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Instead of Trying to Become a “New You” This New Year, Focus on Being More of the Real You.

Took me a while to figure out what I wanted to say for this new year. What I wanted to write about… and then this morning I read the quote -  “Instead of trying to become a “new you” this new year, focus on being more of the real you." This so resonated with me. The New York hustling and personal development fanatic in me is genuinely interested in seeking ways to be the fullest expression of myself. Especially when the new year can feel drenched in this notion of “you need to change.” Which can translate to: you are not enough. 

While I am always a supporter of growth, to be truly kind to ourselves, it needs to be done in lock-step with self acceptance. What if this new year we operate from the space of some radical self love. Truly believing that “I am enough.” Being a dress size smaller or gaining another Instagram follower won’t change how we feel, if our belief around our worthiness is misaligned — none of those things will truly make us feel fulfilled. 

What if this year we decide we are truly worthy of - 

less burnout, less fear, less trying to control, less limiting beliefs, less obligation, less negative self talk, less worrying about the future 

…and more rest, more play, more allowing, more courage, more doing things that we truly want to, more self celebration, more real connection, more self love, more enjoying the little moments as much as the big ones. Never apologize for how big or unattainable your goals may seem to you, take one step forward. A lot can change in a year, a lot of lessons, memories, healing, change — half of it is the goal, the rest is the hustle you put behind it, you just need to realize it’s already inside the real you, wake up - you are worthy of it!

Here’s to a new year and a new decade.

Art Basel 2019: Design Miami/

Art Basel comes to Miami once a year and it’s like the Super Bowl for the design world. Its a global forum, where collectors, designers, and art-lovers alike come together to check out the new and exciting world of design.  Most of Art Basel (or Art Miami) is more than just a marketplace, its where the world’s top galleries gather to present museum-quality exhibitions.  It’s always difficult to narrow down the best work, but this year was especially hard — there was SO much going on. Plus if you’re like me and tried to cram it all in a day or two… it’s hard to take it all in. Luckily I had my team to help me during Day 2 at Design Miami/.

Beats by Fernando Laposse (Design Miami/ 2019)

Design Miami/

Last day of Art Basel, I spent my Sunday morning at Design Miami/ surrounded by the world’s best collections all under one tent.

Known as the sister fair to the Art Basel: Miami Beach, it is directly across the street from the Convention Center. Design Miami/ “balances exclusive commercial opportunities with progressive cultural programming” basically they create an opportunity for collaborations between designers and design institutions, in all aspects of design: architecture, art, fashion, decor, products.. etc. Plus Design Miami/ hosts a variety of panels and lectures with the design world — so it was a lot going on in this tent. Thankfully I had my Basel team (aka: hubby + cousin) to keep me company as we explored. Upon entering Design Miami/, a grouping of Instagram-worthy Pink Beasts, by artist Fernando Laposse in collaboration with fiber artist Angela Damman, hung to welcome visitors. Which we, of course, laid in the hammocks and took photos with. Pink Beasts (and Fendi Roman Molds) were among the most talked-about / insta-photographed creations at the fair.

This year the fair had an interesting theme, an environmental approach, through the “Elements: Water” which many of the collections translated in their presentations. Very similar to having an art concept, a few notable on-theme presentations were: Swarovski’s presentation Water, Lexus’ The Sunshower, and Evian’s One Drop Can Make a Rainbow (each a collaboration with an artist or designer). Other themes also emerged that forged “conceptual foundations linking designers of the past with those of the future”; such as Marcel Wander’s folding lounge chair for Louis Vuitton Objets Nomades.

