Miami Art Basel 2012

Last week saw the 12th edition of Art Basel Miami Beach, one of the most prestigious art shows in the USA. Each year, the event attracts more than 260 leading galleries from North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa, showcasing works by more than 2,000 artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. This year's highlights included Spartacus Chetwynd's oversized white cubes at Sadie Coles, a Chanel beachside barbeque and a Silencio pop-up. Instead of its annual party in Miami during Art Basel, MoMA and MoMA PS1 hosted a special benefit for the victims of Hurricane Sandy at the Delano hotel.

Miami is a hive of activity during the event, with events taking place on and off the official schedule, including Design Miami including product, furniture and lighting design. AnOther invited photographer Barabara Anastacio to document Miami during the art fair. Choosing not to restrict her photography to the ticketed events, Anastacio's documentary images give an insight into Miami's characters, iconic buildings and lifestyles.

In addition, AnOther presents five Miami facts...

1. The city of Miami was planned by Julia Tuttle, making it the only major city in the U.S. to be planned by a woman.

2. Miami was named for the Mayaimis, a Native American tribe who lived in the area until the 17th or 18th century. The Mayaimis took their name from Lake Okeechobee, which was called Mayaimis or “big water”.

3. The first suntan lotion was invented by Miami Beach pharmacist, Benjamin Green in 1944. He accomplished this development by cooking cocoa butter in a granite coffee pot on his wife’s stove.

4. Miami was a popular place for pirates to visit and bury their treasure. Famous pirates such as Gasparilla, Blackbeard and Lafitte were regular visitors and caches of gold, silver and treasure have been uncovered on and off land in the Miami area.

5. Miami installed the first bank automated teller machine made especially for rollerbladers.

Text by Laura Bradley