The Green Art Fair, billing itself as a "single point of contact for the art and design world, eco-friendly businesses and all individuals interested in moving the environmental friendly movement forward," seems like a gyp for the $15 entry charge.
The skimpy tent fair only features a handful of designers and artists with some photography, paintings and other mixed media on display. Organizers opted to pitch their tent on a lawn for an outdoorsy feel and it smells like a wet barn inside. The heat can be stifling too.
It's not a total bust though. Homegrown conceptual puppeteer, Pablo Cano is performing his crowd-pleasing marionette shows daily at the event. Saturday Cano works his magic at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. He creates his inventive, whimsical cast of characters from recycled trash and they are incredible to behold.
There is also a silent auction of chairs created by DASH students to
benefit Habitat For Humanity. One of them looks like a prop from a Tim
Burton movie and will give you a shock if you park your haunches on it.
Another of the chairs is a musical instrument one can actually perform
on while comfortably perched atop the high back throne.
At Denise Marques' Green Veranda
booth don't miss her eye-catching women's handbags and clutches ranging
from $40 to $250 in price. Her funky creations are crafted from
recycled newspapers and subway maps and are the hottest item at this
fair.
"We plant a tree for every item sold and donate a
percentage of our profits to charitable organizations," Marques says.
She is working with a co-op of 36 Brazilian women on her venture
Marques adds. The Green Art Fair is located on Midtown Boulevard
between 29th and 30th Street next to Scope.
-- Carlos Suarez De Jesus
