While the acquisition of all forms of art is a constant for the Sagamore, recently a special emphasis has been placed on collecting Video Art, with the goal of turning the Sagamore into a renowned venue for video artists throughout the world. To broaden the recognition of this art medium, we have been working to create an annual video competition to be judged by major museum and art institution representatives. To this end, we've been working closely with the Lincoln Center in New York City, who will also soon exhibit a video art collection.
Art videos are essentially mini-movies, often written, produced, directed by and starring the artists. Art videos often seek to convey a message about society, its people, events or quirky items of interest, and in doing so they push creative boundaries to make truly unique pieces.
We have dedicated several areas exclusively for guests to view a menagerie of video art, including the art video lounge, the front lobby and the art video garden. For those who wish to view these mini-movies complete with sound, full videos run 24/7 in the art video screening room. The Sagamore Hotel is proud to be the first hotel to feature this highly engaging new art medium.
A robust burst in art appreciation has propelled Miami squarely into the art scene, establishing it as the third most important venue for contemporary art in the world, behind only Chicago and New York. Six major art museums are located in the Miami and Miami Beach area: the Lowe Art Museum, the Bass Museum of Art, the Frost and Wolfsonian Museums at FIU, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA), and the Miami Art Museum (MAM).
In addition, there are four major worldwide collectors living in Miami who open up their private collections to the public: the Martin Z. Margulies Collection, the Rubell Family Art Collection, the Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz Collection and, of course, the Sagamore Collection.
We encourage you to discover and enjoy the great art showcased throughout our city. You may visit these museums and private collections on your own, or a VIP tour can be arranged through our concierge.
The Sagamore Hotel has evolved into "The Art Hotel" due to its extensive private rotating art gallery, personally overseen and privately owned by Cricket and Marty Taplin, proprietors of the hotel. The Sagamore Collection is a showcase of contemporary art, including oils, acrylics, water colors, photography and mixed media sculptures by nationally recognized and world-renown artists. The Taplins have spent over 15 years assembling this unique collection, featuring artists from, among other places, the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden and Norway.
The majority of the art in at The Sagamore Hotel is purchased through recognized, reputable art galleries from around the world and many of the artists featured in The Sagamore Collection have their works displayed in museums and other important private collections. Rarely are works purchased directly from an artist. It is through the owners' confidence in these galleries together with the curator's eye and knowledge of the market that this collection has evolved.
The curator of The Sagamore Collection is Christine "Cricket" Taplin, one of the owners of the hotel.