2.21.08: Last night at the Armory | New York Social Diary

Last night at the Armory

The scene along Central Park South. 2:15 PM. Photo: JH.

There was a big turnout last night at the Seventh Regiment Armory on Park Avenue and 67th Street for the Opening Night Preview of The Art Show 2008 with 70 major American art dealers participating. The evening marks the 20th year of a very successful collaboration between the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA), sponsors of the show and the Henry Street Settlement.


	George Condo. Conversation, 2007; pencil on paper, 25 1/4 x 18 3/4 inches.

Proceeds from last night’s benefit go to Henry Street, one of the city’s oldest and most effective leaders in social services, community arts programs and especially in helping the homeless families of New York.

Henry Street serves more than 60,000 New Yorkers with its great range of services, and it has been thus for more than a century (115 years to be exact).

Besides the proceeds from ticket sales for the Preview there was also a silent auction for works by Alex Katz and George Condo.

Jessica Craig-Martin also created a new print called Cancer Benefit, Southampton 2006 (Air Kiss) in a signed and numbered edition of 30, that was sold to benefit Henry Street Settlement also. The print (16 X 20 inches) is available unframed for $2000. Subscriptions will be honored in order of receipt while the limited edition is available.

Checks must be made out to Henry Street Settlement and sent to The Art Show, Henry Street Settlement, 265 Henry Street, New York, New York 10002.

Alex Katz. Snow Scene, 2004, Oil on board, 12 x 16 inches.

Jessica Craig-Martin. Southampton 2006 (Air Kiss), 2008 C-print; Edition of 30; 16 x 20 inches.

Don’t know who’s getting the “air kiss” but Denise Rich comes to mind.

The Art Show has a bit of a different feel from the art and antiques fairs that often inhabit the Armory site. It wasn’t that it was quiet – because it was a big crowd, but many of the booths had gatherings of people chatting or talking about a particular piece of art. There was a lot of activity that looked to this non-connoisseur like negotiations and the pursuit of special art interests.

Tess Schwab of Babcock Galleries with a piece by Varda Yatom.

The show runs only through Monday, February 25th. It’s a great show just to take in and spend a few hours looking: very restful, and/or stimulating, evocative, provocative. A good way to spend a lovely Saturday or Sunday afternoon in New York. You won’t be disappointed. The people watching’s pretty good here too.