Dark Fair at the Swiss Institute
Things That Go Bump in the Night
By: Charles Giuliano - Apr 06, 2008
Dark Fair
The Swiss Institute
495 Broadway at Spring Street
March 28-29
http://www.swissinstitute.net
In the eclectic mix of major and adjunct art fairs and related events arguably the most unique was the Dark Fair presented at the Swiss Institute in Soho. With its emphasis on the spooky and black light there were aspects of a flashback to a 1960s, psychedelic, head shop.
Nobody, however, appeared to be tripping. What a pity.
It was organized by a group of artists that include the brothers Scott and Tyson Reeder and Scott's wife, Elysia Borowy-Reeder, who in 2006 staged a fair in a Milwaukee bowling alley.
Emerging from an elevator to the floor dedicated to the exhibition space of the Swiss Institute the eyes adjusted to dim lighting. This was black box theatre in every sense. One ground rule for the small booths of the exhibitors was no use of electric current. In the absence of the normal sources for lighting the challenge was to somehow illuminate a cubicle with candles, day glow, small generators to run black light, and the glow of the occasional lap top.
The mood leveled the playing field and options for exhibitors so there was a kind of sameness as one navigated through the space. But it also evoked a Halloween like atmosphere that brought out a range of the dark arts. It got my mojo working. In one booth they appeared to be burning money; a hundred dollar bill with the image of Ben Franklin. How did they do that? At another booth I was invited to sit for a while and talk about anything. Anything I asked? Anything was the response. But it was a busy day and time to press on to yet another art fair so I replied that "My people will be in touch with your people." The kids seemed to think that was a cool answer.
Little on view was particularly memorable but the overall ambiance made this one of the most successful events of the art fairs. More than likely it will be repeated and probably emulated at other art fairs. Give the Swiss Institute extra credit for originality.