NEW YORK FALL 2018 PROGRAMME
Affordable Art Fair NYC is more than just an art fair, with an array of inspiring and interactive activities for friends and family to enjoy. We create an experience fully equipped to help you fall in love with art, and our friendly and welcoming team is on hand to help you find your perfect artwork.
ART-MAKING ACTIVITIES
This fall, Affordable Art Fair NYC’s Official Nonprofit Partner, The Art Therapy Project will host a series of Art-Making Activities for kids and adults in stand 2.19 on Level 2.
Get creative and support The Art Therapy Project with a donation of $10 to participate in one or all activities. All proceeds will be donated to programs for at-risk youth and survivors of sexual assault.
All workshops are held on a drop-in basis and will be offered during the fair’s opening hours. The art activities will feature the following daily themes:
Mindful Mandalas
The word mandala comes from the Sanskrit word for circle. It is a powerful symbol present in many cultures and when used in art therapy it is often thought of as a representation of one’s internal world. Creating a mandala can provide an entry point to emotional expression, centering and mindfulness, while the methodical nature of wrapping can encourage, relaxation and self-soothing. In this activity, participants will use a mental ring, yarn and beads to design a mandala of their own.
Van Gogh’s Sunflowers: Symbols of Happiness
Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers are some his most famous series of works. Sunflowers served as an emblem of happiness for him and were known to be a symbol of devotion and loyalty. The sunflowers also represented his hope to inspire and create an artist community. To pay tribute to Van Gogh, who had struggled with mental illness throughout his life, this group art activity asks participants to create their own version of a sunflower and add it to our “community vase.” Over the days of the fair, the sunflowers will grow wild along the wall and eventually become a larger expression of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers – bringing to life the artist community he had always hoped for.
Affordable Art Fair’s Community Art Wall
Creating a collaborative group art piece can have multiple therapeutic benefits. It can build a sense of unity, enhance the atmosphere of an environment and increase self-esteem. In this activity, participants will be asked to reflect on our hashtag, #CreateChange, and create an image on a blank canvas using a selection of markers. The image can be abstract, include words, or represent a hopeful experience. Each canvas will become a piece of the community art wall, which will evolve and change throughout the days of fair.
PERFORMANCES
New Camerata Opera, a young New York-based opera company, will serenade guests at Art After Dark in full operatic costume, hair and make-up.
As art enthusiasts roam the fair with drink in hand, they will be spontaneously met with the lush, full, and thrilling sound of some of opera’s greatest masterpieces.
Engage in a feast for the senses: fine art, theater, music and drink all within the context of one memorable evening. Leave with a new piece of art for your home, and the iconic melodies of Verdi, Puccini and Mozart in your ear.
Click here to buy tickets for Art After Dark held on Thursday, September 27 from 6pm to 9pm.
FEATURES
Young Talent Exhibition
The Young Talent Exhibition highlights artists who are not represented by a gallery and provides them with a platform to showcase their work and connect with art buyers. Curated by Lolita Cros, independent curator based at The Wing, the Young Talent Exhibition will feature works by artist Chase Hall. A self-taught painter, sculptor, and photographer, Hall uses his artwork as a platform to critically engage the visual history of racial bigotry in the United States. The ubiquity of this imagery, and the facility with which it is delivered through seemingly innocuous sources such as cartoons, film, children's books, and commercial products, are the focal points of Hall's research.
Make sure you take a moment to engage with this exciting and deeply thought-provoking exhibition which is in the entrance of the fair.
Read more about the curator behind our Young Talent Exhibition here »
Limited Edition Print
At every Fall edition, Affordable Art Fair NYC releases a Limited-Edition Print in collaboration with an artist exclusive to the fair. This year, artist Adam Bridgland, together with TAG Fine Arts, created a text-based print that is a love letter to New York City.
A limited edition of 10, this screen print with hand spray paint overlays will be available for purchase at the fair, located near the Under $500 Wall on Level 1.
Read more about the artist who created our Limited Edition Print here »
Non-Violence Art Project
Affordable Art Fair NYC is excited to partner this fall with the Non-Violence Art Project who supports non-profit Non-Violence Project Foundation. The Non-Violence Project Foundation’s mission is to inspire and motivate young people on how to solve conflicts peacefully. The Non-Violence Art Project has collaborated with several well-known artists to produce a series of collectable, limited-edition knotted-gun sculptures which will be available for sale at the fair. The sculptures have been designed by Paul McCartney, Musician, Jonny Johansson, Creative Director at Acne Studios, Muhammad Ali, Professional Boxer, and Yoko Ono, Artist, among others. A percentage of the proceeds from the sculptures’ sales will go towards funding the Non-Violence Project’s programs.
The Non-Violence Art Project presence at Affordable Art Fair NYC aligns with the Foundations 25th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of the infamous ‘Non-Violence’ sculpture created by Swedish artist, Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, which is placed outside the UN Building in New York City.
PERSONAL SHOPPING SESSIONS
Looking to buy that perfect painting to fill empty space in your dining room, but feeling a little intimidated by all that Affordable Art Fair NYC has to offer? Enjoy a one-on-one consultation with Spring Fair Director and art expert Cristina Salmastrelli who will take you to several, carefully selected booths, steering you in the right direction and allowing your confidence to grow in purchasing the perfect piece for your home or office.
Limited appointments are available Thursday through Saturday, September 27 - 29. If you are interested in a Personal Shopping Session at the Affordable Art Fair NYC Fall edition, purchase your ticket here and we will be in touch within 48 hours to personalize your tour.
INSTALLATIONS
Discover an exclusive series of oil paintings by Annapolis-based artist JJ Galloway in the fair’s café on Level 2. JJ’s art is always food themed and swings between whimsical and realistic with a feeling of the Dutch masters. We couldn’t think of a better match!
FOOD & DRINKS
Café by Butterfield Market
Make a day of the fair by enjoying breakfast or lunch onsite after you peruse thousands of works of art. Located on Level 2, the Café by Butterfield Market offers a full range of beverages, sandwiches, and salads and provides a place to relax and re-energize during your visit.
To reduce the total amount of harmful waste produced by our fair, all food containers and wraps used in the fair café will be made from biodegradable material. The fair has also taken a no straw pledge to #stopsucking. Plastic-straw alternatives will be available. Learn more at strawlessocean.org/stopsucking.
Creative Cocktails by Van Gogh Vodka
It’s not just the art that will get you in touch with your creative side! Enjoy complimentary cocktails during the Private View and Art After Dark at the Van Gogh Vodka Bar, located on Level 2.
*Must be 21+ to enjoy; please drink responsibly.