Are you INDEPENDENT? Top Picks from the fair that stands on its own.
Mar 5, 2016 by
At its new location on Varick street, the Independent art fair, New York, kicked off 2016 in style , natural light streaming through the west-facing windows. Located next to the where the Tribeca Film Festival takes place, this new location really does beat out the former Dia Center which was on 22nd street in Chelsea. The previous home was without a large elevator and friends and I reminisced about how dangerous it felt as hundreds of visitors streamed up and down those steep stairs during the opening in years prior. On Thursday, instead of a sense of uneasiness upon ascent, the elevator and a smaller, wider staircase provided access to the floors where artwork of invited galleries had been installed. Covering two floors, the mezzanine and a smaller gallery on the street level, Independent 2016 was a breath of fresh air especially in comparison to many of the other more heavily installed art fairs happening around Manhattan. One of the most desirable characteristics of an art fair, is air. Most artwork requires space, not just to be installed but to be contemplated, understood and to function. If various works are hanging too close together or if booths are installed without a sense of identity the experience can be very overwhelming, beyond that of just being crowded.
Independent, as the name might suggest, takes a different approach. The format is much more open, more relaxed. While sales are happening (and were overheard during the VIP preview), the landscape is less of a marketplace than its sister fairs. Off the beaten path, but not far from the trends in contemporary art, Independent rallies a curated selection of international galleries to present work that is a bit less conventional and more conceptual then one might expect. An approachable, dare we say, easier fair to attend especially if for the first time. Our ETTD Top Picks are below. The fair is on view from March 3rd through 6th and will be traveling to Brussels for the first European iteration, April 20th through 23rd, 2016.
VI, VII, OSLO
VI, VII, Oslo, Than Hussein Clark, Installation view (sculpture in foreground, drawings in background), 2016, Independent NY, Photograph Katy Hamer, 2016
MAUREEN PALEY, LONDON
Maureen Paley Gallery, London, Paul P., “Untitled” , 2015, oil on linen, Independent NY, Photograph by Katy Hamer, 2016 (Side Note* Showing Peter Hujar, Paul P. and Wolfgang Tillmans, I actually think that Maureen Paley wins for best booth)
CLEARING, BRUSSELS / NEW YORK
Clearing, Brussels/New York, Showing Sebastian Black (background) and Jean Marie Appriou (foreground), Independent NY, Photograph by Katy Hamer, 2016
DAVID KORDANSKY GALLERY, LA
David Kordansky Gallery, LA, Evan Holloway, “Plant with Lamp”, 2016, Steel cardboard, CelluClay, Independent NY, Photograph by Katy Hamer, 2016
PERES PROJECTS, BERLIN
Peres Projects, Berlin, Solo presentation by Donna Huanca, Installation view, Independent NY, Photograph by Katy Hamer, 2016
CHAPTER NY
Chapter NY showing Mira Dancy, “OK Bouquet”, 2016, Acrylic on canvas, Independent NY, Photograph by Katy Hamer, 2016
MARTOS GALLERY, NY
Martos Gallery, NY, Showing Jennie Jieun Lee, Untitled ceramic sculptures installed on a pedastal, Individually available, 2016, Independent NY, Photograph by Katy Hamer
NEUE ALTE BRÜCKE, FRANKFURT/MAIN
Neue Alte Brucke, Frankfurt/Main, Julien Nguyen, “Leaves of Grass”, 2015, Oil on canvas, Independent NY, Photograph (detail) by Katy Hamer, 2016
FLEISHER OLLMAN, PHILADEPHIA
Fleisher Ollman, PA, Showing Becky Suss, “Living Room (Six paintings, four plates), 2015, OIl on linen, Independent, NY, Photograph by Katy Hamer, 2016
WHITE COLUMNS, NY
White Columns, NY, Showing Ceramics by Bruce M. Sherman, Independent NY, Photograph by Katy Hamer, 2016
More soon! xo