New York City’s contemporary art world is constantly transforming — within the historic district of Chelsea alone, there are more than 350 world-class art galleries and exhibition spaces. That’s a lot of ground to cover! But three recent shows — The Armory Show, The Fountain Art Fair, and The Verge, offer a great overview of the art world as it lives now. Jason Patrick Voegele — curator, artist, writer and founder of Republic Worldwide [www.republicworldwide.com] — was there and has this report.

The Armory Show

http://www.thearmoryshow.com

Every March, New York City plays host to a hip collection of art fairs called Armory Week, and if you play your cards right, you can catch many up-and-coming artists all in one place. The week’s centerpiece is the Armory Show, where more than 300 galleries showcase their best work. One of the most prestigious art fairs in the world, the show was divided into two parts – Modern and Contemporary. So visitors walked away with new appreciation of the next generation of art stars or with an investment in a classic.

The Fountain Art Fair

http://www.fountainexhibit.com

If you’re wise to the game and the big name galleries fail to impress, then there are dozens of unique alternatives to the Armory show. This year my No. 1 choice was the extremely well-organized but far from pretentious Fountain Art Fair, situated downtown just off the Hudson River. This show caters to up-and-comers, with a mix of lowbrow and avant-garde street art, making for a raw and feral (and affordable!) experience that didn’t compromise the quality of work I expected from an Armory Week extravaganza. The full bar, multiple live performances, smoking lounge and hot dog stand, reinforced the idea that this show was a celebration of the work that’s changing the face of the art market.

The Verge Art Fair

http://www.brooklynartfair.com/

Verge is a show like no other.  With no central location, much of the best work surrounds people in the streets — some is even projected on historic buildings in Brookln’s Dumbo neighborhood. In addition to public works, dozens of legit experimental art galleries opened their doors to the public with their best represented artists on display. The show had a heavy trend toward new-media and digital work, but I suspect that most of these Brooklyn based artists will go on to larger careers. Another perk about Verge: Since we were on the banks of the East River, the art fair offered the most amazing views of the Manhattan skyline.