The Frieze New York Art Fair, in its New York debut, proved to be a first in several ways. Located on Randall’s Island and accessible only by a dedicated East River Ferry or shuttle busses from the #4/5/8 lines at 125^th Street, it turned out to be easier and more fun to get to than the Armory Show on the West Side. According to The Art Newspaper, Frieze will add $350m in revenue to what is being called “New York’s billion dollar art week.” So far, so good.

The 250,0000 square foot column-free structure housing the fair provides spacious surroundings for the 180 galleries showing their wares, and comfortable visitor accommodations, with several restaurants and coffee bars set up inside the tent. Its translucent fabric roof, a well-designed lighting scheme, together with plenty of floor-to-ceiling windows provides museum-quality lighting for the art on view. The experience of strolling through this light, airy space even seems to ward off the standard art fair numbness that usually sets in after a few hours among crowded stalls.

The magnificent East River setting, with a sculpture show installed on the adjacent lawns is icing on the cake. While “On Land Occupation,” the title of one of the panel discussions on Sunday seems too much like an opportunistic bow to the Occupy movement (which even more oddly represented itself at the fair seeking a “system of art for the 1%”), democracy was at play in the form of several of New York’s most popular food trucks parked along the riverside.

So if you find yourself among those fortunate enough to skip out on a field trip this afternoon, tickets (which must be purchased online) are still available for the last day of the fair. Information.

Photos: Peggy Roalf

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