With a focus on innovative emerging artists, plus live music, risqué performances and the chance for attendees to strip down and inspire art, The Other Art Fair is not your typical art fair.
“Each day will feel like a different experience. You can have a unique interaction with an artist in-person and discover new and exciting work that you haven’t encountered anywhere else,” said Nicole Garton, global fair director for The Other Art Fair.
Original work from 140 exhibiting artists will be on display at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on April 4-7. The works include paintings, sculptures, photography, mixed media, ceramics and installations. The art is for sale, and the artists will be on hand to meet art fans as well, giving guests a chance to rub shoulders with possible future art world stars, Garton said.
“People can come discover tomorrow’s big new stars and top merging talent while they’re still relatively affordable. You get to meet the artist in person, form an emotional connection, see the work up close and they walk away with artwork,” she said.
While patrons will be able to walk around and check out the artwork throughout the weekend, there will also be several experiences that will make the festival standout a bit.
Here are some of the things you can expect to experience that make The Other Art Fair.
Cutting edge art
This isn’t the type of art show where people are just going to stand in front of a bunch of paintings pondering the meaning of each brush stroke. The Other Art Fair is about the wow factor and displaying the cutting edge art of today and the future. One of the highlights of the weekend event that will make you go “wow” as it stands above most artwork is “Vagr,” a monumental 32-foot-high hot pink inflatable sculpture in the shape of a tiger created by artist Misha Libertee.
Previously displayed at the Burning Man festival, the piece is meant to raise awareness for big cats facing endangerment. There’s also going to be a light show coming from “Vortex of Creation,” which is a light-based sculpture by artist Ivan Butorac. The pyramid-shape sculpture is programmed with LED lights that will change colors and patterns to create a conceptual art show.
“It’s for people to kind of tap into their unconscious,” Garton said.
Be the muse, if you dare
The art fair is giving daring and confident art lovers the chance to take it all off for the sake of inspiration. An activation dubbed “Perceive Me Redux” will let people go into a private studio at the venue and take off all their clothes in front of six professional artists who will sketch their nude portrait.
And it’s all about body positivity.
“Maybe we have perceived imperfections that in our eyes we might be ashamed about or embarrassed about, but through the eyes of artists they might see as as really beautiful and unique and different and special. So it’s a way to challenge our own thinking,” Garton said.
Guests can then buy their sketches for $25. But unless they buy all six they’re going to become part of the show since the portraits will be hung in front of the studio during the art fair. Hey, if Rose from “Titanic” could do it, so can you.
Have your cake, but don’t eat it
Artist Jasmine Archie will give foodies and art lovers a nice combo experience with her life size faux-cake sculptures. Using materials like paint, plastics, plaster and others, Archie creates incredibly realistic cakes and cupcakes. The artist will be on hand creating cakes and will drop limited edition cake sculptures during the art fair.
“Whether you’re super into pastries or you’re into maximalist design, people have a thing where they just can’t get enough of these fake cake sculptures. But you can’t eat them,” Garton said.
But before guests get a chance to drool over the sculpture cakes, they’ll get to see the naughtier side of pastries when a real cake gets squashed. That’s happening when artist and dancer Scarlett Kapella opens the art fair with a performance that, according to fair officials, “blends fetish, cake, and art.”
The Other Art Fair
When: 6-10 p.m. April 4; 5-9 p.m. April 5; 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. April 6; 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. April 7
Where: Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave., Santa Monica
Tickets: $25 online and $30 at the door for general admission; $50 online and $55 at the door for the April 4 opening night at theotherartfair.com/la