Though it may seem that Armory Week and Frieze Week get all the action, the reality is that there is never a dull moment in the New York art world. From the East Side to the West Side, there’s always something happening at the city’s museums, galleries, and various event spaces. This week was no exception.

David Bowie Tribute Show After Party
On March 31, Carnegie Hall honored the life and career of musician, actor, and artist David Bowie, who died unexpectedly this year, the first of a two night engagement. The Michael Dorf-organized concert, in the works long before the music legend’s death, featured such acts as the Roots, the Flaming Lips, and Cyndi Lauper performing the best of Bowie’s oeuvre.

An after party held at the City Winery in Brooklyn, attracted celebrity guests including former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, Alexander Skarsgard of “True Blood,” and Dean Winters, known for his roles on 30 Rock, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and as “Meyham” in commercials for Allstate Insurance.

Karen Elson, Michael Stipe at the David Bowie Tribute Show After Party.
Photo: Jimi Celeste, © Patrick McMullan.

Dean Winters at the David Bowie Tribute Show After Party.
Photo: Jimi Celeste, © Patrick McMullan.

Alexander Skarsgard at the David Bowie Tribute Show After Party.
Photo: Jimi Celeste, © Patrick McMullan.

Klaus Biesenbach Receives the Cross of the Order of Merit
In a small ceremony at the New York home of the German Consul General Brita Wagener, Museum of Modern Art chief curator-at-large and MoMA PS1 director Klaus Biesenbach received the Cross of the Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany. Established in 1951, the Order of Merit is bestowed on Germans and foreigners “for achievements that served the rebuilding of the country in the fields of political, socio-economic and intellectual activity.”

Friends and colleagues including MoMA Director Glenn Lowry, and Chief Curator of Painting and Sculpture Ann Temkin were there along with MoMA Associate Director Kathy Halbreich, as were artists Cao Fei and Ryan McNamara, NYC cultural affairs commissioner Tom Finkelpearl, and Visionaire Magazine’s Cecilia Dean. When getting pinned with the cross, Biesenbach, famous for owning barely anything, said, “Finally, I own something.” Then after thanking many of the members of his “art family” he said, “Okay, now let’s wreck the place.”

German Consul General Brita Wagener and MoMA Chief Curator at Large and MoMA PS 1 Director Klaus Biesenbach.
Image: Angela Goding. Courtesy of MoMA PS1

The Guggenheim’s 2016 Young Collectors Party
The Guggenheim welcomed its young collectors for a party on March 31, with music, dessert, and drinks in the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright rotunda. All funds raised by the event, supported by David Yurman, go toward the Young Collectors Council Art Fund, which acquires work by emerging artists for the institution’s collection of contemporary art.

Michael Xufu Huang and Tiffany Zabludowicz at the Guggenheim’s 2016 Young Collectors Party.
Photo: Sean Zanni, © Patrick McMullan.

Nell Diamond, Laura de Gunzburg, Sarah Arison at the Guggenheim’s 2016 Young Collectors Party.
Photo: Matteo Prandoni, courtesy BFA.

Susan Thompson, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Lucas Blalock, Anne Huntington, Noreen Ahmad, Jennie C. Jones, Lauren Hinkson at the Guggenheim’s 2016 Young Collectors Party.
Photo: Matteo Prandoni, courtesy BFA.

Jennifer Ty, Mike Espiritu, Lara Devgan, Blair Brooks at the Guggenheim’s 2016 Young Collectors Party.
Photo: Matteo Prandoni, courtesy BFA.

Affordable Art Fair Private View
Crowds lined up around the block for a chance to be among the first to visit this spring’s Affordable Art Fair, held at the Metropolitan Pavilion. Guests enjoyed Warsteiner beer and art from 72 galleries from six continents—all priced below $10,000.

Alexander Cook, Rebecca Croft, Dirkus Cook at the Affordable Art Fair.
Photo: Hunter Abrams, courtesy BFA.

John White, Colleen Calvo, Rachel Shapiro at the Affordable Art Fair.
Photo: Hunter Abrams, courtesy BFA.

Guests at the Affordable Art Fair.
Photo: Hunter Abrams, courtesy BFA.

Reception in Support of the New York Peace Angel Monument
September’s Mission kicked off efforts to build the New York Peace Angel (NYPA) Monument, a project first conceived of in 1992 by artist Lin Evola, at a cocktail reception at Studio Vendome on March 31. Supported by Governor Andrew Cuomo; Senator Charles Schumer and former mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudolph Giuliani, the NYPA, which will stand 64 feet tall, looks to combat violence by melting down weapons and re-purposing them in an artistic message of peace.

The party, which was attended by Evola and September’s Mission founder Monica Iken, announced the formation of a steering committee for the ambitious project.

Emily Murphy-Barbina, Kenneth Barbina, Simon Mills, and Paulo Coelho at the cocktail reception in support of the New York Peace Angel Monument.
Photo: Katya Nicholas.

A model of the New York Peace Angel Monument.
Photo: Katya Nicholas.

Monica Iken and Lin Evola at the cocktail reception in support of the New York Peace Angel Monument.
Photo: Katya Nicholas.

Additional reporting by Rozalia Jovanovic.