Nova Art Fair's Imaginative Gimmickry

By Justin Sondak in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 26, 2006 1:54PM

Organizers for the Nova Art Fair 2006 know you’ve gotta have a gimmick to get our attention. They have a few actually: transforming 40 rooms in the City Suites Hotel into mini art galleries, putting a fashion show on an el train, enlisting more than a dozen local businesses for an art walk showcase, and throwing all-night parties.

Nova’s scope is broad, their minds are open, and any curiosity seems fair game. We can’t describe it any better than this:

We encourage the pursuit of interplanetary travel, murder mystery scenarios, karmic conversion, stunt professionals, inductive reasoning, golems, commercial junk, hot rock, stunningly beautiful women in tiny cocktail dresses, live comedy, swarthy men in fast cars, gadgetry, human decency, subcultural trends, game theory, America and the newest in phaser gun technologies.

The most memorable art fairs and festivals create space to welcome guests before tweaking their comfort zone, and thirty-five local and coastal exhibitors are vying to blow your mind. The swanky lifestyle set will party tomorrow night at Vernissage, then shake some serious booty until 4am at Smart Bar. As the Fashion Train rolls down the brown & purple line el tracks to the Loop Friday night, models strut down the sticky aisles showing off the next “must have” ensembles. If you need a reprieve from all the schmoozing, drop by the Landmark Cinemas for the film and video programs. The Afterparty is across the street at Berlin, and by the way, the art fair proper is open each day from noon to 8.

The NOVA Art Fair 2006 conquers the City Suites Hotel, 933 W Belmont, Friday – Sunday, admission is $10. Tickets to Thursday night’s Vernissage are $20, $26 for the Afterparty at Smart Bar, 3730 N Clark St. The Fashion Train leaves Belmont at 8, 9, and 10pm, tickets are $20. Friday and Saturday night parties are at Berlin, 954 W Belmont, $5 cover.