This is the 13th year that visitors to The Other Art Fair gained access to in-person meetings with contemporary artistic talent from around the world. The New York art scene offers plenty of art fairs and shows, but what makes The Other Art Fairstand out is that it takes out the middleman of the art industry. Instead, art lovers gain access to diverse local and overseas artists that can speak on their artwork straight to the audience. This year there were 120 exhibiting artists, handpicked by a selection committee of art world experts. The work varied from ceramics to painting, and was priced starting at $150. Thanks to the pre-vetted nature of the fair’s lineup, attendees are seamlessly and confidently able to hand pick and purchase art. If you seek to become a collector this is the fair to help you start and discover your next favorite artist.
Art can be a thirsty business, and this year’s drink of choice was whisky. The Other Art Fair partnered with the award-winning Balcones Distilling company, allowing us to get a taste of expressive whiskies made in Texas. The informative tasting featured Balcones expressions, including Texas 1 Single Malt, Lineage Texas Single Malt, Baby Blue, and Rye Bottled in Bond. We even go to taste their special bottle, Cataleja, which was created to help celebrate the brand’s 15 year anniversary. The Texas Rye ended up being our favorite, featuring 91% Raw Elbon Rye from Northwest Texas accompanied by cara, chocolate and roasted rye.
While we hate to play favorites, there are artists who stood out. Among them was Sarah Fishbein, showcasing glass mosaic art. Sarah Fishbeing is an artist and storyteller who makes pop art comic mosaics which look and feel very interactive. When asked to describe her work, the artist told us that her art revolves around feminism, love and romance, as well as LBGTQ acceptance. She certainly turns the ideas of 1960s comics on its head. Up close, the intricate art pieces look extremely detailed, which makes seeing them in person that much more important. The artist tells us, “Very often an artist’s studio life is very private. Art fairs have helped me meet people I would not have had the opportunity to meet. Having my work viewed by people who have never seen anything like this in person inspires and excites me. This pushes me to create more.”
The work of Tuck Rayl took us by surprise. The artist’s wall hanging rugs depicting food or animals stood out for their prettiness, but upon closer inspection you notice an endearing theme depicting abstract whimsy. The artist tells us that his tufted artworks focus on the absurd human tendency to see humanity plants, animals and everyday objects. He noted that he is driven to make this type of work because he can’t help but anthropomorphize every little thing he sees. For those curious about the process Tuck says, “The process to create a tufted piece begins with drawing a digital rendering of the design. I then transfer that design onto a stretched piece of tufting clothing, select yarn colors, and use a handheld tufting machine to punch the yarn into fabric. Then to finish, I apply adhesive and felt onto the backside, shave the excess fluff with electric sheep shears, and trim the edges with duckbill scissors.
Other art that caught our eye were drawings by Brooklyn artist Charles Buckley, photography by the very personable British artist Oliver Mayhall, and “Time-Lapse” project photography by Xan Padrón.
Love took center stage at the fair with an interactive installation titled “Love is the Key.” Participants took a symbolic key in exchange for a testament to the unifying nature of love.
One of the highlights of the fair was a project called Get Nude Get Drawn. Brave attendees stripped down for the renowned “Get Nude Get Down” exhibition. This exhibition has been thetalk of the town for the past decade; and it is brought to life by artists Mike Perry and Josh Cochran. The artists invites New Yorkers to pose for nude drawing sessions celebrating the human form and celebrating the eclectic spirit of the NYC community. Nude portrait sessions were available to book each day at the Fair on a first come, first served basis. This year’s fair was held at Zero Space.
Zero Space
337-345 Butler St
Gowanus, Brooklyn
