THE ARMORY SHOW OPENS ITS ‘CENTENNIAL’ EDITION AND KICKS OFF ARMORY ARTS WEEK 2013

THE ARMORY SHOW OPENS ITS ‘CENTENNIAL’ EDITION AND KICKS OFF ARMORY ARTS WEEK 2013

NEW YORK, March 6: At a press conference at 11:00am EST, the Mayor of New York, Michael R. Bloomberg, will inaugurate the 2013 edition of The Armory Show, New York’s leading fair for contemporary and modern art, highlighting the city’s recognition of the event as a key moment in its annual arts calendar and a cornerstone of the American art market. Mayor Bloomberg will also launch Armory Arts Week, a rich program of cultural events and exhibitions taking place across New York City.

Over 200 specially selected galleries will present key historic and contemporary works from approximately 1,000 artists, with many participating exhibitors honouring the legacy of the original Armory Show of 1913, from which the fair takes its name. The 1913 salon is widely credited with introducing the European avant-garde to the United States. This year also marks the second edition of Solo Projects, a section of the fair dedicated to single artist presentations.

Armory Focus: USA, the fair’s specially curated section which this year shifts its gaze inward to the USA, also pays homage to the shocking and revolutionary impact of the 1913 exhibition. Curated by Eric Shiner, director of The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, it will showcase an exciting selection of 17 established and emerging galleries, providing surprising insight and commentary on contemporary practice in America. Furthermore the fair’s Open Forum, curated by Anne Barlow, Executive Director of Art in General, will feature a series of talks inspired by, and expanding upon Armory Focus: USA, highlighting artistic practices across America, and the history and legacy of the groundbreaking original Armory Show of 1913.

Noah Horowitz, Executive Director of the Armory Show, remarks: “This is an important year for The Armory Show, both in New York and as an international Fair. I’m delighted that the strength of the 2013 edition has been reflected across so much of our programme, from the incredible works brought by our exhibitors - over 2,500 of which have been viewed online prior to opening – to our special projects.  We are also honoured by the prestigious and talented individuals who have joined our new collector group, the Centennial Committee, and I look forward to their input in future editions of one of New York’s major lynchpins of the art market.”

Further on site highlights include two limited edition art works by this year’s commissioned artist Liz Magic Laser, internationally acclaimed for her often provocative performance work, the proceeds of which will go to the Museum of Modern Art and the Pat Hearn & Colin de Land Cancer Foundation. The fair will also host the second edition of Armory Film, curated by Moving Image, which will feature a selection of works by leading contemporary film and video artists represented by Armory Show exhibitors.

For the second year running, the fair will be designed by Brooklyn-based architects Bade Stageberg Cox.