Needless to say, I’m in love with the change and we are
turning all of our “Large King” rooms into “Blush &
Bashful.”
RC:
Is there anything else you would like to share with Wire Magazine
readers?
AG:
Don’t miss out on what is going to be another amazing year in queer art.
Pascual Rodríguez
Rafa
Carvajal: How did you become an artist?
Pascual
Rodríguez: I honestly don’t know. I’ve been drawing since I was a
child. When I was around 16-years-old, I enrolled at an art school. Two years
after that, I started studying at Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (Facultad
BBAA San Carlos). I began painting with oil paint then and I’ve never stopped.
RC:
How did you get involved with Art Gaysel?
PR:
When I first heard about Art Gaysel, I was having dinner with Bran Solo
(@bransolo) and Daniel J. Cabrera (@eldibujo), two artists that are also
exhibiting at Art Gaysel. They were talking about an artistic meeting,
something about Miami and a hotel. I didn’t know what were they talking about,
but they seemed happy and excited. A few weeks later, Alexander Guerra
(@itstherabbit) told me he was interested in some of my work. He invited me to
Art Gaysel and told me what it was about. I said yes with no doubts.
RC:
What are you looking forward to the most about participating in Art Gaysel?
PR:
First of all, showing everyone there my work, because I think that’s what an
artist appreciates most. On the other hand, I’d love to meet interesting people
and other artists.
RC:
Describe your art style for our readers.
PR:
I’m so bad at describing my own work. I think I’ll say that it’s some kind of
figurative art where guys, the environment, clothes, actions and color palette
become particularly important. I love to paint guys that I would like to touch,
or scenes I would like to be in.
RC:
How has your art evolved over the years?
PR:
In the beginning, I was just into drawing. I think my first paintings were a
real mess. Little by little, I started painting portraits with great patience
and hours of work. Now I paint the human figure, and the themes are more
focused.
RC:
What’s the most essential item in your studio?
PR:
Escoda brushes.
RC:
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
PR:
The Internet. There are lots of beautiful guys I would like to paint there. It
takes time to find the ones I want to paint, of course. I would like to take my
own pictures in the future and paint from them time to time.
RC:
What’s the first artwork you ever sold?
PR: I
can’t remember, but surely it was someone’s grandchild or son. You know, that
kind of painting commission for a beginner, ha-ha. I remember the first
painting I sold through my Instagram account was a male’s chest.
RC:
What work of art do you wish you owned?
PR: I
really don’t know. I guess if I could, I’d love to have an original Harry Bush
drawing.
RC:
What art destination do you most want to visit and why?
PR: I
don’t know. I think there are a lot of good art destinations, so I have no
priorities. The first place I’m able to go, I will.
RC:
Who’s your favorite living artist and why?
PR:
I’m so bad having favorites! Of course I have favorites, but I can’t choose
just one. I could give you a name, but I’d immediately feel bad for the names I
didn’t say.
RC:
Is there anything else you would like to share with Wire Magazine
readers?
PR: I
can’t believe I’m going to Miami! I’ve never been out of Europe.
This was originally published in Wire Magazine Issue 47.2017
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