Didn’t traverse this year’s Frieze vernissage. I mean it does get a bit much having all those celebs asking to be photographed for nothing: George, Brad, Calista, Sarah- really: at the very least you could pay for my ‘knickerbocker glory’:)
So as the song goes “everything old is new again” and here is last year’s video. Hopefully no torrential downpours this year to frighten and fray…but many of us quite enjoyed the 'creator's' input.
Some still haven’t recovered from Armory Week this year let alone the snow and ice. (Photos to come…;) Pace Prints pre-empted the week last Friday with Tara Donovan’s pins. The Whitney opening was 'mobbed'. Strong shows opened Frieze week from uptown Boesky and Hauser and Wirth. Sotheby's had an unbelievably great auction this spring- gems of every artist everywhere. There was even (for once;) a decent Rodin that paralleled if not, arguably, equally the great great Camille Claudel. Christies fares quite well with its jewels (May 14) being that of dealer Ileana Sonnabend - sold through her daughter Nina Castelli Sundell’s estate. They all mingle very very congenially down in the depths of the 20th floor.
Photos © Andrew Lucre 2015
Select kicked off tonight with its weird and wacky fair. Tonight was VIP and EVERYONE was there (or rather in a very very very long queue).
Meanwhile Harper's Books presented a more sedate if antagonistic affair at the Carlyle Hotel with its Anti-Fair. There was even a little room to ease the stress devoted to the original porn pics of Parliament. Sure outdoes the Parliamentary notes passing my 'desk' over the years...;)
Stalwart of the Miami winter art fairs (and pre-dating Miami Basel by 10 years) Art Miami launched its first NY fair this year. Relief from the preceding day at Frieze from one well known gallerist was palpable and verbal without even having had time to walk around! And compared to the cramped (or should that read uniquely formed) spaces of the Armory Show at the same Pier 94, it was a thoroughly enjoyable stress free experience. And really in no way treading on the toes of Frieze, NADA or the other smaller shows concurrent in town. It harbored the sophisticated panache of last year's Downtown Art Fair (was that a one-off and be no more?) whilst equally retaining an edgy, youthful vigor. Photos HERE.
Richard Taittinger (of the champagne family) instead of living as a louche playboy of the art world circuit opened a gallery in New York (signing a 15 year lease so he’s serious and in for the long haul). A cute PR move was to schedule his ‘Frieze Week’ show at 1 minute past midnight through till morning. And judging from his second show Heaven Carrier- using recycled materials- PHOTOS HERE, all bodes well for the future of Taittinger’s adventure.
