DISPATCH - JULY 26, 2012 (11:35 a.m.)

SOUTHAMPTON, NY

Tonight's the night that brings the first look at the latest art fair to join the Hamptons summer art scene - Art Southampton. Art Southampton opens with a VIP preview tonight from 6 to 10 p.m. The first look is for invited guests, registered VIP holders and press. All contributions benefit Southampton Hospital.

Art Southampton opens to the public tomorrow and continues through Monday, July 30. It's being held on the fairgrounds of the Elks Club on Sunrise Highway in Southampton. A 75,000-square foot tent was constructed for the occasion.  The ambience of the art begins even before walking through the door. A dramatic entrance is set among an outdoor sculpture park. Landscape design and lighting is by Christopher LaGuardia of LaGuardia Design.

If intent is actualized, the art fair will be a strong one.

International, national and New York City galleries are on board for the inaugural fair. Young Collector groups are set to arrive from NYC on Friday. The fair opens tonight with a VIP event.

Wall sculpture by John Chamberlain (1927-2011). Exhibited with Arcature Fine Art & Valentine Gallery.

Also tonight is the separate premiere benefit screening of the independent documentary HEAARTBEAT. The film features the life and art of John Chamberlain (1927-2011).

It was made by his stepdaughter and filmmaker Alexandra Fairweather. Chamberlain lived on Shelter Island, NY and worked there during the last part of his life.

Proceeds from the fundraiser benefits the Ross School's Chamberlain - Fairweather Scholarship Fund for the Arts. Tickets are $500 each. A second screening takes place on Friday.

Art Southampton will feature around 50 art galleries presenting Modern and/or Contemporary art. A full list can be found on their website.

International exhibitors include Hackelbury Fine Art (London, England); Waterhouse & Dodd (New York City & London); Galerie Forsblom (Helsinki, Finland); Galerie Andreas Binder (Munich, Germany);  Nikola Rukaj Gallery (Toronto, Canada) and others.

Hamptons-based galleries include Gallery Valentine (East Hampton and Bridgehampton) and McNeill Art Group (Southampton).

The list of artists represented is noteworthy, according to the list posted on the art fair's website. The lineup includes Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Henri Matisse (1869-1954), Wolf Kahn, Sol LeWitt (1928-2007), Cy Twombly (1928-2011), Robert Motherwell (1915-1991), Joan Miro (1893-1983), Tony Smith (1912-1980), Cindy Sherman, Julian Schnabel, Andy Warhol (1928-1987), Larry Poons, Mike +Doug Starn, Ryan McGinness, Donald Sultan and more.

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"Boomerang Night" (1965) by Alexander Calder (1898-1976). Gouache on paper,
28 1/4 x 42 1/4 inches. Exhibited with Hollis Taggart Galleries.

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Art Southampton Show Director Nick Korniloff said a solo show by Eric Fischl and a work by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) were just some of the artworks to look forward to.

"Our model is to present high quality fair with depth and deliver art that meaningful and is of real-time interest to the collectors of today," he said. Art Southampton is produced by Art Miami, which has presented the anchor art fair of Miami’s Art Week held each December. Art Miami has presented 22 fairs since inception.

Poised before the Art Southampton was to reveal itself, Korniloff said he was confident that the fair will make waves for its artwork quality and presentation. With a track record of presenting successful art fairs, Korniloff said the fair producers were connected to art collectors and to the galleries exhibiting in their fairs. The combination contributes to their success in Miami, Florida. What remains to be seen if the Hamptons and its collectors turn out and support the fair, said Korniloff.

"We feel connected to artwork," he said. "The galleries are showing up and presenting their art. We hope, in return, that people respond by collecting and prove that the high end art market model has a place during the summer months in the Hamptons."

Ultimately, the hope is the art and Art Southampton are both embraced.

"I hope that people appreciate the atmosphere we've created and the high quality of art that's being presented," said. "We feel thankful for being here and we hope that people feel the same."

Here are a few of the artworks that are part of the first Art Southampton art fair:

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Signed and dated lower right: "Calder 65," Titled on verso: "Boomerang Night" by
Friedel Dzubas (1915-1994). Exhibited with Hollis Taggart Galleries (New York, NY).

Artwork by Harumi Nakashima. Exhibited with Dai I Chi Arts.

Artwork by Hans Hoffman. Exhibited with Nikola Rukaj Gallery.

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BASIC FACTS: Art Southampton opens tonight with a VIP Preview held from 6 to 10 p.m. The fair opens tomorrow and runs through Monday, July 30. The fair opens daily at noon. It remains open until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and until 8 p.m. on Sunday and Monday.

Tickets are $15 per day or $30 for a multi-day pass. Admission for students and seniors are $10. Children under 12 years old are free.

Art Southampton is being held at Southampton Elks Lodge fairgrounds, 605 County Road 39, Southampton, NY. For details, visit www.art-southampton.com.

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© 2012 Pat Rogers and Hamptons Art Hub. All rights reserved.

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