FENDI presents Roman Molds by Keung Caputo

Courtesy of James Harris

Lexus presents The Sunshower by Nao Tamura

Swarovski presents Water 

Courtesy of James Harris

Miami Design District presents Pink Beasts by Fernando Laposse

Courtesy of James Harris

TAKT PROJECT presents glow grow : pottery

Maison Perrier-Jouët presents Metamorphosis by Andrea Mancuso

Courtesy of James Harris

SCAD

Savannah College of Art and Design

Luis Pons Design Lab presents Tangara Collection by Luis Pons

Courtesy of James Harris

Luis Pons Design Lab presents Tangara Collection

Sarah Myerscough Gallery presents White Perma by Marcin Rusak

Courtesy of James Harris

FENDI presents Roman Molds by Kueng Caputo

Like walking on a cloud or a dream — Roman Molds, a collection from Zurich-based design studio Kueng Caputo, combines FENDI’s iconic “Roman leather and versatile, unpretentious terracotta brick in ten pieces meant to be building blocks that in multiplication create a series of intimate rooms” for socializing and exploring the grand loggias of FENDI’s HQ in Rome, the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana. The exhibit was so beautiful and probably the backdrop for most Instagram photos at Design Miami/ this year.

Lexus presents The Sunshower by Nao Tamura

This installation brought the relaxing beauty of sunshowers (rainbow colored rain in the sun) and the brand’s ideology in “omotenashi (hospitality), takumi (artisans), and the indoor-outdoor philosophy of engawa”. At the center of this relaxing space was a Lexus LC Convertible, a “vehicle that dazzles in rain, shine — or both”. There we had samples of ooho, an innovative water capsule made of seaweed extract. One was plain water and another sample was water infused with floral ——. Quite the sensational experience, ooho explodes in your mouth, and yet has a calming effect.

Swarovski Presents Water

Water is fundamental to the Swarovski business which uses the Alpine rivers that provided the energy and fresh water supplies essential to crystal production. In 2000 the company established Swarovski Waterschool, a community investment program that inspires present and future generations to practice sustainable water use. This installation explored Swarovski’s longstanding and extensive work in water stewardship and education. The installation is an escape from the noise of Art Basel into a green rain forest with crystal “water” droplets hung above you.

Design Miami 2019 - Simply Gharib

Design Miami 2019 - Simply Gharib

Marcel Wander’s folding lounge chair

for Louis Vuitton Objets Nomades.

Sarah Myerscough Gallery presents White Perma by Marcin Rusak

Porky Hefer: molecule-shaped seating pods

ESPASSO presents Fine Tuning by Claudia Moreira Salles

Swarovski Presents: Water

Miami Design District presents Pink Beasts by Fernando Laposse 

The Miami Design District is no stranger to art & design. Bordering Miami’s art districts (Wynwood), MDD is home to upscale boutiues in a walk-able 6-block radius full of artistic installations and sculptures. For Design Miami/, MDD has chosen the London-based Mexican designer, Fernando Laposse, for their “2019 Neighborhood Commission, where he debuted Pink Beasts: long, pink sisal tassels, hammocks, and sloths suspended through the trees”. To become the main entrance piece and one of the most talked-about / insta-photographed creations at the fair.

Louis Vuitton Presents Objets Nomades

Louis Vuitton continues to “transport its heritage into new territory with an enriched Objets Nomades collection of foldable furniture and travel accessories”. The design house dominates in fashion and design — both of which I consider an art form in itself. So when it comes to furniture design they did not disappoint, because how cool would it be to own this trunk coffee table! There are now 17 Objets Nomades.

Always reinventing itself, Louis Vuitton has collaborated with some of the most creative up-and-coming and established designers working today. Paying homage to the House’s special pieces of the past, such as the iconic Bed Trunk which is translated into a new contemporary interpretation for the Lounge Chair. Marcel Wanders: the Lounge Chair, was new to this year’s presentation, is “an unfolding and portable oasis for relaxation. The three individual modules fit into each other like a puzzle” according to Wanders.

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A post shared by Nora Gharib (@noritagharib) on Dec 13, 2019 at 9:18am PST

The funky, experimental, and artistic furniture pieces weren’t the only ones that stood out this year. Most of us were stopped in our tracks curiously trying to understand (what I found out is) a clock! Made up of rotating planes, the pieces move to create individual numbers (much like a digital clock number). The 15:30 also known as 3:20 pm, was the time I took the photo pictured. Alls fun at Design Miami/ every year, the exhibits are a different experience, and they never disappoint.

