The spring art fairs are upon us and here on the Lower East Side that means NADA! The New Art Dealers Alliance will be back at Basketball City/Pier 36 this Thursday through Sunday with more than 100 galleries represented.
You’ll be able to see works from dealers worldwide, although as usual, NADA has a strong LES emphasis. Local galleries represented include: Nicelle Beauchene, Callicoon Fine Arts, Eleven Rivington, Jack Hanley, The Hole, Invisible Exports, Kai Matsumiya and Essex Flowers.
For the first time this year, NADA will also feature a substantial “special programming” lineup on a newly designed stage. There will be musical pieces, performances, discussions and readings. One Saturday discussion is titled, “Whither the Art Gallery? (What are Galleries Good for These Days?).”
And then there’s this:
A collaboration between Melissa Brown and Where, Eyes in the Sky Hold ‘Em is an off-site, private poker lounge that will operate during NADA NY. Invited artists will wager original artworks in winner-take-all rounds of Texas Hold ‘Em. A live feed of the four-game tournament will be visible throughout the fair on a closed circuit television system installed on specially designed kiosks, which double as phone charging stations. The closed circuit televisions system inverts the traditional casino security camera: Instead of ensuring fair play, viewers at the fair can see the players’ hands. And there’s a twist – each player will have a cellphone whose number will also be visible during the games. At any time viewers can text in tips, influencing play as anonymous spies and accomplices. The winner of each round leaves the table with an art collection created through both chance and skill.
It’s free to attend NADA. Hours are Thursday 6-8 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Basketball City is located at the end of Montgomery Street (at South Street). There will also be free shuttles from the New Museum: (Thursday 3–8:30pm; Friday & Saturday noon–7:30pm; Sunday noon–5pm.
Click here for more info.
