Here is a guide to museums, galleries and other art venues in South Florida:
MIAMI-DADE MUSEUMS & INSTITUTIONS
• Bass Museum of Art: The Bass spans the old world of Miami Beach -- being partially-housed in a 1930 Russell Pancoast building -- and the new Miami Beach, with a Arata Isozaki addition that anchors one of the Bass's most important elements in its permanent collection, The Coronation of the Virgin, a 15th century altarpiece done by Sandro Botticelli and Domenico Ghirlandaio. 2121 Park Avenue, Collins Park, Miami Beach. 305-673-7530 or bassmuseum.org
• Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation (cifo): An on-target private museum owned by Ella Cisneros, CIFO has brought the vast complexity of Latin American art to Miami. Apart from its other cultivated ambitions, it's no surprise the museum would do a Fluxus event for Art Basel Miami Beach 2007. 1018 N. Miami Ave., Miami. 305-455-3380
• The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at FIU: In a quiet corner of the FIU campus, the Frost Museum has come to be known for its annual Cintas Finalists exhibition, which awards the best and brightest of the Cuban exile artist community with a group show and, for the winners, grant money. 11200 SW Eighth St., Miami. 305-348-2890
• Historical Museum of Southern Florida: The place to take the kids on a rainy afternoon, with examinations of the Everglades, the Seminoles, and the early pioneers of Coconut Grove. 101 W. Flagler St., Miami. 305-375-1492 or hmsf.org
• Jewish Museum of Florida: Any museum that would mix humor and art -- i.e., this season's Zap!Pow! BAM. The Super Hero: Jewish Creators of Comic Books, 1938-1950 (Oct. 16-April 30, 2008) -- is doing something right. 301 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. 305-672-5044 or jewishmuseum.com
• Lowe Art Museum: Tucked away on the University of Miami campus, the Lowe is quiet, unassuming, and right in synch with the modern age of women breaking and shattering ceilings -- this season's Women Only! In their Studios (Feb. 16-March 30, 2008) show offers a chance to salute such artists as Jennifer Bartlett and Jenny Holzer. 1301 Stanford Dr., Coral Gables. 305-284-3535 or lowemuseum.org
• Margulies Collection @ the Warehouse: One of the most exhaustive private collections in the country, the Margulies Collection features a massive array of photography embracing Bauhaus and Social Realism and the work of such masters as Frank Stella and Jason Rhodes. 591 NW 27th St., Miami. 305-576-1051 or margulieswarehouse.com
• Miami Art Museum: Among its other aesthetic accomplishments, Miami Art Museum has put the ever-wonderful Freedom Tower to good use. 101 W. Flagler St., Miami. 305-375-3000 or miamiartmuseum.com
• Miami Science Museum: A Miami standard, with such shows as the Dinosaurs of China (through summer 2008), along with a wildlife center, a planetarium, and the sensible idea of keep-the-kids-occupied programs on teacher workdays. 3280 S. Miami Ave., Coconut Grove. 305-646-4200 or miamisci.org
• MOCA @ Goldman Warehouse: The Wynwood satellite of the Museum of Contemporary Art is a perfectly-pitched space, home to celebrated contemporary artists and emerging artists in provocative exhibitions. This season, the space launched with New Art: South Florida (through Oct. 27), featuring work by the winners of the South Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowships for Visual and Media Artists. 404 NW 26th St., Miami. 305-893-6211 or mocanomi.org
• Museum of Contemporary Art: MOCA, a truly cutting-edge outpost of culture in North Miami, got the season rolling with a major survey show of Karen Kilimnik's work (through Nov. 11), part of the ''scatter'' generation of 1990s artists who favored deconstructed installations, and the exhibitions just keep getting better and better. 770 NE 125th St., Joan Lehman Building, North Miami. 305-893-6211 or mocanomi.org
• Rubell Family Collection: Housed in a former DEA confiscated goods warehouse, the collection includes a 30,000 volume library, a Phaidon bookstore, and works by Hernan Bas, Keith Haring, and Jeff Koons. 5 NW 29th St., Miami. 305-573-6090 or rubellfamilycollection.com
