Scope Fair Performances, Drug Coffins, Jumping Brains and More

photo by Carlos Suarez De Jesus

David Rohn The Amazing Ultran

​Boasting a rainbow circle of brain toads, a coffin full of pharmaceuticals, cash money, bullets and condoms, not to mention a swami fortune teller greeting visitors at the entrance, the Scope Art Fair returns for its eleventh edition to remind us of the circus tent atmosphere we tropical culture vultures love flocking to this time of year.

Housing 80 international galleries with some of the edgier programs you'll encounter during Basel week, Scope's image has gotten a facelift courtesy of Miami's Anthony Spinello and Andrew Persoff, who have rebranded the fair. Spinello also had one of the more attention-commanding spaces at the entrance of the fair, presenting three booths -- all painted black and standing in sharp contrast to the traditional white cube stalls surrounding him.

Don't miss Spinello's curated solos of the work of Farley Aguilar and Sinisa Kukec, arguably some of the best stuff we came across last night at Scope.

Another crowd magnet was Kiwi Project's presentation of William John Kennedy's early '60s photos of Andy Warhol and Robert Indiana, snapped during their ascent to Pop superstardom. It was nice to watch Kennedy fawned over by the silver-maned and Botoxed Gucci and Prada set. One exquisitely tanned grandpa reminded us that we're only as young as we feel by mismatching a pair of Chuck Taylor's wearing one black and one white sneaker to celebrate the autumn of his hipster days.

Scope enjoyed some early sales and Miami Mayor Thomas Regalado showed up with his art advisers to shake hands and slap backs at the event. Other celebs included local talent Brian Burkhardt and Nina Cortes who represent the 305 on Lifetime's Project Accessory show.

As we have come to expect, Scope, one of the top satellite fairs every December delivered a compelling mix of video, performance sculpture, painting, photography and mixed media works that will appeal to most everyone and is well worth the price of admission. Here are some of the highlights:

Courtesy of Spinello Projects

Sinisa Kukec Farewell Fountain

Courtesy of Spinello Projects

Farley Aguilar Dogville

Courtesy of Kiwi Projects Group

William John Kennedy Andy Warhol and Robert Indiana 1963 at Museum of Modern Art New York City

photo by Carlos Suarez De Jesus

Emilio Garcia's Jumping Brains at Black Square Gallery Booth

photo by Carlos Suarez De Jesus

Maximilian Wiedmman's dope coffin at London's Unix Fin Art booth