June 20, 2006 

CONTEMPORARY ART FAIRS AND BIENNIALS 2006 -- PART II
It’s the beginning of the summer -- do we get any vacation at all? Sure -- you can go to an art fair or big art exhibition! Needless to say, the art-lover’s calendar is packed with art events the year around, even in the deepest reaches of the summer (okay, the pickings are a little slim in July and August). Herewith, a brief survey of the top contemporary and modern art fairs and international festivals for the second half of 2006.

JULY
Site Santa Fe International Biennial
July 9, 2006-Jan. 7, 2007
Organized by freelance curator Klaus Ottmann, the sixth Site Santa Fe biennial exhibition is titled "Still Points of the Turning World" and features 13 artists: Mirosław Bałka, Jennifer Bartlett, Patty Chang, Stephen Dean, Peter Doig, Robert Grosvenor, Cristina Iglesias, Wolfgang Laib, Jonathan Meese, Wangechi Mutu, Carsten Nicolai, Catherine Opie and Thorns Ltd.  

Attese Biennale di Ceramica nell'Arte Contemporanea
July 9-Sept. 10, 2006
The 3rd Biennale of Ceramics in Contemporary Art, with the overall exhibition title of "Undisciplined," focuses on the ceramic traditions in the Savona province in Italy. The show is directed by Tiziana Casapietra and Robert Costantino, and takes place at indoor and outdoor sites in Savona, Albisola and Vado Ligure.

Scope Hamptons 2006
July 14-16, 2006
Located in East Hampton Studios at 75 Industrial Road in Wainscott, Scope Hamptons 2006 presents 60 cutting-edge galleries, with a special opening-night celebration benefiting the Parrish Museum and Guild Hall, followed by a fish barbecue on the beach.

Photo San Francisco
July 20-23, 2006
More than 60 exhibitors assembled in the historic Festival Pavilion at the Fort Mason Center for the seventh annual International San Francisco Photo-based Art Exposition, organized by Artfairs, Inc., founded by dealer Stephen Cohen. Special exhibitions include "Beat," a visual history of the Beat poets, "Gay Day," a collection of photos from a decade of New York’s Gay Pride Parade, and "The New Art Project," several vids from Europe.

AUGUST
Melbourne Art Fair 2006
Aug. 2-6, 2006
The biennial fair brings 2,500 artworks by over 900 artists represented by 80 galleries from the Pacific Rim and Europe to the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens in Melbourne, Australia. Now in its 20th year, the fair is presented by the nonprofit Melbourne Art Fair Foundation.

SEPTEMBER
Singapore Biennale
Sept. 4-Nov. 12, 2006
Artistic director Fumio Nanjo has selected the theme of "Belief" for Singapore’s first visual arts biennale, which is to have sites throughout the city, from the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple and the Armenian Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator to the National Museum of Singapore. More than 90 artists from 38 countries and regions are involved, including Jane Alexander, Sheba Chhachhi, George Chua, Alwyn Lim and Yuen Chee Wai, Santiago Cucullu, Federico Herrero, Ho Tzu Nyen, Zai Kuning, Barbara Kruger, Yayoi Kusama, Learning Site, Donna Ong, Handiwirman Saputra, Nakhee Sung and Erika Tan. The professional vernissage is scheduled for Sept. 1-3.

Shanghai Biennial
Sept. 5-Nov. 5, 2006
With the theme of "Hyper Design," the Shanghai Biennial takes place at the Shanghai Art Museum, with additional exhibitions at satellite venues. The curatorial team is led by Shanghai Art Museum deputy director Zhang Qing, and has selected more than 90 artists from 23 countries for the show. Participants range from Atelier Van Lieshout (the Netherlands) and Matthew Barney (U.S.) to Francesco Vezzoli (Italy) and Chen Wenling (China).

The 6th Gwangju Biennale 2006
Sept. 8-Nov. 11, 2006
Entitled "Fever Variations" and directed by Kim Hong-hee, the 6th Gwangju Biennale features two major contemporary art exhibitions, "The First Chapter, Trace Root: Unfolding Asian Stories" and "The Last Chapter, Trace Route: Remapping Global Cities," and a special exhibition entitled "Color of East Asia."

