AIPAD SHOW NEW YORK 2018

A PERSONAL TOUR

Once a year I get to put on my "wish hat" and head on over to the AIPAD Show (The Association of Internatinoal Photography Art Dealers). Like many of the events centering on the art world and the worlds of design the venues tend to change and revolve around the aspects of availability and cost. It seems that more and more of these events have been gravitating to the Upper Westside Piers (not my choice) but once beyond the somewhat seediness of the Piers and the difficulty in getting that far west the photography in this case is always drool worthy for me.

By this time in our lives we've been fortunate enough to have developed lasting relationships with certain dealers who we now seek out at these shows as they continue to tantalize us with a growing wish list of "I really have to have this image!" For this reason I could spend hours walking the show but if you'll indulge me I'll take you on a shorten tour of my highlights of this year's show.

Once I got through the door and past security I started walking to my left and walked right into this gorgeous image by Massimo Listri. It was almost human in scale measuring nearly six feet high by over seven feet wide. The perspective and repetition in this image were so strong it was as if vertigo had set in after standing in front of this hallway for more than a few seconds. I was dizzy with joy.

After the dizzying effect of iof the Venaria Reale I had to face a tableaux of zebras. There are several photographers emulating this highly art directed approach the most memorable being the work of Sandy Skoglund but this image pared down the sentiment and still stirred the imagination.

Thematically the use of animals in unexpected environments had its run at the 2018 AIPAD Show. "Love at First Sight" by Karen Knorr's gave a more anthropomorphic approach with the interaction between giraffe and mural and a humorous kiss.

This image by Horst P. Horst is just lust in black and white for me. It's an iconic image and it's been on my list since I discovered the camera.

Although this image of John Malkovich taking on the same pose by photographer, Sandro Miller is the one I've come this close to selling our only child for.

Another all-time favorite of mine has been Andrew Moore. His architectural approach and compositional expertise to the stillness of place is mesmerizing. I can't attribute this image to him. I missed photographing the ID tag for this photo, but if this isn't his it's a very good replication of his eye.

Another image that I misinterpreted as belonging to another artist was this image by Rolfe Horn.

This Belgian Canal has been the muse for photographer Lynn Geesaman at least a decade prior to Rolfe Horn's photo. I have to say I'm happy to have purchased Lynn's photo over Rolfe's. I miss her work as Alzheimer has taken away her ability to photograph a world she saw such beauty in.

Innovative technique is another thing that always stands out at the AIPAD show. I really loved these images by Gabriela Morawetz where she uses an outter layer of convex glass printed with silver emulsion bubbling over a second layer of a pigment print creating actual depth and with that a third layer of shadows moves over the base print as walk by the prints. It's very interactive making us as viewers participants in the images creation.

Another all time favorite, I only know this because one of our clients has one of his pieces hanging in their living room, is the photographic/video work of Gregory Scott. His images are in constant motion as the images within the frames change as does the foreground image constantly surprising the viewer with the changing point of view. The price tags on these pieces are not for the faint of heart but they are truly innovative. If you want to see one of his works please go to this link and stare in wonder. http://gregoryscottphotography.com/assets/thisisnotmagritte.mp4

This image by Tony Vaccaro from 1948 is what I look for in a photograph that keeps me involved. For me interest in this type of reportage photography has to give me something beyond a pretty straightforward pic. It needs to show me something that goes beyond the obvious. Millions of pictures of the main floor of Pennsylvania Station prior to its destruction flood the archives but employing the additional element of what I believe is double exposure gives it an interest that takes it beyond the obvious.

This was one of my favorite images of the entire show. The complimentary colors, the use of the door to throw off the symmetry, the textures of the shower curtain, the subtly of the wallpaper and that brilliant head of red hair against that pale body all make this image tantalizing. The image is erotic and fanciful and morbid all at the same time.

Another favorite was this image by Murray Fredericks in The Robert Mann Gallery booth. It was only enhanced by Mr. Mann color coordinating his outfit to match the photograph

To round out my tour of the AIPAD show I'd like to point out this image by Ansel Adams, Sierra Sunrise. Collecting photograph should never be about the financial investment unless you have very deep pockets. It should only be about what you like and what moves you, but there are times when one hits the jackpot in the ever-growing photography market. The selling price on this print is now $495,000.00. Kudos to anyone who bought an Ansel Adams back in the 50's, 60's or even the 70's and 80's. You did very, very well.



