VOLTA5 Basel
June 8 - 13, 2009
Markthalle
Viaduktstrasse 10 - 4054 Basel,
Switzerland
http://www.voltashow.com
VOLTA5 Basel: new location, Limited Edition artist and concept for visitor admissions
VOLTA, the cutting-edge art fair announces its move to a stunning new location for its fifth edition in Basel from June 8th-13th, 2009. The Markthalle, one of Europe's largest cupola structures, is located steps away from the main railway station (SBB) and a short five tram stops away from the Messe.
VOLTA5 is thrilled to announce it will be taking up residence during Basel's Art Week in the historic Markthalle, whose prominent dome is a highlight of the city's skyline, welcoming visitors arriving at the central railway station or from Mulhouse airport by direct bus. The Martkhalle sets a new standard for VOLTA, moving from its former home in the industrial harbor area to the very heart of the city. VOLTA's distinctive mark has always been an open and fresh view toward the fair's architecture and now this will be underscored in its landmark setting.
Populating VOLTA's new home will be an assemblage of galleries selected by the 2009 Curatorial Board: Adam Budak, Curator of Kunsthaus Graz and co-curator of Manifesta 7; Christoph Doswald, Art Critic and Curator, Zurich; Tom Morton, Curator, The Hayward, London and co-curator 2008 Busan Biennale; Jasper Sharp, curator and writer, Vienna; and Stephanie Smith, Curator at Smart Museum of Art, Chicago. The final list of participants will be posted to the website shortly.
The Curatorial Board also selected this year's limited edition artist, New York-based, Lithuanian sculptor Zilvinas Kempinas, whose unique installations often use unspooled videotape and electric fans to conjure transfixing visual conundrums such as 'Flying Tape' (2004), which levitates a huge loop of videotape on a circular fan's air currents. With an ever-growing international reputation, recipient of the Calder Prize and Atelier Calder Residency Award 2007, Kempinas represents the Lithuanian Pavilion at Venice Biennale 2009 and is represented by Spencer Brownstone Gallery, a long-time VOLTA collaborator. VOLTA5 will also feature a specially-commissioned installation that will be on display to accompany the smaller-sized edition and bookend the artist's presentation in Venice this summer.
Finally, in keeping with VOLTA's mission to create an environmentally progressive fair and following their parent company, Merchandise Mart Properties Inc's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED-EB) Silver certification, the organizers have introduced an innovative concept for visitor admission that will drastically reduce both overall paper usage and the fair's carbon footprint.
"VOLTA's aim has always been linked to innovation," states Executive Director Amanda Coulson, "and I really wanted to address the two issues of environment and equal access. Instead of producing VIP packages on paper and several criteria of entrance card—all of which require jet postage and are then discarded and not recycled—we decided to set a single price for all visitors who will then receive a memento, designed for keeping. Of course we will have a VIP and a Press Preview for invited guests at an earlier time slot but all of them will be required to equally contribute to the ethics of the show."
VOLTA was founded in 2005 by dealers Kavi Gupta (Chicago); Ulrich Voges (Frankfurt) and Friedrich Loock (Berlin).
VOLTA5
Monday, June 8th - Saturday 13th, 2009
Markthalle - Viaduktstrasse 10 - 4054 Basel, Switzerland
Previews: Monday June 8th, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.;
General Opening, Monday June 8th, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Daily: .Tuesday June 9th – Sunday June 13th ; 12 - 8 p.m.