Friedman Benda (Design Miami 2019)

Art Basel 2019: Scope Miami Beach

Art Basel returns to Miami Beach (December 5-8, 2019) once again serving as a centerpiece for the biggest week of art in the USA. If you haven’t been before (or haven’t heard of it before), don’t worry, you’re not alone. Last year I quickly covered the basic gist of Art Basel — regardless, it is an experience. And with social media bringing to light so many things this country has to offer, Art Basel should definitely be a bucket list item to experience! So I suggest you arm yourself with a strong Cuban cafecito before starting Art Basel, it is quite the art journey.

There are so many questions around Art Basel, especially with the infamous $120,000 banana (that I felt was all people could talk about) quickly became viral. Although Vogue does a great job at explaining the banana piece, titled Comedian, by Maurizio Cattelan. True”old-school” Art Baselers question if Art Basel Miami is still fun — meanwhile I am here to say that I personally still enjoy attending. Its an accumulation of public art and installations, events, parties, and of course, the fairs — big fairs like Art Basel, small fairs, satellite fairs like PULSE and Scope, and everything else that could be even loosely described as art. This year I had the pleasure of touring through the different art fairs as press — which may seem small, but it was a first time achievement on my end!

Scope Art Fair

For Day 1, I figured what better way to start Art Basel than with a view of Miami Beach from Scope Art Fair. Right on South Beach, near the hustle and bustle of Ocean Drive, sits the Scope fair (rainbow) structure. Every year, Scope Art Fair comes to Miami Beach (literally on the beach), and each year I fall in love with the art. Since I had already missed so much of Art Basel week, I jumped right into it with “Big Girls Need Big Diamonds” (by Isabelle Scheltjens) of Audrey Hepburn as the first piece I came across. Scope is such a huge mixture of art, that even through conversations with others who attended, I quickly realized you could walk around for hours yet always find something new! From Audrey Hepburn, to Sveta Esser’s take on pixelated paintings of Lady Liberty and Frida Khalo, (which reminded me a bit of the Chuck Close art I find in museums). Writing this all now, it seems like the pieces that really made in impression on me, were the ones featuring powerful women.

I adore contemporary art, but I appreciate conceptual art the most. This goes back to when I first started learning about art in high school and came across Marcel Duchamp’s famous “What Is Art?” question that changed and challenged the art world entirely. So, if you’ve kept up with Art Basel, most likely you’ve heard of the $120,000 duct taped banana (and the performance artist who ate it)… As a friend of mine said in an Instagram message “I love his comic approach to art” — referring to the artist, Maurizio Cattelan. With that said, I appreciate art that makes me think and question.

The strongest concepts are those that are relatable to life, so when I came across Tim Okamura’s series called “The Message” I was mesmerized. He is known for his depiction of African-American and minorities subjects in urban settings. His pieces at Scope all featuring diverse women (rocking the curls I might add) looking just as girls you’d find in real life. I even wondered where one of the painted women got her “Everybody VS Injustice” hoodie from. Pieces that make you think or feel are the strongest ones in my book and Scope Art Fair did a wonderful job at featuring so many.

Another artist I came across goes by the name Porkchop, he's from New Jersey of all places! He creates his art from found objects, although they look like ceramic pieces, he said it is a mixture of wood, styrofoam etc. He molds, shapes, and sands them down then paints and covers it in resin to give it a finished look. The inspiration behind each piece is a mixture of different religious motifs and any found object he finds interesting. How do I know this? Well he was literally standing right by all his artwork. What I love most about Scope (and all Miami art fairs) is the up close connection you can get with the artist and/or the gallery representing them. If you’ve ever walked through an art museum and wondered what the concept or story behind the art is — well at Scope… you can just ask.

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Art Basel (day 1) back in the sunshine. Hope my stories weren't too crazy 🌞

A post shared by Nora Gharib (@noritagharib) on Dec 7, 2019 at 5:56pm PST

SPOEK 1 by Ralph Ziman

That was all Day 1 of Art Basel 2019 (at least for me, because I was late!!). It was a crazy hell of a day, but I loved it all. Scope 2019 did not disappoint. Aside from the art, of course, Miami Beach can do no wrong — we lunched, we danced, we went out for dinner. Art Basel as a whole is an experience. (Which bears far better fruit than a banana…)

Brosse Arrêtée by Jean Paul Donadini

Art Basel 2019: Pulse Miami Beach

Art Basel returns to Miami Beach (December 5-8, 2019) once again serving as a centerpiece for the biggest week of art in the USA. If you haven’t been before (or haven’t heard of it before), don’t worry, you’re not alone. Last year I quickly covered the basic gist of Art Basel — regardless, it is an experience. And with social media bringing to light so many things this country has to offer, Art Basel should definitely be a bucket list item to experience! So I suggest you arm yourself with a strong Cuban cafecito before starting Art Basel, it is quite the art journey.

