PHOTOS HERE of the Frieze vernissage.
Could/should I apply a 'paywall'? Are these photos any good;) ? (There is one that needs some tweaking or rather I tweaked too much and should have used the other one..TMI- who's gonna notice...prize if you do;) If Patrick McMullan ('socialite snapper' ) charges $10 per year for access could I charge like $4 or am I being a modest im-lamb to the NY slaughter?! I'm only trying to talk 'American'. Reluctantly;)
btw: the great cinematographer Michael Ballhaus just died. He shot Fassbinder's great movies, some of Scorsese's greatest movies. But you will never remember him. He was just there making everyone on the production team look totally AMAZING (pardon the tautology). I seem to remember some scenes from The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant that just wept me away. Must watch again after all these decades.
Art fairs. Love them? Loathe them? I am kinda of the former league. Had a really good time at both Art New York/Context and Frieze. Haven't been to either in a few years. Art Miami New York that changed its name (yes me thinks it does have a name problem-have they never heard of branding;)...what about PIER AAAAAART! ...I'll do the graphics for cost plus pension;) ...sorry). Maybe Art New York will work. Anyhow, they are kind of stuck with it.
Love to include an F in art - but that is more of a Spring/Break cousin in years to come... when they...
where were we...
Art Miami/New York/Mars;) is as relaxed and fascinating as its inaugural NY year. Did I say that everything is able to breathe and nothing feels crowded? There really is something for everyone. And work whether it be Latin American or..that you just won't ever see in Frieze. Equally vice versa, (in fairness). I worried that the latter would be 'posturing' but no, actually. It is a huge, huge fair yet there is old and new enough to satisfy everybody whether be a collector or just an observer. Just isn't ever that Armory Show show of force- inevitable I know, needs be really? Such a relief. (However: we could do without the $5 coffee and the $30 pizza..I mean remember the worker bees ..oops bad analogy but kinda true...)
Speaking of Spring/Break they just opened tonight (Sat) a great little/big show BKLYN IMMERSIVE. The new retail mall City Point loaned them an unfinished retail unit. Right on a subway line and well worth a visit. Only 12 exhibitors so also easy on your time. And a couple of lucky artists have quadruple height space to make their impact. Very smart of Spring/Break to mount this during Frieze week.
Next door is the amazing Dime Savings Bank of Brooklyn-Mowbray and Uffinger’s 1908 Greco-Roman masterpiece. The interiors are closed for refurbishment but check them out on the net. well: the developers want to build on the air space rights above the building. Hey: if that move preserves a listed building then, really, what is the problem? One always worries, though, that the developers might get 'fed up' and accidentally on a Sunday morning demolish something!
Those were the days when you could open a bank account with only a dime-the bank owned by its depositors akin the modern-day credit union. And my word were they smart to do that. Within 25 years the bank amassed $12million. In today's figures, well, you do the math art collectors. (OK- roughly $180 million in today's figures). But back then...peanuts compared to Carnegie or Rockefeller in the billion $ bracket c.1920.
roughly what that Russian billionaire was fleeced for by his 'trusted' buyer for the Rothko on the catalogue raisonné cover.
Walking the aisles of the mucho trumpeted NY version of TEFAF Maastrict SPRING (sort of formerly replacing Spring Masters-different organizer) I was very happy and fascinated but never had the WOW of ADAA in Feb in the same venue. Exceptional pieces of a traditional old/new annual pie everywhere. They very much know their audience and would 75% playing safe be fair to say? I mean: why piss off your audience by showing Lenny Henry (did my PR mean Lenny Bruce- yeah did I piss in mine own helmet! :) That's ACTUALLY a fascinating London Constabulary story (fact) about pissing in a policeman's ...totally lawful- it's bizarrely true...they . never believed...nor will u - most probably.
A well trod historical context. Yes: Basquiat is there. Et al. Contextualized. Would they have approved? With prescriptions, yes probably, alas. Beautifully presented, white gauze creating an intimate atmos, elongated, suspended flower arrangements in clear 'touts' to heaven. The 25% know who you are without flattery. Is that a Man Ray 'thumbs up' for TEFAF? !
You know what did get a smile from me on a 'dark day' (not even mentioning my mind) was the 'mfffer' Dali. Who in the art world could not be jealous of him! His talent. His...crustacean on a telephone....no I won't link- you either saw or not. you either have the interest to Google or not. THAT GUY was not only blessed with genius but marketing strategy before Mad Av ! You all hate him. I totally ..umm. want to meet him. I feel a seance comin' on....Hilma af Klint ...
tbc....my so-called 'screen saver'....
did u know..that if an elephant dies naturally the 'family' can deal with it. But if it is because of poachers it will take generations for the family to grieve and heal.
is there anything to follow this......! ...............................kein idea.
Aqaba .............
