A formidable nor'easter sweeping across the East Coast has significantly hampered the travel arrangements for numerous New York-based art gallerists and exhibitors destined for Frieze Los Angeles and its concurrent events. The inclement weather led to widespread flight cancellations and multiple rebooking challenges, compelling attendees to embark on convoluted journeys involving numerous layovers and substantial delays. These disruptions are posing considerable challenges to the timely setup of their exhibition spaces before the art fairs commence.
The reporter arrived in Los Angeles expecting the local weather to be the primary concern for the Frieze Los Angeles art fair. However, contrary to expectations, the weather in New York proved to be the significant issue. A powerful nor'easter dumped almost two feet of snow on New York City, creating chaos for many who were scheduled to travel to the West Coast. The local Los Angeles weather, by contrast, was quite pleasant, with temperatures consistently rising into the mid-70s.
Jonas Albro, an associate director at Magenta Plains, was among those severely affected. His direct flight from New York to LA on Tuesday morning was canceled. He was rebooked three times and ended up with a circuitous route: a flight to Pittsburgh, then to Salt Lake City, and finally to Los Angeles. This odyssey extended his travel time by approximately eight hours beyond his original schedule, highlighting the extensive logistical challenges faced by exhibitors.
Despite the travel hurdles, Albro expressed confidence in his gallery's participation at the Enzo fair, which was scheduled to open on Wednesday afternoon. He noted that the eight participating galleries in Enzo are all close-knit dealers from downtown New York. This camaraderie allowed him to rely on friends who had already arrived in Los Angeles to assist with the installation of his booth, photography, and other necessary preparations. This collaborative spirit helped mitigate some of the stress caused by his delayed arrival.
Alyssa Davis, the founder of her eponymous gallery and another exhibitor at Enzo, also encountered significant travel delays. Her initial flight was canceled, and she was rebooked for a Wednesday departure. However, through persistent efforts, she managed to secure an earlier flight, albeit one with a connection in Fort Lauderdale after departing from LaGuardia. She was expected to land in LA by 8 p.m., intending to head directly to the fair to set up her booth for the opening. Davis commended the mutual support among the galleries, emphasizing their collective alignment and readiness to assist one another.
The Felix LA fair, which also opened the following day, saw similar disruptions. Rachel Uffner, founder of Uffner & Liu, along with her associate director Tania Fer, experienced flight delays. Uffner's flight was pushed back from Monday to Tuesday, and then she was scheduled to arrive on Wednesday via a 6 a.m. flight with a short one-hour layover in Minneapolis. Her anticipated arrival at 11:30 a.m. meant she would miss both the installation process and a portion of the VIP opening. Uffner remarked on the unique challenge of setting up in a hotel room at Felix, a task usually managed by her business partner, Lucy Liu, who happened to be skiing out West and was left to manage the booth configuration alone. The gallery had to quickly hire an assistant and coordinate with Felix for an exhibitor pass to manage the unforeseen circumstances, illustrating the need for adaptability in such situations.
Chris Sharp, an LA-based dealer and the founder of Post-Fair, noted that at least one exhibitor for his event also faced flight delays but was expected to arrive in time for the opening. Both Post-Fair and Frieze LA benefited from having their VIP openings scheduled for Thursday morning, providing exhibitors with a crucial extra day to resolve travel issues and complete booth installations, even if under a more condensed timeline than usual. Perrotin, a gallery with a strong presence in LA, also had some New York-based team members encounter flight delays, but by Tuesday, these staff members were already en route, with plans to arrive in time for Thursday’s events. A Frieze spokesperson confirmed that despite the severe East Coast weather impacting travel, preparations for Thursday’s opening remained on schedule, as exhibitors had contingency plans in place for such eventualities.
The severe winter weather on the East Coast created widespread travel disruptions for art professionals heading to the Frieze Los Angeles art fair. Many New York-based dealers faced canceled flights and complicated rebookings, leading to extended and arduous journeys. Despite these significant logistical hurdles, exhibitors demonstrated remarkable resilience and cooperation, relying on mutual support and quick problem-solving to ensure their participation in the art events. The experiences highlight the unpredictable nature of travel and the adaptability required within the art world during major international events.