Art Basel, billed as the” premier international art show for modern and contemporary works,” returns to Miami Beach this December.  Although it is an International Art showcase and will be in Miami, such close proximity to the Caribbean, some feel that the art from our islands had been underrepresented until last year when a collections of 14 artists from around the Caribbean were featured. Included in this group was David Muir’s Pieces of Jamaica. For those who may not be familiar with him, David is a Jamaican photographer and author. He attended Campion College and FIU and now resides in Sunrise, Florida.

Pieces of Jamaica is a beautiful book of David’s photographs depicting life in Jamaica – as it is, not as television and movies make it seem. The photographs are realistic and poignant. For Art Basel 2012, the Pieces of Jamaica exhibit also included wall murals and performance art that complemented the photographs, indeed the vibe, of Mr. Muir’s work. With more than 50,000 international visitors (according to the Art Basel website), it offered Mr. Muir and other artists a significant level of exposure.

 “I loved making it in. I was thrilled, and remain thrilled, to say my work was shown in Art Basel. However, was my work seen or noticed? I’m not sure”, said David Muir about his experience at Art Basel, “Participating in Art Basel has brought my art attention and recognition. As a result of the cumulative effect of much marketing (including my participation in Basel), my art and the resulting book, Pieces of Jamaica, have enjoyed successful and buoyant sales and much praises from those who have reviewed.”

This year, Art Basel will be held in Miami Beach from December 5th through 8th and the Caribbean community here in Florida is looking forward to the event and to seeing our islands’ represented once more. I for one look forward to “discovering” new and exciting artists from our islands and from around the world.