Old Favorites, New Discoveries
THE ARMORY SHOW
The Armory Show, the largest annual contemporary art fair in New York City, was originally housed at its namesake, Manhattan’s 69th Regiment Armory, the former training facilities for the National Guard (now listed on the National Registry of Historical Places).
The Armory Show is now housed at Pier 94 on Manhattan’s West Side, along the Hudson River.
The history of today’s international art fair is linked to the Armory Show, which began with a bang in 1913 when President Theodore Roosevelt declared, “That’s not art!” after viewing works by modern art masters Marcel Duchamp, Paul Cézanne, and Henri Matisse. From this auspicious beginning, the Armory has since shifted its name, venue, and ownership numerous times. In 2007, the show merged with powerhouse tradeshow organizer Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., which many say has only increased its level of professionalism, attendance, and profits.
Currently the Armory Show is staged on Pier 94 on New York City’s West Side. Over a period of four days, thousands of people buy millions of dollars worth of works by old masters and newly minted art school graduates. Given the reputation of the Armory, other galleries and smaller exhibition spaces link themselves with the older, more established show, earning the nickname “Armory Week.” Though billed as an international event, the Armory has been dominated by European and New York based galleries. Many view the increasing importance of the art fair as a tragic sign of the power of the market over more traditional art institutions, such as museums and biennials. Only time will tell if the Armory Show and other international art fairs will survive and prosper as spaces where commerce and aesthetics thrive. —SBR