The Guardian’s James Wescott surveys the Armory Show and finds the mood, well, contradictory:
I began to dread glib references to the recession becoming a running theme. Many in the art world are impatiently curious to see what effect the recession will have on art, as if it might herald a new Renaissance. I’ve heard artists calling for a full-scale “cull” of the apparently overpopulated art world – a cull that of course would never dare to include the person pining for it. But it’s still too early to gauge the effect of this recession on the making of art itself, only on its circulation. [ . . . ]
As the fair’s opening day wore on, the mood wasn’t exactly “yes we can” but more “maybe we just might”. Far from tumbleweeds blowing across the aisles, foot traffic almost increased to the throng of recent years. Dealers were reporting decent-enough sales – but they would say that – and the British New York gallerist Sean Kelly even declared: “Yes it’s been bad, yes it’s been bloody awful, but in the last few weeks it’s been picking up. I think people will understand that art is the best asset class right now and confidence will come back to the market.”
Has the Recession Sparked a New Rennaissance? (Guardian)