View of Manhattan from the fair at Randalls Island. Courtesy of Frieze New York.
This week marks the third year of Frieze New York, the London fair that went head-to-head with the tradition of the Armory Show and took NADA and Pulse with it, subsequently asserting itself as a "fair" contender. This year's fair once again transforms Randall's Island into an enchanted island of art, featuring 190 of the art world's top exhibitors, seven specially commissioned projects inspired by the history of Randall's Island for Frieze Projects, a hotel within the fair that guests can stay at, a new sound program, a program for kids and teens, and a slew of scheduled talks including one with Pussy Riot's Nadya Tokokonnikova and Masha Alekhina. As if the fair wasn't enough to keep you busy, there are also a bevy of other exciting art goings-on this week, including satellite fairs, the opening of Damien Hirst's new retail store and Kara Walker's take over at the epic Domino Sugar Factory. We've put together a suggested schedule to keep your week as exciting as the city of New York itself.
Fales Library, Bobst Library, 70 Washington Square South, Third Floor
6:30 p.m.
Kick off the week of art overindulgence by first heading to NYU's Grey Art Gallery for an incredible panel discussion moderated by Carlo McCormick, Senior Editor, Paper magazine, with speakers Natasha Boas; Martha Cooper, photographer; Sean Corcoran, Curator of Prints and Photographs, Museum of the City of New York; Jeffrey Deitch, Deitch Projects; and Carlos Mare, sculptor. The panel is free and open to the public.
Kinfolk Studios, 90 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn
7p.m.-10p.m.
Swoon, Nee Nee in Braddock, 2014. Courtesy of Braddock Tiles.
After the lecture head to Williamsburg and help artist Swoon raise money for Braddock Tiles, while also toasting her recent opening at the Brooklyn Museum. In conjunction with Select Art Fair, expect a night of drinks and socializing, and an opportunity to score Swoon's new limited edition print "NeeNee in Braddock," as well as newly released prints by other artists. Proceeds from the print sales benefit Braddock Tiles.
Thursday - May 8
458 Broome Street
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 11a.m.-7p.m., Sunday 12-6p.m.
Merchandise by Damien Hirst. Courtesy of Other Criteria.
Grab a coffee and head to the first US Flagship of Damien Hirst's new store, Other Criteria. The sprawling 3000 square foot Soho space will carry all the goodies that Hirst's arts-based publishing company makes, like artist designed rugs, wallpaper, vases, prints and books.
Inside Freemans. Courtesy of the restaurant.
Head east and beat the lunch crowd at Freemans and dine amongst the famous taxidermy animals. Pop into Salon 94 to see the new Liu Chuang Show while you wait for a table.
Liu Chuang, Love Story, 2014. Courtesy of Salon 94.
107 Suffolk Street
May 8-11
Daniel Horowitz, Lost Identity Series, 2014. Courtesy of Cutlog.
Appearing for its second year in New York, hop over to French art fair, Cutlog, at the beautiful (and newly renovated) Clemente building on the Lower East Side. At just 50 exhibitors, the fair is a manageable size, with both emerging and establish artists from around the world.
135 W 18th Street
May 8-11
Meow Wolf, Beer Garden, 2014. Courtesy of SELECT Art Fair.
Take an afternoon nap then head up to Select Art Fair for their VIP Preview from 7-10pm. This year's fair has an installation by Meow Wolf that doubles as the fair's beer garden, serving Six Point Beer and Brooklyn Rangers sausages, installations by SELECT resident Brett Day Windham, and a roster of galleries heavy on the urban art influence.
Finish up the night with a rooftop drink at Le Bain at The Standard, High Line Hotel, and be sure to catch Marco Brambilla's video installation, Civilization, on your way up in the elevator.
Le Bain. Courtesy of The Standard, High Line Hotel.
Friday - May 9
Dedicate the day to the big fair. You've got a lot of ground to cover, so rest up and wear comfortable shoes.
Randalls Island Park
May 9-12
Marie Lorenz, Tide and Current Taxi (East River with Frederick Hayes), 2011. Courtesy of the artist.
Take the ferry from the 35th Street Ferry Dock to get the full Frieze effect, and while on board enjoy the spectacular views, or if you have VIP status take one of the VIP cars to experience the Frieze Sounds program, this year with pieces by Keren Cytter, Cally Spooner and Hannah Weinberger.
Once at the fair, explore the grounds to check out Frieze Projects, which are inspired by playgrounds, sports and the history of Randall's Island. Darren Bader's fantastical playground of impossible artworks invite visitors to look but not to play. Eduardo Basualdo's large scale sculptural installation superimposes an impossible sports field with glass-blocked goals. And Eva Kotátková's playground invites visitors to physically get inside her pieces. Go even further and explore the island with Marie Lorenz, as she brings her Tide and Current Taxi project to the fair, offering an alternative ferry service around the island on a boat made from salvaged materials.
Nadya Tolokonnikova and Masha Alekhina of Pussy Riot Courtesy of Frieze New York.
