ART OFF THE MAIN": Bringing the Outside In

Innovative Art Fair Showcases Contemporary African, Caribbean & Latin American Art

For four exciting days, October 4-7, Art Off The Main: The African, Caribbean and Latin American Art Fair returns to New York City's landmark Puck Building (Lafayette & Houston Streets). Now in its 4th year, the acclaimed annual exposition provides curators, seasoned collectors and novices the opportunity to view and collect paintings, sculpture, photography and original prints by established and emerging artists from over 20 countries. Despite New York City being one of the world's major art centers and home to numerous art fairs each year, until Art Off the Main , fine art from these regions was difficult to find at a New York art fair.

According to Loris Crawford, the show's executive producer, "Art Off the Main fills an important niche in the art fair market. While there has been a recent surge in gallery and museum shows featuring contemporary African, Caribbean and Latin American art, and record auction values in the world's art capitals, the works of art produced by these artists are still underrepresented in the United States; Art Off The Main provides a much-needed annual platform for exposure".

Art Off the Main opens with a gala reception on Thursday, October 4, 6pm -10pm, with the Museum for African Art being this year's beneficiary. The preeminent curator of African arts, the Museum is dedicated to interpreting the art and culture of Africa and the African Diaspora for a global audience and is the center of discovery for everything African, from classic to contemporary. www.africanart.org

Other highlights of the fair include Paint It Pink on Friday, October 5, 6pm -10pm; a cocktail reception to raise breast cancer awareness in young women of color-a major public health issue in the United States. Ticket sales benefit the diversity program of Young Survival Coalition, a community of young breast cancer survivors seeking to educate the public, and the medical, research and legislative communities on the issue of breast cancer in women 40 years old and under. Saturday, October 6, 11am -8pm and Sunday October 7, 11am to 7 pm are general admission days. Continuing the tradition of creating greater awareness and knowledge of art from the featured regions, Art Off The Main's 2007 programming will again include an educational series, sponsored by New York University's Association of Black Faculty, Administrators and Staff and organized by the Museum for African Art. Ticket sales benefit scholarship fund for University students.

The cost of admission to the Opening Night Gala is $100; $30 for the Paint it Pink reception and $15 for general admission. For additional information, contact Crawford Billings Associates, Inc., 240 East 13th Street, New York, NY 10003; 212-473-8649 or visit www.artoffthemain.com and paintitpink.org.