New Wave Art Wknd’s Fifth Anniversary in Palm Beach

Gallerist Sarah Gavlak, founder of New Wave Art Wknd (NWAW), welcomed more than 100 major artists and collectors to celebrate its 5th Anniversary during the first weekend in December. The event is designed to showcase the flourishing Palm Beach contemporary art scene and has become a favorite of the sophisticated modern art world.

Patrons took part in a thought-provoking program that included curated panel discussions, gallery visits, open studios, and private collection tours – this year at the homes of Lisa & Richard Perry, Becky Gochman and Joan & David Genser. An opening night patron’s dinner took place in the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden where guests dined al fresco among beautifully lit works of art celebrating “The Divine Feminine Exhibition” co-curated by Sarah Gavlak and Allison Raddock, on view until May 1, 2024. Exhibition artists include: Judy Chicago, Niki De Saint Phalle, Rachel Lee Hovnanian, Ruth Duckworth, Kiki Smith, Arlene Shechet and others. Plans are already underway for next year’s event which again will be held the weekend prior to the start of Miami Art Week.

“NWAW offers a platform to discuss issues in contemporary art and society in Palm Beach, where these conversations often need to happen most. This year’s focus was The Freedom of Expression — a topic that is more timely than ever and our conversations could not be more necessary as basic personal freedoms are under threat.” according to Gavlak, who opened the first contemporary art gallery in Palm Beach in 2005 after recognizing a lack of local gallery presence here. She founded her eponymous gallery with the goal of championing female and LGTBQIA+ artists. Since that time she has represented such artists as Marilyn Miniter, Lisa Anne Auerbach, Jose Alvarez (D.O.P.A), Andrew Brischler, Deborah Brown, TJ Wilcox, Candida Alvarez, and April Bey.

Founded in 2018, New Wave’s mission is to inform, educate, and enlighten by fostering a vital dialogue around diversity, inclusivity, immigration, and equal rights for women, BIPOC, immigrant, and LGBTQIA+ communities. Founded by Gavlak, its advisory board includes prominent curators, collectors, philanthropists, and artists including: Jane Holzer, Burt Minkoff, Mike De Paola, Isolde Brielmaier, Yvonne Force Villareal, Sanford Biggers, Gopal Rajegowda, Barry Blumberg, Lisa Perry, Amy Phelan, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Franklin Sirmans, and Ann Tenenbaum.

The NWAW Patron Program serves as a fundraiser for New Wave’s year-round programming and artist residency, an initiative designed to support artists from underrepresented communities. Artists receive an unrestricted $5,000 stipend from New Wave in addition to an apartment and studio space at The Square in Downtown West Palm Beach provided by the organization’s lead residency partner, Related Companies, for up to eight weeks. Since its inception, New Wave’s Artist-in-Residence Program has welcomed fifteen artists from around the world, all of whom have displayed an incredible dedication to their practice. The time, space, exposure, introductions, and sales support that the Residency Program offers is integral to the continued success of these inspiring artists.

NWAW’s artist-in-residence this season is Los Angeles-based Korean American photographer and director, Emanuel Hahn, who explores themes of cultural identity and the immigrant experience drawing on history, archival photography, Western and Korean art, and personal memories. Hahn’s path to becoming an artist was not direct. Before immigrating to the US at the age of 20, he spent his childhood between Cambodia and Singapore observing the extreme socioeconomic gaps in society. He attended NYU’s prestigious Stern School of Business to become an Economist and shortly after, switched his focus to Marketing and again to Tech. Finally, in 2018, he found his artistic voice and delved into the medium of photography, determined to tell the world about his lived experience and reshape the way people see Korean culture. This led to his first photo series titled Koreatown Dreaming, which has developed into a recently published book. He is now working on his second long-term series, America Fever, which he has focus on during his time as a New Wave Resident.

NWAW kicked off on Friday, December 1 at The Square in Downtown West Palm Beach with an open studio hosted by New Wave artist-in-residence Emanuel Hahn, followed by a public panel discussion titled, Challenged: Art and The Freedom of Expression. The panel began with an introduction from New Wave’s lead residency partner from Related Companies, Gopal Rajegowda, and was moderated by former Director of the Brooklyn Museum of Art and Senior Advisor for Phillips auction house, Arnold Lehman. Panelists included artists Nekisha Durrett and Emanuel Hahn, and Educator and Founder of Rohi’s Readery, Pranoo Kumar Skomra.

Following the panel discussion, the Palm Beach Lakes High Schoolmarching Band of more than 100 students lead attendees on the 1.3-mile route to the Heart & Soul Park where the unveiling of Nekisha Durrett’s public art commission, Genius Loci, took place.

Saturday’s program began at UOVO’s new South Florida campus in West Palm Beach with a public panel discussion titled What is Creative Expression Now? Exploring the Role of Art in Today’s Society moderated by For Freedoms Co-Founder Michelle Woo. Panelists  included artists Wendy Red Star, Rachel Lee Hovnanian, and Kathryn Andrews, and Founder & Co-Director of Project Empty Space, Jasmine Wahi.

Next stop, was a visit to the art- filled apartment of Joan & David Genser – featuring a screen by David Hockney.

This was followed by a patron gallery tour exhibiting artists including: Acquavella Galleries presenting Damien Leob; Ben Brown Fine Arts presenting José Parlá; Dylan Brant Fine Art presenting David Salle; Gavlak Gallery presenting Andrew Brischler with a conversation between Brischler and Deborah Brown; TW Fine Art presenting a group show titled Freedom of Choice with artists Henry Swanson, Max Simon and Ruben Burgess; Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery presenting Rufai Zakari; and White Cube presenting Harland Miller.

The day concluded with a Private Collection Visit and Dinner at the home of Becky Gochman, co-founder of The Forge Project, a non-profit devoted to supporting Indigenous artists and culture workers. Her collection is a true reflection of her ongoing interest in Indigenous Futurism and is focused on the work of contemporary Native American Artists.

On Sunday,  Lisa & Richard Perry hosted a Private Collection Visit, Patron Brunch, and Panel Discussion titled Functional Objects: Blurring the Boundaries of Art and Design. Moderated by Interior Designer Charlie Ferrer, panelists included designer, collector, curator and the founder of Onna House, Lisa Perry, renowned NYC-based artist, Nancy Lorenz, and gallerist Cristina Grajales.

The afternoon continued at Beth Rudin DeWoody’s Bunker Artspace with a Patron First Look and curator tours of the new installations with The Bunker Artspace Curators Laura Dvorkin and Maynard Monrow and guest curator Peter Harkawik, founder of the New York and Los Angeles gallery, Harkawik, with a special performance by Michele Pred titled Reproductive Freedom.

PALMER Editorial Director Stefano Tonchi hosted an end of weekend cocktail at the home of Victoria Hagan & Michael Berman for artist David Salle. Along with the artist, guests included: Dylan Brant, David Maupin, Daisy Soros, James Patterson, Maynard Monrow, Kyle DeWoody, Michele Pred, Earle Mack, Avie Mortimer, Kelly Williams, Ghislain d’Humière & Nicolas Raubertas, Caroline Hirsch, Richard Zieglasch and Julie & Brian Simmons.