Venice Biennale Architecture
Sept. 10-Nov. 19, 2006
Directed by London School of Economics professor Richard Burdett, the 10th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale is titled "Cities, Architecture and Society," presented in 6,000 square meters of space in the Corderie and the biennial gardens. The U.S. pavilion, under commissioner Robert Ivy, editor of the Architectural Record, is addressing the theme of "Designing the Future of New Orleans." Some 75 countries have been invited to participate. The show includes "Progetto Sud," an exhibition devoted to architecture in southern Italy.

20/21 British Art Fair
Sept. 13-17, 2006
Now in its 19th year, 20/21 exclusively features British art from 1900 to the present day, and calls itself "the market leader for modern British art." Some 60 leading U.K. dealers participate, from Agnews and Henry Boxer to Robert Sandelson and Sims Reed. The show is held at the Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London.

Busan Biennale
Sept. 16-Nov. 25, 2006
The contemporary art exhibition at the third Busan Biennale is "A Tale of Two Cities: Busan-Seoul / Seoul-Busan," organized by independent curator Manu D. Park and sited at the Busan Museum of Modern Art, the Busan Yachting Center and the capital region exhibition hall. The biennale's "Sea Art Festival," organized by Germany-based independent curator Byoung-Hak Ry and installed at the South Korean port city's waterfront, includes three shows: "Public Furniture," "Living Furniture" and "Sand Art." The Busan Sculpture Project, with the theme "Homage to the Earth," includes 20 works by artists from 13 countries at APEC Naru Park.

Liverpool Biennial 2006
Sept. 16-Nov. 26, 2006
The fourth Liverpool Biennial festival of contemporary visual art, billed as the UK's largest, presents several hundred artists at 40 different locations across the city. Gerardo Mosquera and Manray Hsu are the consultative curators. The biennial also includes the juried "John Moores 24" painting exhibition and the "Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2006" show.   

Geisai #10
Sept. 17, 2006
Sponsored by Kaikai Kiki, the artist-management agency directed by artist Takashi Murakami, the one-day Geisai #10 art fair is devoted largely to artists, who take booths to showcase their works. Over 1,000 artists plus a few galleries are expected to take part in the event, which is sited at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center.

ART(212)
Sept. 28-Oct. 1, 2006
More than 70 galleries have signed up for this new contemporary art fair, organized by Pulse art fair director Helen Allen and sited at the 69th Regiment Armory on Lexington Avenue and 26th Street in Manhattan.

Affair @ the Jupiter Hotel
Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2006
About 40 exhibitors are expected for this year’s fair, which is now three years old, at the Jupiter Hotel in Portland, Ore. The show is organized by Stuart Horodner and Laurel Gitlen.

Art Forum Berlin
Sept. 29-Oct. 4, 2006
The 11th installment of Berlin’s art fair, held on the Messe Berlin exhibition grounds, features 120 galleries from 25 countries, as well as a special contemporary survey organized by an independent curator.

OCTOBER
Photo New York
Oct. 5-8, 2006
The third installment of L.A. dealer Stephen Cohen’s Photo New York, housed at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan, includes an opening-night gala benefiting the Rubin Museum of Art and special seminars moderated by Rick Wester, photo specialist for Phillips, de Pury & Co., and Stephen Perloff, editor of Photo Review and Photograph Collector.

International Art + Design Fair, 1900-2006
Oct. 6-11, 2006
Brian and Anna Haughton’s show of modern and contemporary decorative and fine arts gathers more than 50 dealers from the U.S. and Europe to the Seventh Regiment Armory on Park Avenue in New York. The special loan exhibition, organized by Inger Claesson Wästberg, features contemporary silver from Sweden. The Oct. 6 premiere is a gala benefit for the Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Culture and Design.

27th Bienal de São Paulo
Oct. 8-Dec. 17, 2006
The second-oldest biennial exhibition in the world (after Venice) is held, as usual, at the 30,000 square meter Pavilhão Ciccillo Matarazzo designed by Oscar Niemeyer and Hélio Uchôa. Lisette Lagnado is chief curator. Among the U.S. artists participating are Mark Bradford, Dan Graham, Gordon Matta-Clark and Rirkrit Tiravanija. 

Frieze Art Fair
Oct. 12-15, 2006
Now in its fourth year, Frieze brings 150 of the world’s top contemporary galleries to Regent’s Park, along with specially commissioned projects by artists and a special preview on Oct. 11. The fair is sponsored by Deutsche Bank.

Zoo Art Fair
Oct. 13-15, 2006
Now it its third year, Zoo features a total of 46 commercial and non-commercial arts spaces, curatorial groups and publications, all aged five years old or under. This year, in collaboration with VOLTAshow, the Fair has invited 15 spaces from Berlin, Los Angeles and Mexico.

