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This year, you might have a dilemma. Will you participate in the usual Whitney/Armory folly, or will you decide to rebel and cross the bridge over to Williamsburg for the ARTS not Fair and Brooklyn Armory events? 2011 was intense: Occupy Wall Street, whether you support the movement or not, made sure its voice was heard, loud and clear. We are however, so used to hearing about the socio-economic aspect of OWS that we almost forgot to pay attention to the other causes it fights and rallies for. OWS gave birth to Occupy Museums, a protest movement that denounces the elitist and money-driven conduct of museums and galleries. |
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“OWS gave birth to Occupy Museums, a protest movement that denounces the elitist and money-driven conduct of museums and galleries.”
The Armory Show, Contemporary Section. Courtesy of the Armory Show.
This year, you might have a dilemma. Will you participate in the usual Whitney/Armory folly, or will you decide to rebel and cross the bridge over to Williamsburg for the ARTS not Fair and Brooklyn Armory events? 2011 was intense: Occupy Wall Street, whether you support the movement or not, made sure its voice was heard, loud and clear. We are however, so used to hearing about the socio-economic aspect of OWS that we almost forgot to pay attention to the other causes it fights and rallies for. OWS gave birth to Occupy Museums, a protest movement that denounces the elitist and money-driven conduct of museums and galleries.
This weekend at the Chelsea Piers, protestors from OWS will be conducting an anti-armory fair called the “free art for fair trade show” with diverse art created by struggling and unknown artists. Art can be bought, simply exhibited, or even traded; all with the idea that no one should be left out. The two Brooklyn fairs are responding to this protest, as they feature local artists and open their fairs to the public as much as possible. Arts Not Fair is almost a pardoy of the typical arts fair; their website mockingly quotes the Armory and declares that it will be the year’s “most adventurous and dynamic contemporary art fair in New York City.” It will even have a VIP room. The fair’s purpose is to question the fair-mindedness of contemporary art fairs, and art in general. Brooklyn Armory on the other hand states its purpose simply with its name. And it fits right into the Brooklyn state of mind when it comes to art – that art should be available to all and is about a lot more than dollars and cents. For this special week, galleries around Williamsburg, Bushwick and Greenpoint will be open late and celebrating art for the sake of art.
Although a lot is happening a few subway stops away from Manhattan, the city fairs are still present. They present a lot of celebrated work, and although they may be elitist, thousands and thousands of people will be participating. So choose your battles, your art fair and arm up, this is going to be an interesting week.
Manhattan:
Two sections: The Armory Show-Contemporary and The Armory Show-Modern.
15-30 dollar admission.
-Other museums and galleries such as MoMA PS1, the High line Open Studios and Lyon Wier Gallery also celebrate Armory Week.
Full list: http://www.armoryartsweek.com/armoryarts/index.cfm/home/
-The Whitney Biennial: The Whitney Museum of American Art, 945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street, New York, NY 10021. March 1- May 27 2012. 12-18 dollars admission.
Curators: Elisabeth Sussman, Sondra Gilman and Jay Sanders.
A few artists: Lutz Bacher, Nicole Eisenman, Andrea Fraser, LaToya Ruby Frazier.
-The Ungovernables: New Museum, 235 Bowery, New York, NY 10002 Curated by Eungie Joo, Keith Haring and Ryan Inouye. A few artists: Adrian Villar Rojas, Danh Vo, Mariana Telleria, Julia Dault and Dave McKenzie. 10-14 Dollar Admission.
Brooklyn:
-ARTS not Fair: Like the Spice Gallery, 224 Roebling Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
March 9-11 2012 Artists: Nicki Stager, Hans & Gieves, Reuben Negron, Allie Rex, Kim Holleman, Brian Larossa, Jenny Morgan, Matthew Craven, Matt Stone, The Starving Artist Bakery, Eric Lopresti, Chino Amobi, Gieves Anderson and Peckish Elite.
General admission: 1 dollar.
-Brooklyn Armory night: Brooklyn art spaces will be open until 10pm on March 10.
A full listing of participating galleries: Art 101, Black & White Gallery/ Project Space, Camel Art Space, Causey Contemporary, Figureworks, Front Room Gallery, Janet Kurnatowski, Pandemic Gallery, Parkers Box, Pierogi, Rawson Projects, Sideshow, Soloway, Ventana 244, Williamsburg Art and Historical Center and Yes Gallery.
Video works are also going to be lit up in Williamsburg so look out for them! Local bars and restaurants are also participating in the Brooklyn Armory Night.
After party and cocktail at indieScreen at 10pm. 289 Kent Ave at S. 2 Street , Brooklyn, NY 11211
Bi-annual Bushwick Beat Nite: March 10, 6-10 pm.
Participating galleries and spaces: Active Spaces, Airplane, Botanic, Centotto, Cojo Art Space, Factory Fresh, ISCP, 950 Hart Microscope, Norte Maar, Parlout, Small Black Door, Studio 10, Storefrontbushwick, Theodore:Art and Valentine Gallery.
This art stroll and bar crawl is not to be missed. After party hosted by English Kills: 114 Forrest St. Ground Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11206.
