10 Things to Know for Armory Art Week 2018

Armory Art Week is upon us. Barring any disruption from the predicted nor'easter / snow storm for Wednesday, the art fairs go into high gear with VIP events and Previews Tuesday to Thursday night. Absent special events, art fairs are open to visitors through Sunday, March 11, 2018. Art Fair Weeks bring their own surprises each year. Following are 10 things to know about the 2018 edition to help keep your plans on track.

1.  ADAA's The Art Show Opened Early & Began Last Week

The Art Show, presented by ADAA, was inadvertently separated from the rest of Armory Show Art Week because a late-in-the-game week switch wasn't possible for the fair to present in their long-standing home of the Park Avenue Armory. Traditionally, The Armory Show and Armory Week is held during the first week in March. This year, March's "first week" was divided and presented two possibilities and the choice was made to hold the Art Fair Week from March 5 to 11, 2018 (versus February 26 to March 4, 2018). The Park Avenue Armory, the tradition home for The Art Show, was already booked so they decided to go forward as usual. The Art Show was held February 28 to March 4, 2018. In a twist, fair goers can find the New York Antiquarian Book Fair there instead. The book fair presents from March 8 to 11, 2018.

2.  Don't Expect to find Moving Image New York - They've Jumped to Frieze Week 

Moving Image New York opens with both a new location and new week in 2018.  The fair will be presented from May 3 to 6, 2018 at 591 Park Avenue between 63rd and 64th. Expect other changes for the New York fair:  a newly formed Moving Image Curatorial Advisory Committee is inviting a selection of international galleries and non-profits to present this year. As in the past, expect video installations, single-channel videos and projections, video sculptures and other immersive forms of moving media to be highlighted. For details, visit www.moving-image.info.

3. Collective Design Moves into Armory Art Week

Presenting during Armory Week for the first time, Collective Design will present its sixth edition at Skylight Clarkson North, located at 572 Washington St, New York, NY 10014. Aiming to reveal insights into the design process as well as present the range design can encompass, this year's edition includes a mix of art galleries and design houses from Paris, New York and Los Angeles and more. Not familiar with design? Complimentary tours of Collective Design will be provided by 1stDibs on each day of the fair. Click here for more info and to reserve. Collective Design is held March 9 to 11, 2018. Admission is $30 for general admission or $15 for students and seniors. A three-day pass is available for $60. For details, visit www.collectivedesignfair.com.

4. Spring / Break Art Show Launches the Week on Tuesday Night

Spring/Break Art Show gets things started Tuesday day with back-to-back previews for press and invited guests (from 3 to 5 p.m.) followed by their Opening Night bash, held from 5 to 9 p.m. The fair returns to the same location as last year and unfolds across two floors of the office building (known as the Conde Nast building) located at 4 Times Square. Driven by curators (versus galleries), this year's theme is "STRANGER COMES TO TOWN" which promises to set quite the scene. Tickets to the Opening Night range from $20 to $50. For details, visit www.springbreakartshow.com.

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Visitors explore the interactive immersive video installation "Self on The Shelf" by Laia Cabrera and Isabelle Duverger with interactivity by Nicole Carpeggiani at Spring/Break Art Show 2018. Photo by Pat Rogers.

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5. How Many Art Fairs Are There?

This year, the number of art fairs declines to nine but the total number of fairs presents remains at 11 (including one book fair and a design fair). Click here for our Ultimate NY Art Fair Guide for Armory Week for what to see and where to find it. Want the quick list? The Armory Show, Volta New York, Art on Paper, Spring / Break, Clio, Independent New York, NADA New York, Scope New York, Collective Design and New York Antiquarian Book Fair.

6. What are the Highlights for The Armory Show?

The Armory Show is the centerpiece or Armory Week and the reason for the cluster of art fairs that gather to make the week a fun one. This year, The Armory Show presents 198 galleries from 31 countries with a mix of modern and contemporary art. Expect to find Gagosian, Perrotin and Van Doren Waxter returning to the fold. Artist solo projects to watch for include those by Nam June Paik (Gagosian); JR (Jeffrey Deitch); Tara Donovan (Pace) and Sanford Biggers (David Castillo Gallery). Large-scale installions to note, presented through Platform, include new works by the Bruce High Quality Foundation, Beth Campbell, Amalia Pica and Wang Xin among others. The Armory Show will be presented from March 8 to 11, 2018 at Piers 92 and 94, 711 12th Avenue, New York, 10019. For details, visit www.thearmoryshow.com.

7. Need to See Art Now? Start Clicking for Online Previews. 

Artsy has become the go-to for many art fair previews. For Armory Week, previews can be seen for The Armory Show; Art on Paper; NADA New York and VOLTA NY. Spring / Break has a list of all artists and curators listed here with images of the art fair expected to appear on the website soon. A preview of NADA New York can be found on Artspace.

8. What's Happening with MoMa's Party?

The Armory benefit party at MoMA insures high voltage excitement for the week can spill into the night. Taking place on Wednesday, March 7, 2018, VIP tickets at $225 allow entrance from 8 to 9 p.m. with general admission taking place from 9 p.m to 12:30 a.m. for $125. Tickets include earlier entrance to The Armory Show. The party features live music by BORNS with a DJ set by Washed Out. Online ticket sales happen up to 4 p.m. on Wednesday with on site ticket sales offered at Pier 94 up to 8 p.m. and at the museum after 8 p.m. For details, visit www.moma.org.

9. Art Fairs by Neighborhood

Set in various neighborhoods across New York City, attending all the art fairs can be a challenge. Visit The Armory and Volta NY together, as they are neighbors on Piers 92/94 and 90 near Midtown. In that general area is Clio Art Fair, held near Penn Station, and Spring / Break, presented near Times Square. Heading Downtown? Visit the Scope Pavilion in Chelsea, Independent New York at Spring Studios in TriBeCa and Art on Paper at Pier 36 on the Lower East Side. Near neighbors and presented in the same building in Greenwich Village are NADA New York and Collective Design, both on Washington Street. Heading Uptown? Find the New York Antiquarian Book Fair at the Park Avenue Armory.

10. Artist Events Around Town