And now for a little unabashed boosterism:
This week, as New Yorkers and many others know, is a big week for art. The Armory Show, on the West Side’s piers, has been joined by the Art Show of the Art Dealers Association of America — the ritzier jamboree that in the past has taken place at the Park Avenue Armory in February.
You can tell this is important because Mayor Bloomberg got into the act. This morning, at a press conference, he threw out some numbers:
New York City is home to the world’s most vibrant and diverse arts and cultural community, and this growing week of events underscores that. Over the years, the success of the shows has spurred other new events and fairs throughout the City, and the week of activity continues to grow. This year, we expect it to generate nearly $44 million in economic activity, and the timing couldn’t be any better.
That translates to $1.8 million in tax revenues, according to the press release. I’m not sure how that number was calculated. But since our tax rate is 8.875%, it seems to imply that the fairs will do nearly $20 million in sales. (In the picture are also ADAA President Lucy Mitchell-Innes and Armory Show Founder and Vice President Paul Morris.)
The number of satellite fairs is nowhere near the total at Art Basel Miami Beach, but it’s still too many for one person to see all of, if you ask me: VOLTA, Pulse, Scope and Dutch Art Now, Fountain New York, Independent, Pool Art Fair, Red Dot, Korean Arts Show and Verge.
Other groups are hosting activities this year too. Among the free public programs, the city said, are Uptown & Museum Mile Day on March 2nd, SoHo Night on March 4th, Long Island City Night on March 5th, Chelsea Day and Brooklyn Night on March 6th and Lower East Side Day on March 7th.
And they didn’t mention the number of exhibitions opening this week.
But here’s the kicker paragraph of the release, which is something to cheer about:
Nearly half of all visitors to New York City come for culture. In 2009, more than 20 million of the more than 45 million total visitors to New York City participated in a cultural activity. Approximately 80 percent of international visitors (13.7 million) and 40 percent of domestic visitors (6.7 million) enjoyed a cultural activity, regardless of the main purpose of their trip. A recent study conducted by NYC & Company, in collaboration with cultural groups from across the five boroughs, confirmed the strength and resilience of the City’s creative sector. The study found that during the downturn, people would rather reduce other expenditures, as opposed to not participating in their preferred cultural activities.
Back to my usual self tomorrow.
UPDATE, 9 p.m.: Just back from The Art Show opening — the mood was terrific! It seemed way more crowded than last year, right from the start at 5:30, according to those who were there. I arrived around 6:30, and it was jammed.
I don’t know if people are buying but they sure are looking (and talking, and eating and drinking).
As for the art, quality was very high. Better than last year, I’d venture. Some booths were outstanding: Menconi & Schoelkopf has wonderful works by Marsden Hartley; Cheim & Read has Louise Bourgeois and Joan Mitchell; D.C. Moore has some lovely works by Jacob Lawrence. There’s a lovely Joseph Cornell at CRG (I think); William Kentridge “nose” works at Marian Goodman.
Those are just a few examples. Go!
Photo Credit: City Hall