THE GALLERY

Irving Penn
Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn, photographer
Irving Penn represented by Fraenkel Gallery

MACY'S FLOWER SHOW 2018

"ONCE UPON A SPRINGTIME"

The tulips have drooped and the hydrangeas have all wilted. Another chapter of Macy's Flower Show has been tossed into waste bins and the aisles of the main floor in Macy's Manhattan store have been swept clean of any evidence of its springtime flower show.

It was a show of knights and dragons and castles all part of  the imaginative theme "Once Upon a Springtime".

Inside the Herald Square store a botanist's dream dropped petals between purses by Michael Kors and perfumes by Channel.

Dragons blew fireballs of golden blossoms over a packed horde of shoppers more mesmerized with the decorations than the product.

Gypsy caravans rumbled through the fragrance aisles bearing more varieties of spring's bounty than one would expect to find anywhere else but at Macy's.

No fairytale would be complete without it's villains and haunted woods. Macy's fairytale was not without its wicked witches and scary skulls.

But one could also count on the appearance of the knight on shining armor at the ready with sword and shield to slay the lurking evils

Inside the brass front doors off of Broadway it was a thrill for children and adults alike to cross the castle's drawbridge and enter "Once Upon a Springtime" creating a lasting memory of awe for all.

Once outside it was a fairytale come to life in a series of windows that appeared like pages out of a storybook where knights on green horses fought orange scaly demons.

Gingerbread houses with thatched rooves made you imagine the damsels soon to be found in distress abducted and locked up in a castle's tower or poisoned by a bright red apple..

Boughs of spring blooms broke through the glass walls of the outdoor displays and hung over your head while huge green cuddly monster most kids would love to find under their bed lurked beneath a floral covered bridge.

Finally there was the princess herself dressed in a floral gown in conversation with a fleet of magenta butterflies

One has to hand it to Macy's and the effort they put into every holiday making lifetime memories for everyone who has had the opportunity to experience their beautiful displays. I may not be a full-time Macy's customer but as much as I can I want to support them in the hopes that they won't end up having to go the way of so many brick and mortars and end the magic they've provided me and millions of others.







THE GALLERY

Herald Square, 34th and Broadway, Manhattan, 1936
Berenice Abbott
Represented by

DINING BY DESIGN 2018 NEW YORK CITY

THERE'S STILL GLAM AT THIS 21 YEAR OLD EVENT

It’s no longer at The Tunnel or the Hammerstiein Ballroom. It’s no longer “the” event of the season but Dining by Design’s star still hasn’t been extinguished, it’s only slightly dimmed. For the past several years the event has moved to a new home in Pier 92 linking it’s carriage to the Architectural Digest Show occurring at the same time in the adjoining Pier 94.

9507Pier 92 doesn’t hold the same cache as previous venues but the tables make a valiant attempt at holding up the prestige of former dinners from years gone by. After all, the event this year celebrated its twenty-first anniversary. It’s grown after having spawned sister events in such cites as Chicago, Kansas City and Los Angeles. 

In 2018 New York is the sole survivor as far as I know, the grand dame that still generates revenue for a total cure of a disease that continues to affect millions worldwide. This table designed by Gensler + Knoll = Evenson Best chose to fold a thousand origami cranes in honor of the 123,887 New Yorkers currently still living with HIV/AIDS.

One thousand cranes in a rainbow of color fluttered over their poignant and touching table.

Some of the big contributors who have produced tables year after year were here again

Ralph Lauren set an exquisite table in a manor distinctively Lauren with the perfect restraint and cool ambiance of an alfresco dining tableaux

David Rockwell, one of the founding members of the event was back again with a table ringed in carpeting strands from the Rug Company 

Interior Design Magazine, a long time sponsor of the event was again on hand with its very architectural construction placed at the very end of the space, a fitting period to the event’s many designs.

Over the past several years design schools have been asked to participate usually under the mentorship of an established designer. This striking red dining room was designed by the School of Visual Arts under the mentorship of Tyler Wisler

And this elephant in the room was the design entry by the Pratt Institute with the mentoring of Barry Richards. 

Tables ranged from the deco inspired black and white of  Hok + Florim + Teknion/Studio TK/Luum + FCI

To the more colorful table designed by Wesley Moon for Luxe Interiors + Design creating a bouquet of springtime behind panels of translucent drapery

There were tables that were destination inspired like this Moroccan table designed by Alessandra Branca for Benjamin Moore.

