Weekly Art #28 - The Armory Show - Part One

I've attended every Armory Show since 2000, the year a painting professor of mine (you know who you are, ha-ha) ridiculed the entire class for being irresponsible and not attending. Why would we want to go participate in such gross garage-sale-like awfulness? Our beautiful Art World turned into a shopping mall!

The Armory Shows* are always amazing. Even when some of the art sucks some of it's still awesome. There's so much of it! Where else can you go in NYC and see so much contemporary art in one place? So, I implore you to attend. Next Tuesday, after the Armory has run its course, we'll reconvein to talk about what happened, what we saw, what the experience was like, and so on. If you can't attend, aren't a student, or don't feel like paying the $30 entry fee, don't worry, I'm gonna make another photo book of my visit and I'll post some of them here. Oh and before I forget, I want to be clear that I'm talking about the Contemporary show, not the Modern show. I want to talk about the art of today, not the art of lots of todays ago, or just pack it away for another conversation at another time.

What will the Armory Show look like through my newly refuge vowed eyes?

*The Armory Show is an art fair, a kind of Art World trade show, like the NYC Car Show, but with art.

Here's the information:

PIER 94
MARCH 3-6, 2011

The Armory Show is America's leading fine art fair devoted to the most important art of the 20th and 21st centuries. In its eleven years, the fair has become an international institution. Every March, artists, galleries, collectors, critics and curators from all over the world make New York their destination during Armory Arts Week

Twelfth Avenue at 55th Street
New York City

The Armory Show 2011 Opening Day takes place Wednesday, March 2nd for invited guests.

Opening Hours:
Thursday, March 3 - Saturday, March 5 Noon to 8 pm
Sunday, March 6 Noon to 7 pm

Piers 92 & 94 are located on Manhattan's far West side on the Hudson River (Twelfth Avenue) at 55th Street in the Passenger Ship Terminal complex. The piers are easily accessible by public transportation, taxi, and private vehicle. The nearest subway stop is four cross-town blocks east at 50th Street and Eighth Avenue.

Shuttles are available between The Armory Show on Piers 92 & 94 and VOLTA NY on 34th street near 5th Avenue.

Shuttles are also available between The Armory Show on Piers 92 & 94 and the New Museum at 235 Bowery near Prince Street (1-6 p.m.)

Piers 92 & 94 can be reached by public transportation via the Eighth Avenue subway, E or C trains to 50th street, then via M50 bus line. The M50 bus runs West on 49th Street (to the pier) and East on 50th Street (from the pier) connecting at Eighth Avenue (E or C subway) and at Seventh Avenue (1 or 9 subway). Also, bus lines M16 and M42 provide service to 42nd Street and Twelfth Avenue. For subway and bus information and schedules, call (718) 330-1234 or click here.

From the Lincoln Tunnel, take 42nd Street west to Twelfth Avenue. Continue north on Twelfth Avenue to Piers 92 & 94 (at the Passenger Ship Terminal). From the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, go west via 34th Street to Twelfth Avenue. Continue north to the piers (at the Passenger Ship Terminal). Access to the piers for private cars via at 55th Street and Twelfth Avenue. All vehicles should follow signs for the Passenger Ship Terminal parking.