Meet a Mom with Spring McManus
Art Basel Miami Beach is just around the corner and the US edition of the art fair based in Basel, Switzerland, transforms the entire city into one of the world’s most exciting contemporary art-world experiences, known as Miami Art Week.
South Beach, Midotwn, Wynwood, Design District, and Downtown are all must visit destinations to take in all the show has to offer. Art Basel is the main exhibit and held at the newly reconstructed Miami Beach Convention Center. The event runs December 5th-9th with VIP previews starting December 4th.
Around the city, you’ll find many satellite fairs that are also a MUST during Miami Art Week. Many of the fairs can be visited for reasonable admission prices and kids 12 and under enter for free.
With Great pleasure, I like to introduce a friend and fellow Miami Mom, Spring McManus. Spring, a mother to two adorable girls and native Floridian, is an art advisor and all around great resource when it comes to art and culture in Miami. Take a look at our interview below to learn
For More Information on fair locations, hours, and ticket info: More Info
Meet a Mom Interview
- How long have you lived in Miami?
I moved here with my family five years ago from New York.
- How old are your girls?
I have two daughters, age 3 and 6.
- What is your favorite restaurant to grab a bite with your munchkins?
Cecconi’s at Soho Beach House on Monday nights or Ironside.
- Describe the perfect Miami Day with you kids?
The perfect Miami day with our girls begins with a little exercise, a swim in our pool, bike ride, or hitting a few balls at the Morningside tennis courts where we live. We love our beach days too, so often we will spend the afternoons swimming and playing on the beach.
- In addition to being an amazing mom, tell us about your work in the art world.
Before we moved to Miami, I worked at Christie’s in New York and then in private art galleries. Once we had our daughter, we began to make plans to return to Florida and I started my art advisory business. I work with a wide range of collectors from those that are just beginning to collect art to very established collectors – toprovide them with access to artworks and expertise. The process of building a collection is very much a collaboration and an exchange of thoughts and ideas based on many factors.
- What genre of art are you most passionate about?
My expertise is in Modern and Contemporary Art. I am currently curating an exhibition focused on our oceans, to help raise awareness and funds for ocean conservation. I am passionate about art as a form of activism and how it can inspire change. The exhibition will take place this winter in the Design District.
7. What are your top 3 Must See exhibits/shows during Miami Art Week?
The top fairs that I recommend during art week include the main Art Basel fair; Untitled; and Art Miami. If you don’t live in Miami, I highly recommend visiting the Perez Museum to see Teresita Fernandez mid-career retrospective. It is a great exhibition for kids as well. If you live here, you can see it any time before it closes on February 9th. I always recommend trying to really understand an artists’ career so that you are buying into the artist not just one artwork and Teresita’s show provides incredible insight into her body of works and process for the last twenty years and you can really get behind her work. You want to see this level of inventiveness in an artist and it is sometimes difficult to do this at an art fair where you see one or two works by an artist.
8. How do you bring art into your children’s lives?
Art has always been a part of my children’s lives. From the time they were babies, we have always brought them to museums, galleries, and artists studios. When we travel, art is always a part of our itinerary. We also have an art table set up in our living room where the girls can constantly be creative. They always have art supplies ready so that drawing and painting is always an activity.
9. Where is your favorite place to view art in Miami with kids (YearRound)?
It depends on the exhibitions, and we rotate to the Bass, ICA, and PAMM and also the private museums including the de la Cruz Collection, Margulies Collection, and Rubell Museum.
The Rubells have just opened their new space in Allapattah. Jorge Perez has also just opened his new museum, El Espacio 23.
10. Art Fairs can be tricky with kids, are there any venues during Art Basel that lend themselves to a child friendly environment?
It is great to bring children with you to the fairs for a limited time. The attention span is usually about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on their age. Reward them with an ice cream or treat after and talk about what you have seen. You can engage them by asking them to pick their favorite work in each booth that you visit, bring a sketch book, and encourage them to draw their favorite work as they remember it afterwards. Art Basel is launching their large-scale sculpture, paintings, installation, and film program, Meridians, where they will be presenting monumental works in their new grand ballroom. I would recommend ending with this as the scale of these works has a way of leaving a lasting impression.
- Art Basel also has a kids camp that I recommend so you can extend your visit.
- UNTITLED will also have large-scale site-specific installations in Lummus Park and children under 12 admitted free.
- Also don’t miss the Art Basel Cities: Buenos Aires, large scale sculpture in Collins Park.
11. If someone wanted to learn more about your services, how could they get in touch?
You can reach me on my email, [email protected] or 917.376.8975
12. Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Living in Miami, we are so lucky to have Art Basel in our city, but it is only for one week. There are so many wonderful museums and galleries here that need our support the rest of the year so take it slow during Art Basel. It can be visual overload so I recommend focusing in and taking pause when you see something you like to really absorb it and learn more about it. Ask the gallerist or curator lots of questions! The more you know and the longer you look, the greater the reward.