• The Wolfsonian-FIU: An internationally recognized treasure that is too often overlooked in Miami, the Wolfsonian is an astonishing assortment of decorative and propaganda objects, spanning the years between 1885 and 1945: the Wolfsonian also has a 45,000 volume library, a collection of World's Fair items, and remains the place to see art that mocks Hitler, always a worthwhile endeavor. 1001 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. 305-531-1001:
GALLERIES:
• Ambrosino Gallery: One of the stalwarts of the local gallery scene, featuring such artists as Carol K. Brown and James Lecce, with a sister location (7769 NE 125th street; 305-891-5577) across the street from the Museum of Contemporary Art. 2628 NW Second Ave., Ground Floor, Miami. 305-891-5577 or ambrosinogallery.com
• ArtCenter/South Florida: In 1984, this complex of galleries and artist studio spaces got Lincoln Road rolling, and regulars like Susan lee-Chun and Kristen Thiele are still holding down the fort. 800 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach. 305-674-8278 or artcentersf.org
• Artformz Alternative: An acclaimed artist-run space, with such edgy group shows as Deviant Behavior, entailing the work of Alejandro Guzman and Rebecca Newell among others. 130 NE 40th St. (unit 2), Miami. 305-572-0040 or artformz.net
• ArtSpace/Virginia Miller Galleries: In business for 34 years and something of an institution, representing the classic -- Jim Dine, Wifredo Lam, et. al -- and such 1980s generation Cuban artists as Humberto Castro. 169 Madeira Ave., Coral Gables. 305-444-4493 or www.virginiamiller.com
• Bakehouse Art Complex: A not-for-profit arts and education program in operation since 1985, and a Wynwood flagship founded in a 1930s building once used by the American Baking Company, home to potters, sculptors, and everything else. 561 NW 32nd St., Miami. 305-576-2828 or bakehouseartcomplex.org
• Kevin Bruk Gallery: One of the sharper galleries in town -- where else could you see such poignant pieces as Craig Kucia's Music for People Without Friends? 2249 NW First Pl., Miami. 305-576-2000 or kevinbrukgallery.com
• David Castillo Modern & Contemporary Art: Castillo, who studied art at both Yale University and the Vatican, runs a gallery that reflects his preoccupation with modernity and its power over art. 2234 NW Second Ave., Miami. 305-573-8110 or castilloart.com
• Cernuda Arte: The place in town for Latin American art, such as the work of Sandro de la Rosa, and Cuban art from every period, from the Colonial era to Early Republic period. 3155 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables. 305-461-1050 or cernudaarte.com
• Chelsea Galleria: A thoughtful space, given to such interesting shows as the work of Tony Mendoza, who takes vaguely sinister shots of flowers. 2441 NW Second Ave., Miami. 305-576-2950 or chelseagalleria.com
• Diaspora Vibe Gallery: This is the gallery that believes in multi-culturalism, with artists from throughout the Carribean. 938 N. Miami Ave., Miami. 305-573-4046:
• Dorsch Gallery: Founded in 1991, the Wynwood outpost -- which opened in 2000 -- was one of the first galleries in Wynwood and is still a smart good time. 151 NW 24th St., Miami; 305-576-1278 or dorschgallery.com
• EdgeZones: A non-profit space in the World Arts building, EdgeZones features videos, sculpture, and all things edgy. 2214 N. Miami Ave., Miami. 305-303-8852 or edgezones@bellsouth.net
• Galeria Arche: A center of Little Havana culture, and a popping little space on opening nights. 742 SW 16th Ave., Miami. 305-643-2555:
• Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin: The Wynwood outpost of the famed Paris-based gallery is housed in a beautiful MiMo building and home to such artists as Sophie Calle and Mariko Mori. 194 NW 30th St., Miami. 305-573-2130 or galerieperrotin.com:
• Barbara Gillman Gallery: One of the pros of the local gallery scene, Gillman has carved out a niche with the photographs of Herman Leonard, who has captured such jazz greats as Dexter Gordon and Billie Holliday. 4141 NE Second Ave., Ste. 202. Miami. 305-573-1920
