This weekend, the international art world will converge on New York City to experience the annual collection of art fairs that make up what is informally called Armory Week.
Over the years, East End galleries have been a part of one fair or another, and regional artists are always in evidence as well. This year, two East Hampton galleries will return to the largest fair and centerpiece, the Armory Show at Piers 94 and 90. Eric Firestone Gallery and Halsey McKay Gallery are at Pier 94. The fair opens to the public today and continues through the weekend.
Firestone will show recent and historical works by Elaine Lustig Cohen, Martha Edelheit, Varnette Honeywood, Joe Overstreet, Pat Passlof, and Miriam Schapiro in the regular gallery section at booth 909. On view will be abstract and figurative works, highlighting “the artists’ long-term commitment to radical content and ongoing technical experimentation.”
Halsey McKay will return to the fair’s “Presents” section for younger galleries that represent emerging artists, showing new works by Glen Baldridge and Elias Hansen in booth P11. The artists “use and distort traditional art making and craft techniques to explore new territory in painting and sculpture.” Each artist imbues his works, which reference underground cultures, with a complementary dark and wry humor.
Artists who have lived or worked in the area with a significant number of works showing in the fair are Mary Ellen Bartley at Yancey Richardson Gallery, Jane Freilicher at Kasmin, Hedda Sterne at Van Doren Waxter, and Michael Corinne West at Hollis Taggart. Other artists who will be sprinkled about the booths include Vija Celmins, Chuck Close, Max Ernst, Andy Warhol, Helen Frankenthaler, Robert Gober, Adolph Gottlieb, Mary Heilmann, Lee Krasner, Joan Mitchell, Cindy Sherman, and Carolee Schneemann. The Susan Sheehan Gallery will be responsible for showing many of these artists in the Perspectives area on Pier 90.
The fair opens at noon every day and closes at 8 p.m. today and tomorrow, 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 6 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $55, or $35 for students and senior citizens during the week, and increase to $63 and $40 on the weekend.
