In addition to over 100 gallery booths, the non-profit-focused art fair New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) offers visitors special art programming that moves the fair beyond the modus operandi of art acquisition. Whitewall spoke with NADA Director Heather Hubbs to find out what fairgoers can expect from it’s New York edition, now in its fourth year. NADA opens today and is on view through Sunday, May 17.
WHITEWALL: This year NADA New York is presenting 27 new exhibitors. What do you hope these new faces will bring to the fair?
HEATHER HUBBS: Last year, there was a lot of buzz generated around the new exhibitors and project spaces. The continued growth of new participating exhibitors each year perpetuates this excitement, as many spaces are fresh to the community and contribute to the edge of the fair.
WW: What special programs do you have planned for NADA New York in 2015?
HH: We have several stimulating new programs, including performances, artist-editions, and panel discussions, among others. A few recurring special projects include collaborations with Print All Over Me and Printed Matter.
WW: In 2013, NADA New York featured an incredible dance series throughout the fair and in 2014, visitors enjoyed installations and poetry reading. How important is it for NADA to expand to other creative fields?
HH: Being a fair that aims to provide a platform for new voices in the contemporary art community, it’s imperative to give ample attention to all experimental art forms. As a non-profit, we have more freedom and flexibility in our structuring, which will hopefully produce some exciting programs this year.
WW: How does NADA support these special programs?
HH: As with our bourgeoning project spaces, various participants in the fair are otherwise limited in their viewership. NADA supports these programs through providing a space and audience for receiving the work, thereby opening up the programs to a larger dialogue.
WW: NADA throws a good party. Is there any special line-up for this year’s event?
HH: New this year is that our opening preview extends into the evening on Thursday. We can promise, once again, our events will be memorable!
WW: Is there an exhibition or art activity you would not want to miss this May?
HH: My do-not-miss list for May includes the Frida Kahlo exhibition at the New York Botanical Gardens, opening May 16, and Yoko Ono’s solo presentation at MoMA, opening May 17. For those visiting from out of town, be sure to take the shuttle from NADA New York to the New Museum to see the Triennial before it closes. I am also excited about a few new spaces that will join our New York community, including the relocation of Queer Thoughts from Chicago to New York, and Isaac Lyles’s new space, KING/LYLES, both of which will be opening this year.
NADA New York (May 14-17) takes place at Basketball City, 299 South Street in New York.
