Robin Reiners of Gallery DeNovo had been planning a trip to the 17th annual International Modern and Contemporary Art Fair in Miami Beach since she first learned of being accepted in mid-September 2006.
Preparations for DeNovo's artists' work and creating their booth was an organizing feat that included shipping 1,500 pounds of art filling five crates.
Preparing to fly after one of the year's largest Gallery Walks in Ketchum on Thursday, Dec. 28, Reiners was hit with the very unexpected news of her father's death. Changing her flight to Nebraska and weathering a very dicey ice storm, Reiners managed to make her father's funeral and reconnect with her family during this difficult time.
Meanwhile her husband, Michael, was in Miami preparing their three booths for an exhibition on Jan. 5 that would last through Jan. 8. Artist and close friend Andrew Lui came to DeNovo's aid and assisted in laying out DeNovo's art while in a convention center that was nearing 100 degrees due to a lack of air conditioning.
All things aside, Reiners finally arrived in Miami on Jan. 4 and was able to attend a VIP evening with more than 120 galleries from all over the world. They represented well-known artists such as Paladino, Picasso and Motherwell, to name a few.
"It was very international with people from Europe and South America. It was a whole different audience," Reiners said. "I had to say we were from Sun Valley, but people did recognize Ketchum because of Hemingway."
Reiners described the show's attendees as mostly high-end collectors and interior designers who brought their clients, but she also saw lots of people who were just plain art lovers as well as other galleries seeking artists.
"We, too, connected to galleries where we were looking to find artists," Reiners said.
In addition, Reiners mentioned there was lots of discussion on the meaning of a museum in a community and how that was changing.
There was a great deal of work being sold and, oddly enough, inquiring show patrons wondered why DeNovo did not raise prices.
"We explained that many of our artists are internationally shown, mostly outside of the U.S., and we work very hard to keep pricing consistent with all other markets," Rieners said. "It is our goal to continue to represent these artists, sell their work and gain them exposure so that their work appreciates due to strong demand and a broad collector base."
Rein de Lege only shows through Gallery DeNovo, and the response to his work in Miami was phenomenal, according to Reiners.
"We seemed to be the last one at the end of a 14-foot-long hall and the Rein de Lege face painting drew people in," Reiners said. "We came very close to selling out of his work with over 24 his paintings sold."
DeNovo also sold four Marta Moreu bronze works, six Sjer Jacobs's pieces, and details are still being worked out for four to five of Andrew Lui's pieces.
With the excitement of such a vibrant show, Reiners described how at the end of the day she and Michael would pour themselves into bed.
"There was one party that started at midnight and went to 5 a.m. With selling so much work, we had to re-hang art every day," Reiners said. "I don't know how people did it because we were exhausted."
Gallery DeNovo was excited to meet other galleries and work on expanding relationships instead of perhaps opening additional galleries.
"I want to grow and expand beyond our gallery," Reiners said. "Through these art fairs and working with other galleries we can give our artists more exposure."
Gallery DeNovo?s booth at 17th Annual International Modern and Contemporary Art Fair in Miami was a fair bit warmer than the gallery?s Ketchum home.
