The Art of Awe: Frieze New York

Art fairs… Why bother?

On the surface, art fairs are places where people can go to look at art and to buy art. Sounds boring, but really, they are so much more than that.

Art fairs are places where artists can present their work to large audiences in order to gain exposure and sell their work. They’re places where people come to gain experiences, to engage, to delight. Art fairs are places where artists meet other artists, become inspired, and indulge in the satisfaction of seeing their work on display. Art fairs are community builders, esthetic indulgences, and sensory heavens. Things are happening in the world, and people are designing and building beautiful creations. Art fairs are a hub for us to witness and connect with the world around us.

People have been enjoying the Frieze Art Fair for 10 years. The fair started in London, but has recently moved overseas to The City of Dreams– New York City. Frieze New York started in 2012, and has been going strong ever since. Watch the video below for a summary of the fair and a teaser for what’s to come:

Frieze Art Fair New York 10–13 May 2013 from Above York, LLC on Vimeo.

“When you come to a fair, yes, you’ll see paintings that you’ll understand immediately, but you might also see conceptual works, you might see installations, you might see sculptures. There’s lots of different things that artists do now-a-days; they’re all art and they just take a bit of time to look at and understand.”

A contemporary art fair like the Frieze Art Fair should be explored, contemplated, and wholly experienced. The work presented at this fair is hand-picked by Frieze and features 190 of the world’s leading contemporary galleries.When I say world I mean Paris, Berlin, Naples, London, Madrid, Beijing, São Paulo, Warsaw, and more! Although New York galleries are included in the fair, the international world of contemporary art will be properly represented here. So, slow down, and take it all in.

Frieze is not exclusively about the visual arts either. They showcase sound as well, called Frieze Sounds, but, best of all they have art that appeals to your taste buds. At last year’s Frieze New York, a SoHo restaurant from the 1970’s was recreated using some of the original cooks from the restaurant mixed with some newer artists. And, yes, they served real food as part of the exhibit.

Frieze New York had almost 50,000 attendees last year, which went beyond their expectations. People love art. That’s all I can say. If not for the deep conceptual meanings, or the esthetic composition, then for the sheer enjoyment of seeing awe-inspiring creations built by our fellow men.

Can you blame us for wanting to be a part of this?