New Jersey's Spring Art Offensive

The art world, New Jersey division, is in the midst of its annual spring offensive. Galleries, museums, "spaces," and artists either big-time or obscure make it a point to be seen and to see each other. Since my wife is a fine art photographer, our shared spring calendar becomes filled with events that get our attention.

My wife and I attended a local opening last night and a highly publicized "come on down" at a former industrial building in Jersey City earlier today.

The former opening, held in a repurposed firehouse, had all the feel of a trade show in which everyone worked hard to promote something. The event thankfully lacked annoying personalities whose conversational time seemed metered; nonetheless, dialogue often swung into sales-style conversations. At least the participants were on good behavior.

The Jersey City venue felt like a costume ball, complete with female models who were trying to figure out how to pose (literally and figuratively). The building itself was the best part of the show. The light, airy, glass framed structure admirably fit large-scale works without suffocating small pieces. We walked around the exhibits with ease and a chance to view items in their proper perspective. A building next door housed artists' studios. We visited a couple of them and my wife became friendly with a woman who was something of an established painter. She was generous and honest with advice, somewhat rare commodities in the world of the fine arts.

The space's owners shrewdly offered bus service from their site back to the City. Many in the crowd did dress as if they were on the other side of the Hudson River. It was as if they were on a field trip. I couldn't help comparing it to suburban residents filling buses to go to Broadway matinees, but I was in a cranky mood and tried not to chase the thought.

I did experience one bright moment during the event. A woman thought she had recognized me and thought I was a Jersey City-based artist. That was an uncalculated encounter I thoroughly enjoyed.