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Wed March 26, 2008
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Wed March 26, 2008
Wednesday provided “VIP’s” and the press the opportunity to preview this year’s iteration of the legendary Armory Show. Peppering the throngs of New York’s glitterati and European jetsetters were the less couture-clad members of the press and some actual artists themselves. Spotted among the champagne-sipping crowds were artist Ryan Gander manning the booth of London’s STORE gallery (booth 776) and Whitney Biennial curator Shamim Momin hobnobbing with the representative of the Paris Gallery Almine Rech (booth 647). Galleries of note included Pila, Parra, & Romero of Madrid (booth 239) showcasing a compelling group of outstanding artists including Won Ju Lin’s fractured, puzzle like canvases, Claire Woods’ thickly painted, almost gooey landscape-based abstractions, and Aitor Lajarin’s sparse painting/ installations related to the American landscape. Other gallery highlights included Dikesmith Gallery of London (booth 558) presenting the exciting new paintings of recent Royal College of Art M.A. graduate, Alistair Frost. Stockholm-based Milliken gallery (booth 780) also provided very exciting new work by the Brooklyn-based Lisi Raskin, and the Luc-Tuymens-esque paintings of multi-media artist, Felix Gmelin. Solo shows included Cheim and Read’s presentation of Jenny Holzer, that though predictable in its presence, was still relevant and exciting in scope and presentation; and in keeping with a renaissance of interest in the work of Elanor Antin in part due to P.S. 1’s feminist art megashow, a spotlight on her was on view at Ronald Feldman (booth 557). Paris hotshot painter, Bernard Frize’s stunning brightly-hued linear abstractions, were on view at multiple galleries throughout the Armory halls. In the end, four hours was certainly not enough time to take it all in, and so I will have to return to absorb more.
Gillian Sneed
