Like a swarm of drunken bees blindly chasing the coveted queen, the globe-trotting art scenesters have descended on NYC once again for The Armory Show and all its satellite contemporary art fairs. Last night the 2012 edition debuted at the sprawling Piers 92 and 94 on the Hudson River and 55th Street. Things are considerably different this year: far fewer art galleries were invited to participate, and the result, for the casual viewer, is satisfying. Fewer galleries seems to equal less Eurotrash—in past years the opening night preview has devolved into a chattering aristocratic mob scene, but now it's actually possible to pause and consider the best work without someone spilling champagne on you every five seconds. At least, that was our experience last night.
"For the 2012 edition, we have taken a new direction for the fair," Paul Morris, the Founding Director of The Armory Show, said in a statement. "Most notable is that The Armory Show is now a smaller, more boutique fair that enriches every experience for the many collectors, curators and guests who come to The Armory Show to see the greatest art from around the world." A bold move, and it paid off; for once the percentage of crap doesn't completely drown out the more arresting work. More diamonds, less rough. There is also a special wing focusing on Nordic countries and will feature 19 of the most exciting galleries from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. There's a woman painting portraits in a teepee back there.
As usual, MoMA threw a raging afterparty. If you ever the chance to go to a MoMA party, don't hesitate. Yes, this one costs $125 for non-members, but that does get you a full open bar for three hours, access to some of the galleries, access to some astonishingly beautiful people, and, last night, a performance by Neon Indian. The popular chillwave group struggled with the daunting acoustics of the MoMA lobby, but they looked terrific rocking out downstage of Rodin's iconic statue of Balzac, beneath a rather stunning installation of Waterford Crystal chandeliers (each one cost $20,000). "This is our first time playing at MoMA," said Neon Indian frontman Alan Palomo early in the set. "And our first time experiencing this much reverb." Nobody gave a damn.
As we said, the Armory Show is just the anchor to an entire week of art exhibitions, with galleries from all over the world. If you don't feel like spending $30 for The Armory Show ($15 for students), or you simply want to soak up as much art as you can bear, there is also the Fountain Art Fair($15), PooL Art Fair ($10 suggested donation), Scope New York ($10), Volta NY ($15), Art Now, and Theorize NY. The best one of those is probably Scope, but unfortunately the excellent Pulse fair isn't in town (that will return in May when the major Frieze Art Fair comes to town for the first time.) Anyway, this should be enough to keep you cultured; get your raging art on now through Sunday!
