Big Deals and Big Win at the Armory

by Bobbie Leigh (RSS feed)
Mar 5th 2011 at 7:01PM

Think of the Armory Show on Piers 92 and 94 in New York as the momentary center of the art fair universe with satellite shows orbiting around it. The show was a lot of work - some 274 galleries from 31 countries competing for attention.

Pier 92 was devoted to historically significant Modern and contemporary art - think Philip Pearlstein, Andy Warhol, and Tom Wesselman among others.
Models with Model Ship, Philip Pearlstein

Models with Model Ship, Philip Pearlstein

It was far less crowded and buzzy than Pier 94 which showcased contemporary work in all media, though a lot less photography than less year and very few paintings from China. The super-chic international crowd started negotiating prices from the minute the doors opened. Sue Stoffel, a former curator who now is an art consultant specializing in emerging artists, picked the best booths and newest work (stoffelarts@gmail.com). She was spot on in pointing out that Greenberg Van Doren Gallery, New York, had a great original booth. Art-info.com agreed awarding it best booth of the show. The galleries two installations were spectacular.

Alexander Gorlizki's "It has come to my attention" was one winner.
Alexander Gorlizki, Greenberg Van Doren Gallery, New York

Here the artist designed the wallpaper, the floor, the Indian miniatures, and even the goat with the red coat --and his droppings.
Upstate New York Olympics, Tim Davis, Greenberg Van Doren Gallery, New York

Upstate New York Olympics, Tim Davis, Greenberg Van Doren Gallery, New York

The gallery's other installation was "The Upstate New York Olympics" by Tim Davis.

The largest piece in the show was Chilean artist Ivan Navarro's "Armory Fence," a five-foot tall electrically glowing fence. If you feel you missed out, you can still buy seven-foot sections from the Paul Kasmin Gallery for $40,000. Highlights from this year's Armory Show are at thearmoryshow.com.

Tags: Alexander Gorlizki, armory, armory show, art fair, art fairs, new york art fair, New York Art Fair 2011, The Armory Show