A totally modern and iconic artist. Patti Smith is New York. She is
representative of NY culture from the seventies through to today.
What better way of staging an event like this than with a celebrity of her
calibre.”

Patti Smith celebrating the launch of the new NY store with Ennio Capasa.
Look at the video of the event and Patti Smith’s performance.

And for the inauguration scheduled a very special guest: Patty Smith with a surprise performance.

Don’t forget your invitation!

HAVE A LOOK TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT

ART BASEL, BASIL
THURSDAY 5 JUNE
DAY 3

I’m woken by a police helicopter landing on the roof 30 yards from my hotel room.

At breakfast I read in The Art Newspaper that this year sales at Art Basel have been as good as always though slower than usual and that many Americans stayed at home preferring to send their agents instead.

So the profession of art-agent/consultant – Personal Art Shopper? – appears to be becoming more widespread and organized.

Today is Big Gallery Day and I’m going to visit the stand of Massimo De Carlo, Milan.

Among other things he has brought his large round carpet “Belpaese Galbani” by Maurizio Cattelan (slightly left out in the cold – we expect to see it in the passage);

ART BASEL, BASEL
WEDNESDAY 4
DAY 2

 

At 10 I go and have breakfast at the Rosental Garage – a one-time garage and car dealer’s not far from the exhibition centre where Chiara and her team have rigged up the temporary editorial unit of Uovo, the international art magazine based in Turin.

There I also meet up with Daniele Balice (he runs a gallery in Paris), the critics and curators Luca Cerizza and Francesco Stocchi and Palo Zani of Milan’s Galleria Zero, one of my favourites.

A temporary installation has been set up – a fountain made from materials found in situ earmarked for destruction before the end of the event.

Francesca trails me with her camera and TV equipment.

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JUNE 1
TUESDAY 3 JUNE
BASEL (SWITZERLAND), ART BASEL

It seems as if each version of Art Basel draws more people and becomes more complicated. On the first morning we study our map and plans and greet our friends. Entrance to the pavilions for collectors and VIPs is at 11 o’clock: early access to the stands and galleries means being able to buy before the rest.

Marketing and hierarchical strategies are in full swing.

At 11:30 the venue is already swarming.

I tag along with Selva who’s got a project on in the area of galleries specializing in photography.

Just 9 people so far.

At the Corkin gallery of Toronto you can see the latest works by the British concept artist Iain Baxter.

He lives in Canada and creates fascinating interactions and startling contrasts between aspects of nature and humanity.

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A stroll around ART BASEL, a global forum for collecting, exhibiting, discussing and creating art, with Massimo Torrigiani.

He is a very special guest , an old friend of Ennio Capasa as well as editor of Rodeo – the art, fashion and design magazine- and Boiler a contemporary art projects magazine.

Follow his diary with features on the most interesting exhibitions, emerging artists and the Art Basel life-style as you sip an oh-so 1970s absolut white drink at the Baragraph in the old town or hang out with the “art design victims” up in the Bar Rouge, on the 31st floor of the Messeturm.

Ennio Capasa has always been a great fan of the cinema and recently hosted an exclusive dinner to honour the leading actors of the film BLINDNESS. Directed by Fernando Meirelles the film kicked off the world famous Cannes Festival movie review.

The CoSTUME NATIONAL soirée also saw the launch of “La PLAGE”, the temporary Cannes-based restaurant of the Paris Hotel Costes

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On the occasion of Milan’s “Salone del Mobile” Furniture Fair, Ennio Capasa and CoSTUME NATIONAL sponsored the opening party of the retrospective exhibition “Insegna anche a me la libertà delle rondini”dedicated to the designer and architect Fabio Novembre.

The party was held on Thursday 17 April beneath the porticoes of Milan’s suggestive Rotonda della Besana where Novembre’s works are on display.

“Fabio is a good friend and a highly talented and creative person,” commented Ennio Capasa “I am glad Milan is dedicating this personal exhibition to him.”

Fabio Novembre and Michele Lupi – director of GQ, the other co-sponsor of the evening - presented themselves wearing items from the Costume National Homme collection.

Lapo Elkann and Ora Ito also attended the event.

Rotonda di via Besana
Via Enrico Besana 12 - 20100 Milano (MI)
11 aprile - 8 giugno 2008