Gotham Gal: Pier 94, Armory Show

I have a feeling that the 2nd annual Frieze Show in May is making an impact on the Armory Show. I know some of the galleries have opted for the Frieze over the Armory. I always enjoy the show but was not as wowed as I have been in years past.

Here were the highlights for me. Todd Pavlisko, Samon Projects in Boston. Not sure what Todd calls this but I call it ode to the bong with Carl Sagan hanging out in the middle.

I am a sucker for neon art. Peter Liversidge, Ingelby Gallery London.

I love the photographs of Jung Lee. One and J. Gallery, Seoul, Korea. Might still get one.

Max Neumann at Bruce Silverstein. This photo does not do the piece justice. Almost 8 feet tall. A beautiful painting.

I check out this artist every year from Galerie Laurent in Paris but never seem to pull the trigger.

I bought this piece. "My nose is growing Now" by Ramon Serrano. It is a pastel. He is a Cuban refugee who finally got him and his family out and is now living in Toronto. The lies you tell yourself to exist it the theme here. Just spoke to me.

I also bought this photograph by Mike Brodie. A series of very raw photographs that Brodie took while traveling with a bunch of young hobos in the Northwest. Very powerful. Yossi Millo Gallery. I have bought a few things from Yossi over the years. He has a great eye.

There were paintings and prints from Harland Miller throughout the show. This one is pretty funny.

This sculpture just spoke to me. It is a funny thing how you walk through a show and you are drawn to the most random things. The artist is Marcus Harvey, the piece is called Mr. Punch at the Other Criteria Gallery in London.

Love this Snowman. He is like 8 feet tall. Tony Tasset, Kavi Gupta gallery in Berlin.

Beautiful painting. Marius Bercea at Blain Southern.

I am a huge fan of Alec Soth. I really need to buy one of his pieces. Brilliant photographer. This is not typical of his work although I am not so sure he does anything typical.

This is called the Cake. It is a painting. Rafael Carnerio at Lucianobrito from Sao Paulo.

They also have this piece which I might go back for. Fydor Pavlov-Andreevich. Ipanema Under the Snow.

As always, just a treat to walk around and see what is happening in the art world...and of course if you can pick up a piece.

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books of the moment

Rachel Kushner: The Flamethrowers: A Novel
A beautiful intelligently written book that threads together NYC and Rome in the 1970's. The prose is just amazing. There is an underlying theme about lies and trust. The main character, Reno, whose eyes the book is written through is like a sponge taking in a world and essentially educating herself. I admit I did not love the ending and the book bounces around a bit although an interesting look at a time that bounced around too so the story defines those times.
Peggy Riley: Amity & Sorrow: A Novel
A mother drives for days with her daughters and ends up in a random Oklahoma town after crashing the car. They come from a polygamous community where there were 50 wives. The mother had grown up knowing life outside that community. Over time, after leaving, she almost becomes deprogrammed. The realization of what she did to her daughters who no nothing outside the world they came from including how to read. Then there is the family that brought them in. It is a fascinating story. Well written. Worthy read.
Charles Graeber: The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder
An amazing true story of a male nurse who was arrested in 2002. I actually remember the story as I followed it in the papers. This nurse was a serial killer who had probably murdered over 400 patients that were under his care. A seriously well researched book. Great read.
Meg Wolitzer: The Interestings: A Novel
Wolitzer writes about a group of camp friends who all come from different walks of life (some on scholarship) as their friendships continue through their mid-50s. At the beginning the story seems trite but as you continue to read there is a lot of be said. The story is sticking with me. She makes the case that everything that happens to you from your childhood makes an impact on who you become or don't become. Worthy read.
Elizabeth Strout: The Burgess Boys: A Novel
Strouts last book won a Pulitzer. She focuses on family issues. I enjoyed this book much more than Olive Ketteredge which I found utterly depressing. This book follows two brothers and a sister who live in the shadow of their fathers accidental death. Like most siblings, all have turned out very different yet they are connected. I did not love any of the characters, like her last book, yet as The Burgess Boys moves forward and memories are revealed, it is an interesting perspective on human character.
Tamara Shopsin: Mumbai New York Scranton: A Memoir
Great book. A witty spare inventive personal diary of Tamara journey from Indian to New York to Scranton. Really really enjoyed the book.
Michael Lavigne: The Wanting: A Novel
An incredible book that tells the human side of the many layered issues in the Middle East. From immigrating to Israel from Moscow, to being a victim of a suicide bomber yet surviving, to being pulled into an Israeli radical group. Each character is connected. Very layered well written book. Powerful
Alessandro Piol: Tech and the City: The Making of New York's Startup Community
A history of the Internet that I lived through. Great job of recording what happened.
Amity Gaige: Schroder: A Novel
Not sure how much I loved this book. A father loses his child in divorce and decides to kidnap his own daughter. He is not a stable person but he obviously loves his daughter. His own childhood has made him a disconnected human being. An interesting journey but not sure I'd recommend.
Ernest Hemingway: The Old Man and the Sea
Classic.

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Pier 94, Armory Show

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