Price-Weary Art Collectors Behold: The Affordable Art Fair

"New York Grand Central Station Waiting Room," by Norman Lerner

Even if art fairs don't intimidate you, the prices fetched by the work shown there might. And while it's fine to simply look and appreciate a piece, if you've ever actually purchased an original painting or drawing of your very own then you know it's occasionally nice to buy one too. While we don't anticipate making any purchases at The Armory Show, we just might open up our wallets at the Affordable Art Fair, which runs in New York from April 18-22.

Don't be put off by the fact that the chick from "What Not To Wear" is singing the Fair's praises on their website. It might be billed as a place for art newbies who are afraid of "serious art," but it's also a legitimate place for people who know a thing or two to get their art collecting feet wet. And besides, how could a less snobby art fair be a bad thing?

The exhibitor list for this year is yet to be announced (we'll keep you posted), but judging from last year's line up, you won't be disappointed. Sure, there are definitely some more commercial offerings than you're likely to see at The Armory Show, and we wouldn't recommend only going to the Affordable Art Fair this season, but we do feel it provides a valuable and much-needed balance to all the heavy handed art dealings that are about to descend on our fair city.

Feel just totally in the dark on New York's art happenings? 3rd Ward's got an Introduction to New York's Art World class, a crash course in the NY scene for the unititiated.

-- Perrin Drumm