December's Design Miami and Art Basel Miami Beach fairs are much favoured by daylight-deprived New Yorkers and North Europeans glad of an excuse to escape their winter gloom and enjoy some clear blue sky. Smart then of Morgans Hotel Group, operator of local hotspots Delano, Mondrian South Beach and Shore Club, to take to the air and put their contribution to the five-day creative circus where everyone could see it.
Devised by the hotel group's 'cultural ambassador' Adam Shopkorn, Plane Text - which has scooped a Wallpaper* Design Award for 'Best High Art' - was an aerial exhibition of word banners from 15 of the world's highest profile artists. Ed Ruscha, Richard Prince and the estate of Sol LeWitt, among others, each contributed a phrase that was then flown across the Miami skyline.
From the personal, Gary Simmons' 'I Wish It Could Be Morning All Day Long'; to the provocative, Jack Pierson's 'We're Rich We Can Do What We Want'; to the rib-tickling, Richard Prince's 'My Brother Just Married A Two-Headed Lady. Is She Pretty You Ask? Well, Yes And No', the phrases were towed by planes organised by aerial advertising specialists Van Wagner over visitor-heavy areas, such as the Miami Design District, the Miami Convention Center home of both fairs, and along South Beach coast, to the delight of pedestrians, tourists and art lovers alike.
The 15 word banners were towed across the sky by planes organised by aerial advertising specialists Van Wagner.
The process of attaching the banners to the plane is an aeronautic feat. Watch Sol LeWitt's words take to the air.
A pithy statement from Mel Bochner above the Miami Design District.
Richard Prince's banner get its turn in the sky.
Prince's rib-tickling offering stretched out across the sky.
Wise words from Alexis Smith.
Martin Creed's banner, laid out on the airstrip.
Lawrence Weiner's airborne offering.
Lisa Anne Auerbach's banner.
'Ads imitate art. Art imitates life. Life imitates ads,' wrote Hank Willis Thomas.
Banners by (from left) Ed Ruscha and Jenny Holzer.
A question from Kay Rosen.
Statements by (from left) Allen Ruppersberg and Jack Pierson.
A loaded pledge by John Baldessari.