A good café is a dream factory.  I've found café dreams often come true.

It was two years ago at exactly this time.  Art Basel Miami was cranking up the bass beat and I was in Verona on a cold sunny morning with that clear sharp light of late fall covering everything and my hands wrapped around a hot cappuccino.  Veneto-style with foam that never dies.

The ArtSlant team had been at an Italian spa in the Dolomites regrouping after a hectic summer.  Taking the seaweed treatments, so to speak.  Actually it was more of a once-in-a-lifetime extravaganza than a necessary experience.  Yoga in Italian – now that’s relaxing.

Having been without caffeine for a week, we raced down the mountains to Verona and landed in front of Borsalino to remedy the pounding headaches.  The piazza was filled with the murmurs of morning musings and we spent the next few hours dreaming about the ArtSlant website and re-acquainting with the jolt of a good Italian roast.  (Of course, at that time the ArtSlant name was still unknown).

Here it is two years later and the Miami is up again – how many fairs?  24? Something like that.  That clear sharp light of late fall is covering everything in Los Angeles and ArtSlant is a reality, a thriving reality. 

We're covering Los Angeles and New York, getting ready to open San Francisco and Chicago, and having lots more dreams in lots more cafes.  The ArtSlant community of artists and art professionals grows everyday and our writing teams keep the words flowing.  All in all, Mr. Toad, a glorious ride.

I spent yesterday dropping into a few shows.  Everything was so  nice and quiet.  Kristin Dickson, ArtSlant's director in LA, came with.

We saw the beautiful new Honor Fraser space on La Cienega and toured the Gardar Eide Einarsson exhibit.  We had a fun-filled visit with Kim Light before she left for Miami, and stopped by Cardwell Jimmerson and Susanne Vielmetter.  And for a perfect end, we watched Slater Bradley singing in the rain at Blum and Poe while the sun held forth outside.  It was all wrapped up with a strong café con leche, Cuban-style with a bass beat that just won't quit.  (photo: Slater Bradley, installation view, courtesy the artist and Blum & Poe, Los Angeles; @ Joshua White)

Tip for the Week:  Using Your Blog

For those of us who decided not to do the Miami, we need those blog reports to make us feel a part of!  Isn’t the world a better place with all the bloggers typing away?

If you haven’t done so already, take advantage of your personal blog attached to your ArtSlant Profile.  Simply go into Edit and enter your blog title in the required field down at the bottom of the ad form.  A Blog Title distinguishes you and makes your blog public on ArtSlant.

Then go into Add a Blog Article in your Profile Actions Box and start blogging.  Please be sure to leave the date in the date box.  Apparently, there could problems if you remove the date.  Blogs are time-based.

Thanks for all the good art you bring to us!

- georgia