Scope Hamptons 2007 - Part 1 The Reception

Attending the opening night reception for Scope Hamptons 2007 on Thursday, July 26, meant wandering my way through a sparser crowd. Luxurious. An opportunity  to introduce myself and meet new people, plus catch up with people I had met previously, both here and in NYC.

At the entrance was a large booth of the new Salomon Contemporary. The booth itself was impressively set up, and it set the tone for many of the booths that also had cutting edge works. I especially liked a sculpture of a deer, Wildlife Management by Michael Combs.

When I go to a fair or visit galleries, including online ahead of a brick and mortar visit, I try to wait a day or two to see what works I will recall, especially if I know I am going to write about the show(s) or fair.

One of the connections that I knew I wanted to make was with Art in General, a non-profit for artists. I was happy to meet Anna Starling, who was impressed me immediately by being welcoming and helpful to me as an emerging artist with a new theory of painting and making art. Also, in the booth was a lovely painting by Billy Sullivan, Blackbirds, Cardinal, Mourning Dove. Sullivan is Hamptonite who was in the last Whitney Biennial and is represented by Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery. Anna's attitude made it easy to understand why so many artists, such as Billy Sullivan support this organization.

Another great organization for artists at the fair was Creative Time. They have all sorts of programs and help for artists, check out their site to find out more and purchase summer reading

Aside from the opportunity to see art and meet other artists (vital as I am founding an art movement), I attend art fairs to check out galleries. In a previous blog I wrote about how and why I am being very selective about the galleries I will consider for representation. At an art fair the physical gallery playing field is leveled somewhat, since everyone is limited to a booth; gone are the architecturally impressive galleries. Even for galleries that double or triple their booth space, what is also on display at a fair is the people who represent a gallery: their attitudes, knowledge and vision of art. The people are the heart of any gallery, and at a fair they cannot hide behind desks and in offices.

Speaking of gallery people, Silas Marder, who is local, represents some artists I know and is very friendly and helpful is creatively impressive himself. Silas has invented a way of displaying more art (or anything, really two dimensional or small) at a fair. The photo is of Silas with his display device. Galleries make inquiries to Silas because without paying the fees, you can quadruple your show space! [See photo]

Gallery owner Silas Marder with his expandable booth device

Artists are people and some artists take the trouble to attend fairs. The first night I stopped by the Janet Oh Gallery , Seoul , as I was intrigued by intricate miniature sculptures of trees contained in clear boxes, by an artist named Zadok Ben-David. Immediately at my side appeared the artist, filled with enthusiasm and glad to meet a fellow artist. Although I include links so the works and galleries I mention can be seen by my readers, the images I have seen of Zadok's work does not convey their truth, so I hope he will have a show of more work in a NYC gallery, too as I want to see more.

I may mention photographers, but I have veered away from saying much as I feel totally unqualified in that field. My new friend, art critic Brian Appel who writes for artcritical.com and Heyoka Magazine, has been slowly and kindly “tutoring” me. Bravely, I say that I was wowed by the work of Judith Larsen at the Ryhs Gallery, Boston. The gallery has a very good display of her work and by all the red dots lining the gallery walls on Sunday, I certainly am not the only fan.

Judith Larsen Sunspots Iris print on Somerset velvet paper

By Sunday, I knew what works had impressed me along with their galleries. I had to cull it down so some other works and galleries I may write about or write more about at other times.

Continues in "Scope Hamptons Part 2"

August 6, 2008