Wet Paint scribe Annie Armstrong is off this week, but the art world never stops. So we’re bringing you the first standalone installment of Wet Paint in the Wild, for which art-world insiders give us a peek into their lives with the aid of a disposable camera.
Happy New York art week, to those who observe.
If you do, chances are you’ll be making your way over to Pier 36 for the New Art Dealers Alliance fair (May 5–8), which, as far as I’m concerned, is one of my favorite events, what with its lively programming and commitment to emerging galleries.
So I thought, why not find out how the sausage gets made?
To do so, I set up NADA executive director Heather Hubbs (described to me by one person as an “OG downtown queen”) with a camera to find out what the week leading up to the event looks like. Let’s dive in, shall we?
The park I pass through every day was in full bloom on my way to the NADA office. On my eight-minute walk from my Lower East Side apartment, I like to grab a coffee from Little Canal.
The food spread at our NADA exhibitor and members’ party at Bacaro, a restaurant that has been a staple in my life for years. This doubled as our Christmas party, which we had to cancel when Omicron spread throughout the city. Christmas in April—how fun!
My friend Danny Baez and Emily Janowick at the NADA party at Bacaro last week. At the party, my friend Kerry offered a great tip: take pictures of people as they’re leaving, because that’s when they’re likely wasted.
Meet Kerry Carrier, the bestower of the few-drinks-deep photo tip. He actually worked for us at our NADA Miami fair. Before that, I knew him from my time on the Recess board (he came up through one of their youth programs).
Me leaving Bacaro. I have no idea who took this photo; people were passing around the camera. Whoever you are, let me know, and I’ll give you photo credit!
Thomas, our events and membership manager, taking a photo of me taking a photo of him. Meta.
Just a small part of the incredible NADA team, DW and Thomas. These two make me laugh. They’re great to work with, and even more entertaining to go out with.
A painting by Michael Mahalchick that I bought a few years ago at my friends Scott and Tyson Reeder’s fundraiser, Beach Painting Club, which raised money for Smallwater, an organization of Rockaways residents invested in building a sustainable community. It’s a fun event. All of our friends get together and paint on the beach.
This is the view from my bedroom window in the apartment I’ve lived in for over a decade. It’s your quintessential NYC view, and it’s always nice to see the trees come back to life after the winter.
I snapped this photo of my fourth-grader, Jarvis, on his way to his weekly hip-hop class. Clearly, he’s very excited. Not very hip-hop, but his favorite song right now is one from the film My Neighbor Totoro. He’s also obsessed with Jim Gaffigan.
Some of the NADA team on site during our NADA New York install. I told them to “act normal.”
My cats, Sneetches (left; nickname Curious Sneetch) and Matilda (right) on my son’s bed. I’ve had Sneetches for four years. Matilda is a newer addition to our family. Introducing a new cat into Sneetches’s environment has been interesting to say the least. They’ve only just begun to tolerate each other, and have even started becoming friends.
Another coffee stop, Ost Cafe, on the way to the NADA New York site at Pier 36. These Valentine’s Day decorations have been hanging here for four years.
Nathan Gwynne accepting a delivery at Pier 36. Nathan helped move everything from our office on Canal Street down to the fair. My colleague Thomas, pictured above, would not know what to do without him.
First day of NADA New York install. Back at our old stomping grounds at Pier 36, where we hosted the fair in 2016. It’s a surreal feeling to be back, and we’re excited to welcome everyone to the eight edition of NADA New York this week.
I’ve always loved this little park playground on Montgomery off East Broadway. It feels lifted out of the past—very old school with the concrete. You might get scraped, but look how cute those turtles are.