There are so many questions around Art Basel, especially with the infamous $120,000 banana (that I felt was all people could talk about) quickly became viral. Although Vogue does a great job at explaining the banana piece, titled Comedian, by Maurizio Cattelan. True”old-school” Art Baselers question if Art Basel Miami is still fun — meanwhile I am here to say that I personally still enjoy attending. Its an accumulation of public art and installations, events, parties, and of course, the fairs — big fairs like Art Basel, small fairs, satellite fairs like PULSE and Scope, and everything else that could be even loosely described as art. This year I had the pleasure of touring through the different art fairs as press — which may seem small, but it was a first time achievement on my end!

Pulse Miami Beach

Moving on to PULSE Art Fair, which is more up north on Miami Beach (a bit similar to Scope). Pulse is also right on the beach and boardwalk, near the Foutainbleau Hotel. It was a jam-packed day running from Scope to PULSE, but I was on a time crunch having missed most of Art Basel (full-time Architect over here lol).  Art Basel has come to encompass art events all over Miami. Technically, Basel is what happens in the convention center, but I love PULSE, especially this year. It truly was an escape from the mania of Art Basel. For its 15th year anniversary, PULSE theme was “calms in the palms” as they described it to be “an oasis of calm in the rough seas of Miami Art Week.” — which I must say it truly was. First thing you see is the tank parked right outside the entrance, but inside it was (not as crowded as Scope) all beachy “vybes” of CBD-infused cocktails and relaxing hammocks among the art and waterfront setting. Each art fair has its own vibe, with a different experience — that is the beauty of Miami art week.

Of course the first highlight at PULSE was Ralph Ziman’s SPOEK 1 sitting right by the entrance. It’s a restored 11-ton decommissioned, apartheid-era Casspir vehicle. The Casspir has been transformed into a work of art, its surfaces covered in 70 million elaborate and brightly-colored glass beads, arrayed in panels of traditional patterns. Aside from the giant 1970s tank, my absolute favorite pieces were the Le Travail est Un Art Series by @PrinceJyesi. Which I actually came across his “Projection” piece on Instagram before, I remember taking a screenshot, it was absolutely beautiful. So it was quite the pleasant surprise to see it in person, along with the rest of Le Travail est Un Art series of vibrant colors and African beauty.

“Love by The Yard” series (by Vicky Barranguet) featured long paintings, almost tapestry-like scrolls, of acrylic on canvas, where you become a part of Vicky’s world. Becoming a part of the artistic process is exactly what this artist hoped for. Which I think she succeeded because even one of my followers DM’d me saying it was satisfying to watch. Whether you look at it up, down, or sideways, Barranguet’s paintings drew me in, in a very lyrical and spirited manner.

“ Art is about love and emotions… we certainly cannot buy or sell love, patience, kindness, solidarity, compassion. [Art] contains essential values, contrast, darkness and light, dreams, reality and life.” — Vicky Barranguet

View this post on Instagram

Art Basel (day 1) back in the sunshine. Hope my stories weren't too crazy 🌞

A post shared by Nora Gharib (@noritagharib) on Dec 7, 2019 at 5:56pm PST

Love by the Yard by Vicky Barranguet — Artemisa Gallery, PULSE Art Fair 2019

Prince Gyasi, Le Travail est Un Art Series, 2019

That was all Day 1 of Art Basel 2019 (at least for me, because I was late!!). It was a crazy hell of a day, but I loved it all. PULSE 2019 did not disappoint. Aside from the art, of course, Miami Beach can do no wrong — we lunched, we danced, we went out for dinner. Art Basel as a whole is an experience. (Which bears far better fruit than a banana…)