Scope London
Oct. 13-16, 2006
Now in its third year, Scope London presents approximately 80 exhibitors at the Old Truman Brewery at 91-95 Brick Lane in London’s East End.

FIAC
Oct. 26-30, 2006
Scheduled rather later in the month than in 2005, the 33rd Annual Foire International d'Art Contemporain also relocates to the heart of Paris, taking up permanent residence (so they say) at two prestigious venues, the Cour Carrée du Louvre and the Grand Palais. The former houses 80 contemporary galleries plus sculpture in the Tuileries gardens and the grounds of the Musée du Louvre, while the latter is slated for 100 modern and contemporary galleries, design galleries and a film and performance program.

NOVEMBER
Art Cologne
Nov. 1-5, 2006
The "40th international fair for modern and contemporary art," as it is subtitled, includes 180 modern and contemporary galleries, a reduction from the 250 or so featured in 2005. The fair boasts several special sections, including the "Open Space" exhibition outdoors, launched last year; the "New Talents" program, from which is selected the winner of the Art Cologne Young Artist prize; the "New Contemporaries" section of new galleries; and the new "Hidden Treasures" program, featuring artists of historical importance who are 40 or older. Enjoy Cologne’s fall weather -- in 2007, Art Cologne is to be held in the spring.

Editions / Artists’ Books ‘06
Nov. 2-5, 2006
Now in its ninth year, this very contemporary fair of artists' books, prints and multiples sets up shop in a new event space in Manhattan’s Chelsea art district -- the Tunnel, located on the ground floor on 11th Avenue between 27th and 28th streets. Organized by Susan Inglett of I.C. Editions and Barbara Baruch of Brooke Alexander Editions, the show coincides with a citywide "Print Week" and includes about 35 top exhibitors from the U.S., the U.K. and Europe. The Nov. 2 gala preview benefits P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center.

16th Annual IFPDA Print Fair
Nov. 3-6, 2006
Sponsored by the International Fine Print Dealers Association, this fair -- billed as the world's largest devoted to fine prints -- brings 90 leading dealers to the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan. The gala preview on Nov. 1 benefits the Museum of Modern Art.

2006 Taipei Biennial
Nov. 4, 2006-Feb. 25, 2007
Organized this year by Dan Cameron and Junjieh Wang, who promise to "treat Taipei as the epitome of a globalized community," the Taipei Biennial originated in 1998 and is presented at the Taipei Fine Art Museum.

Art Toronto 2006
Nov. 9-13, 2006
The seven-year-old Toronto International Art Fair takes place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Several special sections are planned, including "Fresh Avant-Garde," "Project Spaces," "Curators Invitation" and "News at Five," this last being a series of daily exhibitions organized by Canadian Art magazine editor Richard Rhodes. The Nov. 9 opening night preview benefits the Art Gallery of Ontario.

ARTissima 13
Nov. 10-12, 2006
Now in its 13th year, Artissima: The International Fair of Contemporary Art in Turin, organized by the Fondazione Torino Musei, presents 150 galleries in architect Renzo Piano's Lingotto Fiere exhibition center. Special sections include "Present Future" (15 emerging artists), "New Entries" (galleries opened since 2001) and "Constellations" (large art works).

SOFA Chicago
Nov. 10-12, 2006
Now celebrating its 13th anniversary, the Annual International Exposition of Sculpture Objects & Functional Art features more than 90 dealers from around the world, setting up at Navy Pier on Lake Michigan. The gala preview is set for Nov. 9.

Art20
Nov. 10-13, 2006
Located at the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan, Art20 is organized by Sanford Smith and features about 60 dealers who specialize in art dating from 1900 to the present. The gala preview on Nov. 9 benefits Planned Parenthood.

Paris Photo
Nov. 16-19, 2006
The premier Paris photo fair, sponsored by Reed Exhibitions, celebrates its 10th anniversary with 109 exhibitors from 21 countries at Le Carrousel du Louvre. This year’s fair spotlights Nordic photographers, with solo shows organized by eight galleries from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Other events of interest include the award of the €12,000 BMW-Paris Photo prize. Paris Photo is part of Mois de le Photo (Photo Month), a biannual event sponsored by the Maison Europeenne de la Photographie and featuring more than 70 photo exhibitions across Paris.

