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Established and aspiring art enthusiasts alike should make sure to attend this season’s Affordable Art Fair, showing at Chelsea’s Metropolitan Pavilion from September 10th to 13th. This iconic fair, now entering its 16th year in New York, offers an inclusive environment in which fair-goers can find a fun and eclectic array of artwork. Ranging from $100 to $1,000, it is the perfect resource for art fans; from those who are looking to begin an art collection to those who are looking for an amazing, artful addition to a room in their house. Founded in the late 90s by Will Ramsay, the fair has seen incredible success and now has 16 additions in 13 different cities around the world.
“The idea is that anyone can fall in love with art and anyone can bring it home and cherish it for all their different reasons. Whether they want a collection or whether they just want something to put in their bedroom to brighten up their room. We are here to find a place for art in your home,” explains Cristina Salmastrelli, who is the director of the fair.
Over the course of the fair, visitors can explore paintings, prints, sculptures and photographs from more than a thousand national and international artists. The vendors range from emerging artists to well-known contemporary icons like Damien Hirst and Anish Kapoor.
For those who are a little apprehensive about finding the perfect piece amidst all of the variety, the fair is also offering a personal shopping experience with Salmastrelli herself. Interested parties can sign up on the fair’s website, where they will be asked a few questions to identify their artistic tastes. The website also offers a section for prospective fairgoers to learn more about specific art movements, art styles and how pieces are valued/priced. This way participants have multiple resources to make them feel confident that they are making well-informed choices when purchasing.
Then, Salmastrelli will put together a small tour around the space to hone in on specific pieces that will suit their aesthetic.
The Shantell Martin Experience will also take place throughout the fair’s duration. The experience will take place in the fair’s programming lounge, ehich will serve literally as s “blank canvas,” with the walls, floor and furniture painted completely white. Internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Shantell Martin, known for her distinctive whimsical sketches, will then transform the lounge over the course of the three-day festival by drawing over every inch of the space. Participants are encouraged to watch the process, explore the space, and even ask Martin questions to see how her drawings will evolve. The installation will be a wholly immersive art experience and will allow every visitor to have a subtle hand in the creative process.
To further the mission of making art accessible to the masses, the fair is also hosting panels/ discussions about various aspects of art and design.
Salmastrelli adds,“Our mission is to democratize art; one of the ways to democratize anything is to instill knowledge in our visitors.”
A complete list of programming is available on the fair’s website. Among them will be a panel discussion on the history of appropriation, headed by Kristina Nararevskaia, and a discussion of the importance of art education by ProjectArt founder Adarsh Alphons. There will also be a silent auction comprised of various works from participating galleries. All of the proceeds will go toward the Art Therapy Outreach Center (ATOC). ATOC offers art therapy to various groups, from at-risk youth to veterans.
Be sure to purchase tickets for this visionary event and check out all of the resources that the AAF crew has planned out.
“I want more of these New Yorkers to come and experience the joys that you have at the Affordable Art Fair. We are a wonderful, welcoming environment,” Salmastrelli enthuses. “And I want more and more families, more and more young professionals, more and more New Yorkers. No matter where you are in the five boroughs, I want you to come and just have a beautiful day out and fall in love with art.”
-by Johanna Silver