At 4p.m. head to the auditorium for a talk with Pussy Riot's Nadya Tolokonnikova and Masha Alekhina, who will speak with The New Yorker's David Remnick about their membership in the feminist art collective as well as the recently launched Zona Prava, their NGO advocating for prison reform. Tickets are free with admission and can be booked from 11a.m. just outside the auditorium.
Barry McGee, Untitled, 2012-2013. Courtesy of Cheim & Read.
Jenny Holzer, Selection from Survival: The Future is Stupid, 2006. Courtesy of Cheim & Read.
The fair is open until 7p.m. today, so spend the rest of the time checking out the cutting edge exhibitors. Make sure to stop by Cheim & Read's booth for works by Barry McGee, Jenny Holzer, Lynda Benglis and William Eggleston. Spruth Mager's booth will boast John Baldessari, Barbara Kruger, Andreas Gursky and George Condo's Great seated female composition. Then pop by Lisson Gallery's booth for works by Cory Arcangel, Anish Kapoor and Dan Graham.
The adventurous can book a night at the fair itself at the recreated Al's Grand Hotel, a collaboration between Allen Ruppersberg and Pulp Fiction, a project space and a journal in Northeast Los Angeles founded by Lauren Mackler and featuring a rotating cast of collaborators. The hotel/installation was originally open on Sunset Boulevard in 1971. Two rooms have been revived and are available for overnight stays during the fair.
Cory Arcangel, Gummies/Lakes, 2013. Courtesy of Lisson Gallery.
Allen Ruppersberg and Pulp Fiction, Al's Grand Hotel, 2014. Courtesy of Frieze New York.
Saturday - May 10
The rooftop at The Park. Courtesy of The Park Restaurant.
Sleep in, then head to Chelsea for brunch where you can pop in to Cook Shop or Park. Get some free chocolate at David Zwirner Gallery (519 W 19th Street) for Oscar Murillo's solo show, "A Mercantile Novel," which recreates a candy-making factory inside the gallery. Take a walk along the High Line up to check out Ed Ruscha's Honey, I Twisted Through More Damn Traffic Today, which is adjacent to West 22nd Street. Walk up to 33rd Street and head east to the Collective Design Fair.
Oscar Murillo's mother, Virgelina Murillo (center), working at Colombina in La Paila, Colombia, 1988. Collection of the artist, courtesy of David Zwirner Gallery.
Skylight at Moynihan Station
360 West 33rd Street
Collective Design Fair. Courtesy of the fair.
Get inspired at the old post office for the second Collective Design Fair, which showcases the best in contemporary and 20th century design from emerging and established galleries. Check out one of their Collective Conversations, as well as a solo exhibition by Hella Jongerius, a capsule exhibition spotlighting Scandinavian design, and a special installation of a 1967 Fleetwood Eldorado.
Grab a slice and head down to The Metropolitan Pavilion for PULSE.
125 West 18th Street
May 8-11
Another fair to switch from Armory Arts week to May to align itself with Frieze, PULSE has been known for showcasing cutting edge work in both New York and Miami. With new director Helen Toomer, the fair has undergone a makeover for 2014, trimming its exhibitor list, adding rules for the PULSE prize, and featuring a section curated by Toomer. Visitors this year can run their hands through the chest hair of artist Sean Fade, while whispering a wish in his ear for #wishingpelt, or become part of Shantell Martin's YOU ARE YOU in an immersive space for PULSE Projects.
Leslie Thornton, Binocular Menagerie, 2014. Courtesy of Times Square Arts.
Take a disco nap after the fair then go to Times Square at 11:57 to celebrate the 2 year anniversary of Times Square Arts' Midnight Moment. For three minutes, some of the advertising screens will be taken over by Leslie Thornton's Binocular Menagerie.
Sunday - May 11th
Take it easy today. Start out by heading to Basketball City for NADA.
299 South Street, Pier 36
May 9-11
Phaidon presents Beta-Local and MOCAD. Courtesy of NADA Art Fair.
The New Art Dealer's Association fair varies from others because it is run as a non-profit and is free to the public. You can grab a shuttle from the New Museum or the Guggenheim, or enjoy the walk to the water if the weather allows it. Today at 2pm, catch the ICI's panel discussion, "El Local Club," a conversation about the influences of Caribbean in artistic practice and production. Project space, Shoot The Lobster, has curated a site-specific group exhibition that will be on view inside of a 1964 black Ford Galaxie 500, parked next to the fair. Galleries known for pushing the limits like The Hole, Invisible Exports, Halsey McKay and Nicelle Beauchene Gallery round out the roster.
Walk over to Pier 11 and take the East River Ferry to Schaefer Landing/S. Williamsburg to check out the Kara Walker installation at the Domino Sugar Factory.
The Domino Sugar Factory, South 1st Street at Kent Avenue, Williamsburg
May 10 - July 6
Inside the Domino Sugar Factory, 2014. Courtesy of Creative Time.
The Wythe Hotel, 2013. Courtesy of the hotel.
End the hectic week that has enriched your cultural soul and treat yourself to one of the best views of Manhattan from the roof of the Wythe Hotel at The Ides Bar. Take it all in and relax with a drink. You deserve it!