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ART FAIRS
AAF Contemporary Art Fair
The art world equivalent of a designer sample sale, the
annual Affordable Art Fair (recently renamed the AAF Contemporary
Art Fair) features thousands of original art works, all
priced below $5,000. (At the 2003 show, the average selling
price was $1,500.) The AAF is significantly less snooty
than competing fine art fairs like the Armory Show, with
lectures and workshops catering to first-time buyers and
budding collectors.
2004 fair takes place October 28-31 at Pier 92, 12th
Ave. and 52nd St.; 212-255-2003; aafnyc.com.
Scope Art Fair
Held the same weekend in March as the Armory Show, the
Scope Art Fair aims for a younger, trendier, and less
affluent crowd. The concentration is on up-and-coming
artists and galleries, which by default means lower-priced
works. Like previous Scope shows in Los Angeles, Miami,
and London, the New York fair descends upon a hip hotel
with the public ducking in and out of guest rooms to peruse
the cutting-edge cache.
The 2005 fair takes place March 11-14 at Hotel Gansevoort,
18 9th Ave., at 13th St.; 212.268.1522; scope-art.com.
Frére Independent
The not-for-profit Frére Independent takes a decidedly
indie approach to contemporary art selling. It amasses
emerging, underground, and experimental artists, none
of whom are represented by galleries, at twice-yearly
fairs like the "Pool Art Addict" held in May. Like the
Scope shows, Frére's fairs are held in hotels, with guest
suites serving as exhibition spaces.
For info on upcoming fairs, call 212-604-0519, or go
to frereindependent.com.
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OPEN STUDIO TOURS
Often, the best way to get a good deal on contemporary
art is to avoid galleries all together. Open studio tours,
which give art world neophytes the chance to snoop around
artists' workspaces, can give buyers a leg up on the commercial
competition. (That is, unless an artist has an exclusive
selling arrangement with a particular gallery). Most of
New York's artist communities open their doors to the
public at least once a year, giving the public unfiltered
access to new works of art. Many of the artists will sell
pieces right on the spot, so haggle away.
DUMBO Art Under The Bridge
The three-day DUMBO Art Under The Bridge festival held
every October showcases hundreds of artists' studios stacked
like Lego blocks inside converted waterfront warehouses.
The atmosphere is festive, with parades, dance parties,
and live art installations entertaining the crowds along
DUMBO's cobblestone streets and riverside esplanade.
October 15-17, 2004; dumboartscenter.org/festival.
TOAST: Tribeca Open Artist Studio Tour
Every spring, the Downtown art scene opens its basements,
lofts, and rooftops in honor of TOAST: Tribeca Open Artist
Studio Tour. For three full days, emerging and established
artists come out of the woodwork to talk about their methods
and cut deals with interested buyers.
toastartwalk.com.
Lower Manhattan Community Council
Two times a year, the non-profit Lower Manhattan Community
Council's 14 artists-in-residence premier their last six
months of work at the landmark Woolworth Building;
212-219-9401; lmcc.net. |
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ELS-LES
Once a month, the Lower East Side's private artist studios
and independent artist-run galleries become part of an
organized "art loop" during ELS-LES (Every Last Sunday
on the Lower East Side). Both guided and self-guided tours
of the neighborhood's art offerings are free, but donations
are accepted. Go to elsles.org
or call 646-602-2338 for upcoming dates and tour meeting
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A picture of Yasira Nun, New York based artist.
Courtesy of Frére Independent.
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A Procession of Alternative Spellings, Signals, and Continuous Pleating at the DUMBO Art Under the Bridge festival.
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Orange Beetle, BC 2001, c-print
30" x 30" Edition of 10 by
Toni Hafkenscheid, from the Robert Birch Gallery in
Toronto, Canada.
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Commerical Galleries |
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New York galleries known for keeping their prices (and attitudes) in check:
Red Dot
A Chelsea gallery without the requisite snootiness, Red Dot seeks to match young artists with new and budget-minded buyers.
140 W 22nd Street, 6th Fl.;212-675-0461; reddotart.com.
Mixed Greens
As unabashedly commercial as an Ikea, Mixed Greens sells well-priced works over the Internet and out of its Chelsea showroom.
601 West 26th Street, 11th Floor, bet. 11th and 12th Aves.; 212-331-8888; mixedgreens.com.
Pierogi 2000
One of the most popular and innovative galleries in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Pierogi 2000 posts the work of some 700 emerging artists in its often affordable "flat file."
177 North 9th St.; 718-599-2144; pierogi2000.com.
Clementine
Clementine's living room ambience and reasonably priced works make it a comfortable gallery for beginning collectors.
526 W. 26th St.; 212-243-5937; clementine-gallery.com.
Jen Bekman Gallery
Laid-back events like the "Pin-Up Show" (in which all photos, prints, and drawings are priced under $600) draw big crowds at the Jen Bekman Gallery.
6 Spring St.; 212-219-0166; jenbekman.com.
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