• Ingalls & Associates: In an artist-designed space since 2002, Ingalls stays in an experimental groove and features an array of guest curators. 125 NW 23rd St., Miami. 305-573-6263 or ingallsassociates.com
• Locust Projects: The best alternative non-profit space -and home to the annual ''smash and grab'' art auction, such co-founders as Westin Charles have made sure this has stayed the place for everything from lectures to Icelandic art exhibitions. 105 NW 23rd St., Miami. 305-576-8570 or www.locustprojects.org
• Diana Lowenstein Fine Arts: Lowenstein, who founded her gallery in Argentina back in 1989, has taken to Wynwood nicely and features such local talents as Carlos Betancourt. 2043 N. Miami Ave., Miami. 305-576-1804 or dlfinearts.com
• The Moore Space: One of the premier alternative exhibition spaces, the Moore Space launched the career of Hernan Bas, among other artists. Where else can you see shows like French Kissing in the U.S.A? Blondie would be proud. 4040 NE Second Ave., Miami. 305-438-1163 or themoorespace.org
• Gary Nader Fine Art: A Coral Gables institution, and still a leader in the field of Latin American art. 62 NE 27th St., Miami. 305-576-0256 or garynader.com:
• Pan American Art Projects: A Wynwood regular, embracing the talents of many cultures. 2450 NW Second Ave., Miami. 305-573-2400 or panamericanart.com:
• Isaac Javier Perelman Dot Fiftyone Gallery/Nativa Projections: This is a gallery with staying power, and always up for something fresh. 51 NW 36th St., Miami. 305-573-9994:
• Lyle O. Reitzel: An interesting gallery, and ambitious as all get out, with shows featuring the work of the Cuban master Luis Cruz Azaceta. 2441 NW Second Ave., Wynwood. 305-573-1333 or artnet.com/reitzel.html
• Fredric Snitzer Gallery: It's home to the Miami all-stars -- Cooper, Bhakti Baxter, et. al -- and one of the most on-target galleries in town. 2247 NW First Pl., Miami. 305-448-8976 or snitzer.com
• Bernice Steinbaum Gallery: The gallery with staying power is still in the game, still carrying the work of Edouard Duval-Carrie and Maria Brito, and still known for sensible openings. 3550 N. Miami Ave., Miami. 305-573-2700 or steinbaumgallery@bellsouth.net:
• Leonard Tachmes Gallery: Not everyone would mix the work of Andrew Horton and Robert Motherwell, but this is a place that believes in shaking it all up. 3930 NW Second Ave., Miami. 305-572-9015 or leonardtachmesgallery:
• Alejandra von Hartz Fine Arts: A gallery with a sensibility for the new, and always worth a visit. 2630 NW Second Ave., Miami. 305-438-0220 or alejandravonhartz.net:
BROWARD ART MUSEUMS & INSTITUTIONS
• Art & Culture Center of Hollywood: A wonderful place that offers fine art, indie films by the likes of Eric Patrick, and the splendid Ocean Dance performances, with dance companies performing on the beach. 1650 Harrison St., Hollywood. 954-921-3274 or artandculturecenter.org
• Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale: The museum has weighed in with shows as The Quilts of Gee's Bend (through Jan. 7, 2008) and has served as a local cultural outpost for many years. 1 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 954-525-5500 or moafl.org
PALM BEACH MUSEUMS & INSTITUTIONS
• Boca Raton Museum of Art: It bills itself as ''minutes from the beach, miles from the conventional'' and its permanent collection encompasses pre-Columbian art, photography, and European masters. Mizner Park, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. 561-392-2500 or bocamuseum.org
• Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens: The museum features tea ceremonies and the gardens -- arranged to echo various historical periods -- are exquisite, ranked 8th in quality outside of Japan. 4000 Morikami Park Rd., Delray Beach. 561-495-0233 or morikami.org
• Norton Museum of Art: One of the best museums in South Florida, with work from Duane Hanson, Deborah Butterfield, and a host of others. 1451 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach. 561-832-5196 or norton.orgTom Austin
