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The ICFF is the largest contemporary furniture show in the US. The last several years has seen the rise of a more significant selection of additional gallery openings, parties and events to coincide with the main fair at the Javits Center in Manhattan. Although not nearly on the same scale as shows in Europe, there is certainly a thriving and growing scene in New York, and people come from all over the world to exhibit and participate.
Many of the shows and items on display were more conceptual
and experimental, providing a nice counterpoint to the commercial
focus of the main show. Without a dedicated area for new,
or upcoming, or exprimental groups and items within the show
at the Javits center, the "off site" activities
provide the outlet needed to let designers flourish without
the typical market pressures felt when working within the
construct of a traditional trade show environment.
The groups organizing the extra curricular activities were
generally local - schools, stores, and local players in the
design scene. There were not too many, or even any, exibitors
showing on their own who were from out of town. This is in
stark contrast to the fair in Milan for example, where groups
from other countries and cities set up shop inside the fair
and all over the city.
Perhaps as the NY Design Week grows in scope it will begin
to attract independent outside talent. It does not necessarily
need to come from abroad either. A show by groups from other
parts of the US would go over well also. Whether a show like
that would lead to business development is open for debate.
It would certainly add to the mix in a postive fashion, and
would make the whoel week's events seem like part of a larger
community, rather than an outgrowth of the local talent pool.
The events surrounding the ICFF have really come into their
own in the past five years. Let's hope that in another five
this article will be covering exhibitions by groups from around
the US and around the world.
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