Just returned from a preview of this year's Armory Show in New York thanks to press passes courtesy of Paul Morris. I only made it through Pier 90 and will go back tomorrow to see Pier 92. For the record, I have not been a fan of The Armory Show. Too large. Overwhelming. Nasty collectors eyeing each other more than the art. Nasty gallerists too stuck up to remember you on day one and by day three pushing the remnants of their booth on you so that they don't have to pay send the work back to the gallery. But I must say that I actually enjoyed myself this year. Same show, different me? The air was lighter, somehow. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood. I saw a lot of work that I liked - some I bought, some I'm considering buying. More details (and photos) to come soon...
PS -- One reason the air seemed lighter and friendlier may be due to the fact that this year's Armory was (and all subsequent Armory's will be) dedicated in memory to Pat Hearn and Colin de Land, two of the founders of the Grammercy International Art Fair and its successor, The Armory Show. I'm a sucker for the mush. There is a beautiful addendum to the Armory Catalog - a tribute to Pat and Colin - with a piece written by Linda Yablonsky that I wish everyone could read. Extremely touching and so personal. Like I said, I'm a sucker. If you send me an email I will send you a Xeroxed copy of the Tribute piece.
(oh... it is as if a giant block of time just caught up with me, a mixture of good memories and the now even stronger awareness of not knowing... )
thank you so much for this entry...
Posted by: Witold Riedel | March 31, 2004 at 06:34 AM