The Design Miami and Art Basel shows in Miami Beach are major annual shows for the art world. International dealers, buyers, writers, artists, and students spend days at the two major shows, 14 fairs, hundreds of parties, showings of performance art, and introductions to emerging artists. Visitors have the opportunity to learn what’s going up, down, or being rediscovered. Prices were high because the best of the best was for sale. Everything could be touched and examined.

We spent most of the day at the 31 galleries in the Design show. Dozens of pieces of pottery were on view, most made in asymmetrical shapes with volcanic glazes. Prices ranged from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Furniture made from natural distorted hunks of wood, that were carved into chair or table shapes with no added decoration or upholstery were featured in five booths. They made the famous Nakashima wood works seem tame. Most were also uncomfortable. One dealer had collected antique Japanese woven baskets, added the history of the maker, and priced them in the thousands. They sold quickly. My favorite “green people” were back from last year, with friends. Each of the 12 fairies made of a cement-like material covered in hard bright green “moss” had a different personality, and all sold, each for about $12,000.