Madonna announced via Twitter yesterday that she's up for a chill hang with one superfan while she's visiting the Art Basel madness this year. She's launched an Omaze campaign titled "Vogue With Madonna at Art Basel" that aims to collect funds for Raising Malawi, the nonprofit she cofounded to provide medical, educational, and community support to orphans in that African country.
The winner of the campaign will apparently get to meet Madonna for a "Vogue"-style selfie and then attend an art auction alongside her. Or if you'd rather ingest that information with an embarrassing number of Madonna puns:
Are you Like a Virgin to the art scene? There’s no better place to immerse yourself in some of the world’s most inspiring artists, galleries, and collections than Art Basel. And when you factor in the one and only Madonna, who’ll be there in all her Madonna glory, you’ll be Vogue-ing your way to popstar heaven. Grab a friend and head to Miami, where you’ll go to Art Basel, get pop cultured at an art auction, and then get 1-on-1 hangout time with the music queen and Ray of Light herself! Yes… your pop music prayers have been answered. Flights and hotel included.Yep.
It's unclear if the art auction will take place at the official Art Basel event at the Miami Beach Convention Center or if it's one of the dozens of coinciding events that people from outside Miami often incorrectly lump together with the art fair that anchors Miami Art Week. Also unclear: Is Madonna planning a performance while she's in town? New Times has reached out to the pop star and to Art Basel for clarification.
Update: A spokesperson for Art Basel Miami Beach tells New Times that the fair heard about this contest through the media, and that Madonna's team has not been in touch with them to coordinate this event. There are no auctions at Art Basel Miami Beach; in 2016, as in previous years, galleries will sell directly to buyers.
But in the meantime, if watching Madonna express herself in a bidding war for a rare Warhol piece is your idea of a good time, you can donate anywhere from $10 to $5,000 for entries to win. Other prizes include memorabilia such as a signed Rolling Stone cover, and T-shirts. That should, uh, justify your love.
