More Art Fair Madness

Armory
Not to be confused with the Art Show at the Armory, the Armory Show runs along piers on the Hudson River, offering a deluge of 289 exhibitors from 31 countries. New York’s biggest annual art event opens to VIPs on March 3 with a morning preview and an evening party at the Museum of Modern Art that features performances by indie rock band the Walkmen and DJ Justin Miller.
The fair’s two sections include Pier 94, with 209 contemporary art dealers and works by established and emerging living artists, and neighboring Pier 92’s 80 galleries specializing in 20th-century art.
Collectors expected to inspect the wares include former Disney chief Michael Ovitz and MSD Capital’s Glenn R. Fuhrman. Museum trustees and directors come in droves to scope out new trends and talent. The VIP program offers visits to private collections and artist studios.
The Volta NY fair is the Armory Show’s younger counterpart, produced by the same company and bringing together 88 solo artist projects. Its title this year is the promising “No Guts, No Glory.”
The Armory Show runs March 4-7 at Twelfth Avenue and 55th Street. General admission is $30; http://www.thearmoryshow.com. Volta NY is March 4-7 at 7 W. 34th St. General admission is $15. Tickets for admission to both are $40; http://ny.voltashow.com.
Koons
Greek billionaire Dakis Joannou has deigned to share with the public a smidgeon of one of the world’s biggest private contemporary-art collections this week. Jeff Koons, who designed the exterior of Joannou’s yacht “Guilty,” chose 100 works by 50 international artists -- such as Matthew Barney, Nathalie Djurberg, Terence Koh, Kiki Smith and someone named Koons -- from the hotel and construction tycoon’s collection for a show at the New Museum.
March 3-June 6 at the New Museum, 235 Bowery. General admission is $12; http://www.newmuseum.org.
Independent
The former Dia Center in Manhattan’s Chelsea district will host Independent, an alternative fair conceived by New York dealer Elizabeth Dee and London’s Darren Flook. Participants include 38 galleries, nonprofit exhibition spaces and publications, among them trend-setters such as Chelsea’s Andrew Kreps, Johann Konig from Berlin and London’s Maureen Paley and Stuart Shave/Modern Art.
March 4-7 at 548 W. 22nd St. Admission is free; http://www.independentnewyork.com.
PULSE
PULSE Contemporary Art Fair’s 48 emerging and established galleries include operations from Seoul, Tokyo and Culver City, California. It’s cheaper, more informal and less hectic than the Armory. The “Impulse” section offers additional solo shows by 13 artists.
March 4-7 at 330 West St. General admission is $20; http://www.pulse-art.com.
SCOPE
SCOPE Art Fair will again set up its white tent near Lincoln Center. This year’s edition will feature 45 emerging international dealers, including Belfast’s Golden Thread gallery and Warsaw’s Program Gallery.
March 4-7 at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park on West 62nd Street and Amsterdam Ave. General admission is $20; http://www.scope-art.com.
Fountain
Fountain New York, yet another alternative art fair, will take over the Hudson River’s 10,000-square-foot Pier 66. During the day, it will include 20 galleries and independent projects. At night, the venue will host ADULT, an electro band from Detroit, Brooklyn’s indie rockers Depreciation Guild and DJ Marky Ramone of The Ramones.
March 5-7 at Pier 66 at West 26th St. A weekend pass is $10; http://www.fountainexhibit.com.
PooL
Works by artists who don’t have gallery representation will be the focus of the PooL Art Fair at the Gershwin Hotel. Artists, curators and collectives will use the hotel’s guest rooms as exhibition space.
March 5-7 at 7 E. 27th St. Suggested donation is $10; http://www.poolartfair.com.

Verge
About 20 small galleries taking part in Verge art fair, which premiered at the Catalina Hotel in Miami in December 2009, will set up shop at the Dylan Hotel, 52 East 41st St. March 4-7; http://www.vergeartfair.com
Red Dot
The Red Dot Art Fair will feature paintings from 32 galleries at the Skyline Studios at 500 W. 36 St. and 10th Ave. March 4-7. A day pass is $10, all week is $20; http://www.reddotfair.com.
Korean, Dutch
Two fairs will focus on art offerings from specific countries. The Korean Art Show, sponsored by the South Korean government, will showcase 24 galleries at La.venue (The Terminal Stores) at 608 W. 28th St. March 3-7; http://koreanartshow.com.
Dutch Art Now returns to the National Arts Club with 12 contemporary-art galleries, including Amsterdam- and New York- based Witzenhausen Gallery. The event runs at 15 Gramercy Park South, March 3-14. Admission is free; http://www.dutchartnow.com.

*curtesy of Bloomberg.com