All the posh people descended upon Piers 92 and 94 on the West Side yesterday for this year's Armory Show, which is a great place to overhear remarks like, "I haven't seen you since Abu Dhabi!" and "I briefly dated a guy who had an enema fetish, but this is disgusting." The mammoth four day exhibit of international galleries gathers together some of the most fatuous and indulgent specimens of decadence on the plant—and then there's the art, which every year seems to break down to about 90% "Really?" and 10% "Wow." Maybe that's being generous.
Your average pedestrian art fan with the "Crows in the Wheat Field" tote bag isn't welcome here (for one thing, tickets cost $30). This is a place for serious collectors, a destination where extravagantly wealthy dandies agonize over whether they really need a large-scale oil painting of a naked old man offering a blood bag to a topless woman. An art dealer refills their champagne as they debate, but doesn't offer you any, because you're obviously some low-rent rube. (There are overpriced refreshments for sale throughout the exhibit.) But if you can stand the crowds—or love people-watching—there are some arresting diamonds in the rough. Katie Sokoler photographed both the high and low for your viewing pleasure.
Last night's preview concluded with a packed after-party at MoMA, where Kate Nash delivered a bewitching set of grungy alt-rock anthems. On the ground floor, a woman of a certain age with a stylish haircut and a flashing electric bracelet danced alone, and it was nice to be reminded that they're not all pompous snobs. The Armory Show continues through Sunday, and as we noted in our essential events newsletter, there are a number of other art fairs happening around town as part of Armory Arts Week. Collect all 10 and win a prize: an attitude of smug disregard!
