If you live in New York, or were visiting, last week was a marathon. A few reflections:
- There may be synergy for out-of-towners to have the ADAA’s Art Show the same week as The Armory Show (right), but I wish they were separated by a month, as they used to be. The eyes blur…just from seeing those two fairs.
- And yet: The Art Newspaper calculated that “There is a record 483 galleries and artist projects in 11 further concurrent fairs.”
- And “It would take 64 hours and 25 minutes to see every presentation should five minutes be spent at each.” Who has that time, and stamina?
- “This year was better than last” is a common refrain; I’ve said it too (about this year’s Art Show, for one). But how can one say, really?
- Predictably, a press release arrived today: “The largest edition of The Armory Show in its 12-year history has proven a rousing success, with exhibitors reporting robust sales, and record-breaking crowds filling both piers to capacity and breaking previous attendance records.” No word from The Art Show yet, but…
Maastricht, another marathon, begins this week (…unfortunately, I won’t be going).
Actually, to my mind, the star artist last week — and before that — was William Kentridge. I was lucky enough to attend the opening of The Nose at the opera Friday night, and he definitely was the man of the night. I can not imagine a traditional production of the opera; Kentridge’s imagination made it work.
Kentridge did, of course, have a presence at The Art Show, in Marian Goodman’s booth.
Photo Credits: Courtesy of The Armory Show, The Metropolitan Opera