Art Basel Miami Beach 2008

Art Basel Miami Beach-and the small constellation of satellite art, film and design operations revolving around it-rules the American creative scene. For example, consider the events it has dethroned: Three months before the start of this year's Art Basel Miami Beach, a teaser for a show elsewhere teased, “Still at the forefront of design.” Still? Smells like desperation to us. Indeed, Art Basel's American equivalent continues its dizzying ascent-and its influence only promises to expand, too.