All photos by L. Streeter, Art Observed.
The Armory Show opened Wednesday for professional previews and began with an 11:30 AM press conference detailing the cultural and economic importance of the event. “This is going to be a spectacular week of art. Our conservative estimates predict that the events this week will draw more than 60,000 attendees and generate more than 40 million dollars in economic activity,” stated Mayor Mike Bloomberg during the opening ceremony. Later in the evening, swarms of art-enthusiasts flocked to the Armory in order to witness the newest works of established artists from across the globe. Pier 94 was host to a vibrant crowd last night, with various art-world celebrities strolling down the aisles filled with artwork.
Installations at Galerie Ron Mandos.
More text and images after the jump…
Mayor Mike Bloomberg kicked off the 2011 Armory Show Week yesterday morning, with announcements by Paul Morris, Vice President of MMPI Art Shows and Armory’s Executive Director, Katelijne De Backer. Bloomberg was enthusiastic about the show, explaining “This is a very important thing for new york city. This is what makes this city special.”
“This week our city will be bursting with even more creative energy than usual, as we welcome back two annual pillars of our art community: The Armory Show and the Art Show. The Armory Show is in its 13th year with over 300 galleries represented by over thirty countries. the armory show is also welcoming back two popular features, Open Forum, a conversation series featuring a series of discussions, and Focus Latin America”, Mayor Bloomberg stated. A handful of selected speakers, including MoMA director Glenn Lowry, also made special announcements during the opening ceremony. “More than 40% of our national visitors and over 80% of our international visitors engage in cultural activity,” CEO of NYC & Co. George Fratt reported proudly earlier that morning. Many of the speakers highlighted the importance of New York as a global center culture, with the Armory show and surrounding fairs playing a key role in generating economic activity, providing jobs for artists and generally improving the community. Each speaker made sure to point out the various other fairs taking place alongside the Armory, such as Scope, Pulse and VOLTA NY. “There is no unique experience than being able to view, experience, and buy the worlds most unique art,” Fratt stated.
Pier 92, devoted to 20th and 21st century Modern art, has historically significant work by artists such as Fernando Botero, Pablo Picasso, and of course, Andy Warhol. Janis Cecil, director of Edward Tyler Nahem also reported, “We have strong interest in paintings by Anselm Kiefer and Roy Lichtenstein.”
Armory Focus, a new feature of the fair that debuted last year with Armory Focus: Berlin, chose Latin America as it’s subject for the 2011 show. Armory Focus: Latin America spotlighted a selection of galleries from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.
In an interview with Blackbook Magazine, Alexandre Roesler, the Director of Nara Roesler gallery, (one of the Latin American Focus galleries) explained “I wouldn’t say there is a very big distinction between Latin American artists and other artists. Antonio Manuel and Antonio Diaz, they’re very important Brazilian artists but have also these political works. This characterizes a lot of Latin American art, this political way. This was during the dictatorial period in Brazil and he was doing those performances naked in a museum. That was like breaking lots of rules. At the time this was not allowed.”
A view of the installation at Baro Gallery (Sao Paolo), part of Armory Focus: Latin America.
AO staff and photographers were on site to photo-document the evening as it played out:
New York’s Lehmann Maupin Gallery exhibited a spectacular show of postcard art by pop artists Gilbert & George. 52 postcard pictures were specifically designed for the show, to be displayed in a “Urethra-inspired pattern”.
Installation views at Lehmann Maupin Gallery.
Yayoi Kusama, Flowers That Bloom Tomorrow. @ Victoria Miro Gallery
Carlos Quiarte and actor/screenwriter Justin Theroux.
A Jeppe Hein neon work at 303 Gallery
John Thain, Former Chairman of the New York Stock Exchange (middle).
Anne Chu, Single Bear. @ 303 Gallery.
A Marina Abramovic 1977 film shot in collaboration with performance artist Ulay was on display at Sean Kelly Gallery, converted from 16mm film to dvd format.
Artist Conrad Ventur and friend.
Still shots of Marina Abramovic and Ulay, Light/Dark (1977). @ Sean Kelly Gallery
Lionel Esteve, Sans Titre (2011). @ Baronian Franeey
A crowd favorite, “Human Body #6″ was on display at Beijing gallery Galerie Ursmeile. The piece is constructed of 25 tinted glass panels, each 6 mm thick which visually combine into one 3-dimensional goya-esque figure.
Xia Xiaowan, Human Body #6 (2010). @ Galerie Ursmeile
Chuck Close, Lucas (2011) a portrait Lucas Samaras. @ White Cube
Xavier Veilhan, Debora. @ Andréhn-Schiptjenko
Ivan Navarro, The Armory Fence (2011). @ Paul Kasmin Gallery
Shaun Gladwell @ Anna Schwartz Gallery
An Alex Katz, a Marc Quinn and a Tony Cragg at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac.
Artist KAWS pictured next to work at Honor Fraser Gallery.
Alan Rath installation @ Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery
CANADA Gallery covered it’s floors in vintage Moroccan rugs, property of the one of the exhibited artists, Katherine Bernhardt, who uses them as sources for inspiration.
Penny floors at Untitled Gallery.
Yoshitomo Nara, Maquette of White Ghost. (2010) @ Marianne Boesky Gallery.
Gallerist Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn (left).
A Kehinde Wiley Bronze at Sean Kelly Gallery
View of installation at The Breeder
Works by Kalup Linzy (The Breeder).
Kalup Linzy, We Love You James Franco (2011).
Former Deitch Director and now Pace Gallerist Nicola Vassell and friends.
Casey Neistat (middle) with friends.
An audible crash was heard as the glass encasement of a Peter Buggenhout sculpture at Galerie Laurent Godin was shattered towards the end of the night. Apparently someone touched the sculpture and it subsequently gave way. Onlookers surrounding the booth of Galerie Laurent Godin stared in shock and fascination at the wreckage.
Outside of view of Pier 94, Location of Armory Contemporary Show.
Related Links:
Let the Madness Begin: Previewing NYC’s Armory Week [Huffington Post]
Armory Week 2011 [ArtInfo]
Mayor Bloomberg Kicks Off Week Of Art Events In NYC [CBS]
Armory Week 2011: Photos from the Armory Show [L Magazine]
Lifestyles of the Rich and Arty: This Week’s New York Art Fairs [NY Press
Latin American Art at the New York Armory Show [Blackbook]
-L. Streeter and V. Campbell
