Merry Christmas!

So, this will be my last post seriously involving miami. I was waiting for Seth to post about Miami, since i didnt want to be a post hog, but now that its Christmas, its time. As Santa is finishing delivering gifts to children around the world, i am delivering Santa from Miami. For some reason the first picture i took of art while in miami was of santa being eaten by a polar bear. and then i started to notice everytime there was a santa in the artwork. It seems like such an odd subject for contemporary art, but then again, who doesnt love santa, a big, jolly fat man who breaks into your house and brings you gifts one night a year. in the spirit of full disclosure, i'm kind of a freak about christmas. i love christmas music, and own way more cheesy christmas movies than anyone in their rightful mind probably should. my house is totally decked out for the holidays, and my tree makes me super happy. so this blog makes sense for me. It seems that most if the images of santa are perverse when used in a contemporary art setting. And as i think about it i am reminded of creepy Paul McCarthy video. In fact, Paul McCarthy may be the leader in weird, creepy Santa art. Therefore, it is fitting that even at Art Basel there was an example of santa art, and it was by McCarthy. He is now mass producing chocolate "Santa with Butt Plug," which you can buy to take home and enjoy. He's done this same image as giant outdoor sculpture, which i think is amazing. At first you're just thinking, oh, its santa holding a christmas tree, but then the christmas tree starts to looks suspicious. good times. I have a friend who works for Paul McCarthy in LA. and he described mccarthy as a discheveled santa type figure, and yes he does kind of look like him.Of course i've always thought of Baldessari as Santa (well, or the abominable snowman.) As the final image from my santas from miami i give you a portrait of an artist as Santa. At the Margulies Collection they had portraits of artists, and for some reason Spencer Sweeney was dressed as Santa Claus in his. So, thats it for Santa in Miami, not alot, but then again, probably more than i would have expected. While we were in miami though, it was Chanukah, and my friend Bari happens to be jewish. So we got a menorah, and celebrated the festival of lights and tried to play the dreidel game, though seth was convinced it played more like spin the bottle. There is a large jewish population in South Beach, and i dont think i've ever seem so many menorahs, and rv's full of jewish men spreading Chanukah joy. I hope everyone out there has a wonderful holiday season, weather you believe in Santa or not.