The inaugural edition of the Bridge Art Fair New York will take place at the historic Waterfront building, former location of the popular Tunnel nightclub. Featuring 50+ international exhibitors, with 60% from outside the United States, it will include the debut of the Bridge Focus series.

DATES:

Thursday, March 27-Sunday, March 30

LOCATION:

The Waterfront, 222 12th Avenue (between 27th and 28th streets)

& 269 11th Avenue

BRIDGE NEW YORK FAIR HOURS:

March 27: 12-4pm, Professional Preview

March 27: 5-10pm, Opening-Night Reception, general admission $25

March 28: 12­-9pm, Show Hours, general admission $10

March 29: 12-9pm, Show Hours, general admission $10

March 30: 12­-7pm, Show Hours, general admission $10

Known for spectacular shows of emerging contemporary art in London and Miami, Bridge Art Fair, the independent international exposition, proudly premieres its New York edition. Bridge New York will host more than 50 international exhibitors from such diverse locales as Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the United States. "We're very excited to premiere Bridge in New York," says founder Michael Workman, "It's the undisputed center of the art world, a city enthusiastic about the independent approach to art we have a built-in passion for."

PROGRAMMING

The inaugural Bridge Art Fair New York will premiere several exciting new programming initiatives:

FOCUS: ASIA

Bridge New York marks the expansion of Bridge to include an international focus showcase, beginning with a spotlight on Asian art. Invited galleries are participating from Beijing, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, and elsewhere across the Pacific Rim. Building on New York's annual Asian Contemporary Art Week, Bridge New York Focus: Asia offers art collectors never-before-seen contemporary work from the East. Each subsequent edition of Bridge Art Fair will highlight a different international focus, while maintaining the emerging contemporary art showcase that Bridge has become known for. The Bridge Focus section of each future fair will be defined both by geography and culture, providing each show with its own distinctive curatorial premise.

ARTPORT'S "COOL STORIES FOR WHEN THE PLANET GETS HOT"

Bridge is proud to present video works by artists interpreting green themes, organized by ARTPORT, the New York and Valencia, Spain-based international arts exchange project founded and directed by Corinne Erni and Anne-Marie Melster. The compilation of 11 short videos will screen on a continuous loop each day of the fair. Artists represented include: Fernando Acquarone, Celeste Fichter, Chus García Fraile, Mireya Masó, Tomás Ochoa & Andriana Meyer, Yuko Oda, Simón Pacheco, Simon Reilly, Avelino Sala, Molly Schwartz, and Michael Wyshock. Each future Bridge fair will incorporate similar international programs such as ARTPORT, giving each show a new look and educational offerings to provide fairgoers with a unique experience.

BRIDGE PROJECTS

IGOR JOSIFOV, Purification Process

Bridge Projects and Toomey Tourell in San Francisco are proud to present a performance installation by Macedonian visual and performance artist Igor Josifov. Entitled Purification Process, the artist will be illuminated by a projection of words that represents elements and influences from the past that he will then purge by showering. Josifov attended the School for Applied Art Lazar Licenoski in Skopje, Macedonia, from the age of 14, and he is the recipient of many awards. He was chosen by the Macedonian Ministry of Culture to produce a provocative billboard installation entitled In Between, which depicted the country's two religions on either side of the Vardar River. Igor will perform Purification Process in Booth 64 twice daily.

SEAN GLOVER

An installation by Sean Glover will involve varying floor plans and an indefinite number of Sleepwalkers electric gear, motor kits, lamp fixtures, laundry pulleys, lazy-susan bearings, found wood, daylight bulbs, and punctured containers. The piece will exist in the public space of the fair.

BENEDIKTE RØNSEN

Benedikte Rønsen's video piece of Van Eijk`s Good Selection will be presented as a projection in the public space of the fair.

PARTIES, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND SPECIAL FEATURES

BRIDGE NEW YORK OPENING-NIGHT RECEPTION

Homage to the Tunnel

The Waterfront, 269 11th Avenue

Thursday, March 27, 5-10pm

Bridge New York presents Homage to the Tunnel, a special opening-night event to honor the extraordinary history of the Waterfront's previous identity as an icon of Manhattan's creative cultural nightlife. The evening is hosted by the legendary Amanda Lepore, the fabulous Michael Musto, and the Queen of House Screamin' Rachel Cain. Music and media mix by DJ Scotto, spinning Tunnel classics. Archival video courtesy of Screamin' Rachel. Special performance by Amanda Lepore at 7:30pm. Enjoy the party while getting an early look at the more than 50 international exhibitors representing the best in emerging contemporary art. Complimentary Pernod Absinthe Fountain drinks. Specials on Pernod cocktails and Carlsberg Beer.

OPENING NIGHT AFTER-PARTY

Glass Lounge