~ARMORY/DARK FAIR/EARLY BUZZ
TAYLOR McKIMENS – PLANT ASSORTMENT – CeralArt booth/ARMORY FAIR – PIER 94
see: CeralArt
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
they’ve changed the name a bit, and are under new management/owners – it’s now called: ‘The Armory Show’ – plus they add on: ‘The International Fair of New Art’ – I guess as a way to distinguish it from the armory art shows at the actual armory building – where this one used to be – before it moved to PIER 94. though everyone on the street was calling it: “ARMORY FAIR/PIER 94” . . . leave it to New Yorkers to figure out their own working titles. (didn’t ex-Gov Pataki just say something like that, in reference to the Freedom Tower.. now called … something else !!)
. . . . it actually started off as a small alternative edgy ’boutique hotel’ fair – in small hotel rooms, with the art hung alongside the sinks and beds – with PAT HEARN, COLIN De LAND, (and later: PAUL MORRIS and MATTHEW MARKS) as the original founders, at the GRAMMERCY PARK HOTEL. now also – under new management – the original, or at any rate – the back-in-the-day – early 90’s – owner – committed suicide by jumping off the roof – in front of everybody. on the street, at the time . .
‘The Armory Show – The International Fair of New York’
New York City
March 27-30, 2008
Pier 94; 12th Avenue at 55th Street
see: THE ARMORY SHOW
ORIGINAL POST: THURS MARCH 27, 2008 – HOME PAGE
. . . things are going crazy here – NYC is wild !! THE ARMORY FAIR / PIER 94 – KICKED IN YESTERDAY for VIP’S & PRESS – it’s open to the GENERAL PUBLIC TODAY: THURSDAY running thru SUNDAY.
. . . CHELSEA is up and running too, with great shows in almost every gallery & so is BROOKLYN !! there are 12 ART FAIRS – in total – going on in MANHATTAN – see: MAP BELOW.
. . . SIMON CERIGO’S got the advance buzz on the ARMORY FAIR !!
FIRST UP: BILL BRADY at atm was sighted being interviewed by a huge T.V. crew – explaining the solemn solo totemic piece by HUMA BHABHA that occupies his large otherwise empty booth – to great effect.
NEXT: the CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS triptych at DAVID ZWIRNER was attracting a lot of serious buyer attention – possibly because of his great solo show, (that’s also according to Simon), currently up at the DAVID ZWIRNER GALLERY on 19TH ST.
NEXT: the other standout piece to the blue-chip collectors was the CHAPMAN BROS. pastoral diorama, encased in glass and priced at 600,000 English pounds/about a million $US – at LONDON DEALER JAY JOPLIN’S WHITE CUBE booth.
changing gears: FOXY PRODUCTION has an exciting gallery selection, including a huge STERLING RUBY and a mesmerizing MICHAEL BELL-SMITH. CANADA was featuring a huge ‘beige’ monochrome painting – by JOE BRADLEY – wickedly smart – or – a ‘get-over’ piece if – YOU!! – were clueless. they say they will also be exhibiting a BRIAN BELOTT BOOK display, and a huge MICHAEL WILLIAMS painting by Sunday. (which they did & the MICHAEL WILLIAMS painting got great word-of-mouth reviews, & buzz off the street – “the new!! neo-impressionist par extraordinaire.”
DANIEL REICH had a knock-out piece by SEAN RASPET, an unpredictable AMY GARTRELL, and ‘teasers’ by TYSON REEDER & SCOTT REEDER, the next gallery exhibit opening APRIL 2nd . . (and 2 of the MILWAUKEE INTERNATIONAL ‘flames’ behind the DARK FAIR !!)
BELLWETHER had the only ‘real’ installation, a booth-wall to booth-wall – ramp – or – inclined wooden floor by DAPHNE FITZPATRICK. (her big shoe made the TIMES review). the ANDREW KREPS display was also very striking – for its RICCI ALBENDA & ROE ETHRIDGE array.
at the SWISS INSTITUTE AMORY booth: GIANNI JETZER, Director and PIPER MARSHALL, Assistant Curator.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
and, finally – the folks at the SWISS INSTITUTE booth – were already celebrating the great buzz that their DARK FAIR had already generated !!
. . . presented and produced by the MILWAUKEE INTERNATIONAL/ART FAIR CREW – ELYSIA BOROWY-REEDER, TYSON REEDER, SCOTT REEDER, JOHN RIPPENDORF & NICK FRANK – it opens this FRIDAY/MARCH 28, 2008 – 6-12PM – and will be open all day SAT MARCH 29 (12noon-9PM) only.
the inside buzz on the FRI opening is: get there early, like 5, (or else late) – when the doors will open to VIP guests, or possibly face a long wait.
they are definitely envisioning crowd control issues.
BRIAN BELOTT & LARISSA VELEZ will be presenting ‘THE WORDLESS CHORUS-LIVE at THE DARK FAIR’, on both FRI & SAT nites at 8PM.
PORTS BISHOP will be presenting a “glow sticks powered” – ‘PHOTO PORTRAIT BOOTH’ and CHRISTIAN HOLSTAD will be featured in the ‘INDOOR SCULPTURE GARDEN’ !!
update: THURS/APRIL 3, 2008 – it is now generally agreed by all – that JUSTIN SAMSON’S free standing – black light – reflecting – minamalist/futuristic/animalistic ‘sculpture’ – stole the scene in that back area. he was helped out by his sound track – a loop of loudly amplified ‘found’ insect noises – cobbled together by BRIAN BELOTT – on PETE PEZZIMENTI’S sound equipment . . .
back to the DARK FAIR: over 20 cutting edge galleries will participate !! for more on the DARK FAIR – a “subversive & experimental miniature art fair taking place without the use of natural or electric light” –
see: SWISS INSTITUTE/CONTEMPORARY ART
MAP of the MARCH 27-29, 2008 WEEKEND – ART FAIRS in N.Y.C.
map courtesy: THE CHRISTIANIA GUIDE TO NYC ART FAIRS
CHRISTIANA was providing its (free flowing) vodka, after 6PM, at the ARMORY PIER 94 – VIP opening – last nite !!
see: pix from the armory opening reception !!