Shanghai Art Fair
Nov. 16-20, 2006
For its 10th anniversary, the Shanghai Art Fair plans to present more than 400 different booths spread through 20,000 square meters in three exhibition halls at the modern ShanghaiMART exposition center. For the 2006 installment, the mart’s fourth floor holds 136 exhibitors devoted to modern and contemporary art, the third floor holds 154 booths featuring crafts, folk and decorative items and the ground floor boasts 112 booths with individual artists and art studios.

Modernism: A Century of Style and Design
Nov. 17-20, 2006
Sanford Smith’s 21st annual Modernism show features dealers in Art Deco, Art Nouveau, the Arts and Crafts movement, Bauhaus, Memphis and Wiener Werkstatte, all together under one roof at the Seventh Regiment Armory on Park Avenue. The preview gala is scheduled for Nov. 16.

DECEMBER
2006 Cairo International Biennale
Dec. 12, 2006-Feb. 12, 2007
The U.S. is presenting a new work by Daniel Joseph Martinez, who has plans to build an animatronic robot, according to his dealer, Christian Haye. The commissioner for the show is Gilbert Vicario of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Art Basel Miami Beach
Dec. 7-10, 2006
Arguably the best liked contemporary art fair in the U.S., Art Basel Miami Beach features 195 top galleries from around the world at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Special features include sections for galleries presenting recent art ("Art Nova"), a program of video at the Botanical Garden ("Art Video Lounge") and the notorious "Art Positions," a group of 20 younger dealers housed in shipping containers at the beach. New this year is "Art Kabinett," a selection of 15 small curated exhibitions in separate rooms of exhibitor booths, and "Art Perform," daily performances at "Art Positions." 

The NADA Fair
Dec. 6-10, 2006
The New Art Dealers Alliance, a nonprofit group of about 60 young contemporary-art dealers, brings its popular show of new art to the Ice Palace Film Studios building at 59 NW 14th Street in Miami for the third year.

Pulse Miami
Dec. 7-10, 2006
Helen Allen directs the two-year-old Pulse fair, a branch of Will Ramsey’s Affordable Art Show empire that features over 60 smaller contemporary galleries in a 30,000-square-foot custom-built tent in the city's Wynwood District, only a stone’s throw away from MOCA @ The Goldman Warehouse.

Aqua Art Miami
Dec. 7 -10, 2006
Now in its second year, Aqua presents 40 galleries in a show organized by Seattle artists -- the fearless husband-and-wife team of Jaq Chartier and Dirk Park -- in collaboration with Seattle dealers. Pleasantly sited in the Aqua Hotel on Collins Avenue, a two-story beach motel arranged around a planted central atrium, Aqua was the surprise hit of the 2005 season.

Scope Miami
Dec. 7-10, 2006
Current plans call for Scope Miami to set up in a 30,000-square-foot tent in the Wynwood district with 80 exhibitors. 

Bridge Art Fair Miami 2006
Dec. 7-10, 2006
Located at the Catalina Hotel and Beach Club at 1732 Collins Avenue, the Chicago-based art fair (formerly known as the Nova Art Fair) promises, in its sophomore outing, "the pursuit of interplanetary travel, murder mystery scenarios, karmic conversion, stunt professionals, inductive reasoning, golems" and much more.

Design Miami
Dec. 7-10, 2006
Specializing in furniture, design and the applied arts, Design Miami was launched last year and featured 15 top galleries. It returns to the Moore Building in the Miami Design District for 2006.

DiVA Miami
Dec. 7-10, 2006
The peripatetic Digital and Video Art Fair, organized by Thierry Alet and Frère Independent, plans a manifestation in Miami Beach in its own container village, on Ocean Drive across from the Hotel Victor. 

Flow
Dec. 6-10, 2006
The Flow Miami Invitational Art Fair presents 18 galleries from across the U.S. at the Catalina Hotel and Beach Club in Miami Beach.

INK Miami 2006
Dec. 7-10, 2006
Sponsored by the International Fine Print Dealers Association, the fair features 15 leading print publishers and dealers at the Suites of Dorcester hotel at 1850 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.

Photo Miami 2006
Dec. 7-10, 2006
Approximately 50 photo galleries come together in the Dorissa Building in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District for Photo Miami, the latest in the series of photo fairs organized by L.A. dealer Stephen Cohen. The fair includes curated projects by Paco Barragán (Madrid) and Nina Arias (Miami) as well as a video lounge and a series of lectures by artists. The opening-night reception benefits Miami’s nonprofit Legal Art organization.

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