In an art fair, like the Armory, Art practitioners must market themselves within an informal network of perverse rituals, what are the rituals of allegiance to art you have to perform ( i.e., unconfortable handshakes…) ?
Like they say, never let them see you sweat! Exhibitors and visitors don’t understand many of the factors that go into organizing a fair with over 230 galleries, and for the most part we try to keep them blissfully unaware. We could have a plague of locusts heading towards us and I would be greeting everyone with a big smile.
Artists like pop stars, galeries openings like red carpets events, what happened to the art world, why has it become so popular, so hip?
Has it ever really been any different? Didn’t people ask the same question in the 80s? And the 60s? What about the days of the Academy in the 19th Century?
Can mainstream people identify with art scenesters the same way they do with singers, or actors?
Sometimes singers, actors and artists are the same person! And even when they’re not, why should they be perceived any differently?
Why do we need Art in our lives? Is Art an alternative religion?
That’s too big a question for me to answer.
Why do you think Art is so undemocratic, and why do art citizens keep their world so secretive?
Is it ? I came from the music world and quickly found my niche, so I found it neither undemocratic nor secretive.
How come a gallery is so austere, the critic’s language so intimidating, an evening auction so snobish, for a world supposedly full of unconvential and anarchic people, the artists themselves?
I don’t think this accurately describes today’s art world – many galleries are quite warm, my favorite critics are very accessible and auctions are open to
everyone !
(I won’t say anything about the conventional artists.)
The art chart/ What’s your top 5 artists ?
That’s a secret, sorry.
Out of the tents / Where do you have dinner?
Who has time for dinner? Dinner usually consists of canapés !
A drink ?
…accompanies the canapés.
Where do you party?
Wherever they serve drinks and canapés.
Five things you love about Art
1) I love its variety
2) I love its ambition
3) I love its long history
4) I love the people who make it
5) I love the people who love it
Five things you hate about Art
1) I can’t afford some of the things I want
2) The business side of it attracts too much attention
3) As the director of an art fair, I hate how fragile it can be
4) I’m stuck – I can’t think of anything else
What’s the Art world’s worst secret?
That many galleries are quite warm, critics are very accessible and auctions are open to everyone! (Again, I won’t mention the conventional artists.)
What’s your favourite piece of clothing for an Art event?
Black suit. It works for everyone.
What’s the art world coming to?
That’s the great point about it – no one can predict !
SHOW DATES :
VIP Preview : Wednesday, March 4
Public Hours : Thursday, March 5 through Sunday, March 8
SHOW LOCATION :
Piers 92 and 94
Twelfth Avenue at 55th Street, New York City
ABOUT THE ARMORY SHOW
The Armory Show is the successor to the highly acclaimed Gramercy International Art Fairs that attracted thousands to their New York, Los
Angeles and Miami shows between 1994 and 1998. In its ten years, The Armory Show has become an international institution. Artists, gal-
leries, collectors, critics and curators from all over the world make New York their destination during Armory Week.
BY EVE THEROND