Or this Southwest version put together by One Kings Lane for the New York Times, a table that captured the real heat of the event

As always there were tables that zinged and stabbed with their boldly aggressive approach. Jeffrey Beers International + Akdo + Maya Romanoff + Walters made a lasting memory with this dynamic table

And Arteriors tableaux of scarabs in their art and wallpaper was creepy and beautiful all at the same time. As appealing as their design was to the eye I’m still not so sure how it would set with my stomach if I were to be seated there for a three course dinner.

Even though the show has thinned out over its twenty-one year run I’m still hoping for a year twenty-two. The cause is still very relevant and still needs its advocates. You go DIFFA. Your work saves lives and what could be more important than that.

THE GALLERY

Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield, 1957

Joe Shere, photographer

THE ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST SHOW 2018

WALKING THROUGH THE AD SHOW

It was the day after the fourth nor'easter in New York. The street snow was already melting making getting around a slushy mess. It was also the first day of the Architectural Digest Show out on Pier 94, a walkers trek to the far west side under the best of conditions. I'd expected a light attendance, the weather scaring away most of the perspective attendees, but the event was still bustling with activity.
The venue is physically divided into a "T" formation with the long stem of the "T" directly in front of the entry and the two smaller arms branching off to the right and left.

Once I had picked up my badge I headed to the right where most of the bigger name furnishing vendors were located. It's always good to see old friends and I count the New Traditionalists on that list. It bewilders me why more of the showrooms from the D&D and 200 Lex don't avail themselves of this event and produce booths showing off their product lines since the main thrust of the show is to introduce the design trade and consumers to new products.

One of the few major players that did make an appearance at the show with a big splash of color was Benjamin Moore. Granted they are a paint company but they put color out there in a way that made you take notice.

Benjamin went big, beautiful and hot introducing their new colors for the year. They made their new color, caliente, sizzle on the walls of their chic booth.

The lengthy trunk of the "T" forming the aisles at the AD show is mainly consumed by appliances both interior and exterior. A new entry for me was Hestan with it's non-traditional grilling equipment.

Bauformat, a Germany entry in the kitchen cabinetry category, had drawers within drawers and storage with shelves that moved and lit up when touched. There were more bells and whistles here than wigs in Dolly Parton's closet.

All the major appliance players were there: Subzero, Wolff, Viking, Samsung, the list goes on. Most showing a line of conventional category entries but as in prior years Smeg had something different to show and it was a lot of fun.

And if all this new technology made your head dizzy and mouth salivate then there were plenty of chefs preparing food from their newest gadgets for you to taste and savor

Included in this section of the venue was Flowerbox, a company that offered wall gardening, appropriately placed in this section suggesting that you could also grow your dinner salad right there in your kitchen on the wall behind your prepping island

The last branch of the "T" held your independent vendors and artisans. Here's where you find the furniture makers that exhibit smaller lines of, for the most part, innovative ideas in the art of furniture

Poritz & Studio showed their Tambour bar, a cabinet on legs with horizontal rolling doors and pull out drawers.

The Detroit collaboration of Aratani + Fay showed a real twist on comfort with Evan Fay's Lawless sofa. A metal frame harnesses a spaghetti plate of stuffed noodles and I mean that in the most delicious way. I can't say how comfortable this might be. I was too afraid of getting my clothes stained in primavera but the look was great.

Making a lotta noise at the show were these speakers and audio system by A for Ara. Made in Brooklyn these gramophone speakers were definitely crowd pleasers. They were oversized, loud, gorgeous and totally unusable in a normal residential setting. This said if you go to their website there's the indication of the custom work they can produce on a more individual rather than crowd pleasing scale.

The show is getting a little boring in that it's the same vendors year after year with very little new blood flowing in. I'm sure the cost of developing a booth is extremely high and this is going to drive away much of the next wave of designers and entrepreneurs. Maybe AD and the show organizers should think about some sort of juried grant to bring in some of that new blood like Mark H. Luedeman, Inc. Come on guys. If you want to be relevant and continue to entice us you've got to show us more ideas we haven't seen before
















THE GALLERY

Sadie, a Cotton Mill Spinner, Lancaster, South Carolina, 1908
Lewis Hine, photographer
Represented by Howard Greenberg Gallery, NYC