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.

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This week the Armory Show is being held once again on the west side at piers 92 and 94. In just 12 years, the Armory Show has developed into one of the most important and determining shows for the global art market, offering an array of the world’s foremost galleries and a program of art events and exhibitions only to be found during this dynamic week in the city.  In recent years however, more and more satellite fairs have emerged near the Armory Show and even farther afield in the Lower East Side or Brooklyn.  Many of these fairs seek to claim the status as the alternative art fair to the Armory Show and many of the migration of certain galleries from the main fair to these new upstarts substantiates their impact and relevance.  In the end, though the dispersion of the center of gravity for Armory Week can be daunting, or as the Financial Times recently wrote of the week, “Manhattan feels fragmented as a fair destination.”  However, if one has the time, the offerings of the week overall are impressive.  Below is a summary of some of the goings on, along with certain highlights from art openings and events of the week.

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