Nasty Neck Face & A-Ron lead the style council...

At this point, navigating ART BASEL’s myriad satellite fairs spread far and wide across the city is a lot like running a triathlon, but one new fiercely independent mini-fair was so good that you rarely needed to leave. The IT AIN’T FAIR at AL MORAN’s upstart O.H.W.O.W. (Our House West of Wynwood) GALLERY turned out to be the hipster megawatt energy center of this year’s convention, featuring an incredible array of downtown art and daily late-nite musical performances by art rockers like A.R.E. WEAPONS, THE GOSSIP, and JD SAMSON that kept the beautiful people glued to the spot. Organized by downtown denizen AARON "A-RON" BONDAROFF, in association with Deitch Projects, Peres Projects, Nueva Galeria De La Barra, A.S.S. Gallery, A.M.P., Picturebox and TV Books, the anti-fair brought together celebrated curators Tim Barber, Kathy Grayson, Andreas Melas, Dan Nadel, Pablo de la Barra, Nicola Vassell, and Terence Koh who each imported their various teams of artists in a huge multimedia exhibition that featured painting, sculpture, video and performances from artists all over the world with a focus on downtown Manhattan. The artstar-studded roster included Erik Foss, Tauba Auerbach, Stefan Bondell, Julia Burlingham, Scott Campbell, Kenneth Cappello, Comeau, Dearraindrop, Mark Delong, Chris Dorland, Jim Drain, Phil Frost, Patrick Griffin, Evan Gruzis, Brandon Herman, Gordon Hull, Todd James, Ben Jones, Kim Krans, Lachance, Adriana Lara, Jason Matthew Lee, Allan Macintyre, Eddie Martinez, Slava Mogutin, Noble, Jason Nocito, Rallou Panagiotou, Ara Peterson, Kembra Pfahler, Brad Phillips, Esther Planas, Michael Schmelling, Aurel Schmidt, Robin Schwartz, Ben Schumacher, Shinique Smith, Agathe Snow, Dash Snow, Francine Spiegel, Kon Trubkovich, Solange Umutoni, and Jaimie Warren, to name a few. The best thing about the It Ain’t Fair? The fact that it actually captured the spirit of an art scene from the inside out, making it one of the most utterly relevant spots on the map in Vice City. HAVE A LOOK:

The scene of the art crime...

Left to right: Tim Barber photos, O.H.W. O.W. bookstore, Nasty Neckface...

"It Ain't..." accomplice Jeffrey Deitch with the Morans...

The custom bookstore designed by Rafael de Cardenas...

Erik Foss with A.R.E. Weapon Erik Rappin, and New Image Art's Marsea Goldberg...

Nasty Neck in effect...

KAWS in an unusually loud outfit with O.H.W.O.W.'s Al Moran..

Left wall: Tauba Auerbach photo, Kembra Phaler photos, Aurel Schmidt drawing...

LES hair farmers...

Left wall: painting by Derraindrop...

Aurel Schmidt signs copies of her new book for fanboys...

Erik Foss' abstract figuratism...

...and foxy Sarah Palin...

Wall: Ara Peterson. bench: Jim Drain...

Scott Campbell on the wall...

Taylor McKinens' portrait gallery...

Raul Sanchez plants one...

End of hall: Phil Frost. Right: Todd Jordan photo...

JD "Who Me?" Samson and booty king Spankrock...

Left: Painting by Evan Gruzis. Right: Dash Snow drawing...
Nasty Neck Face and A-Ron meet the Style Council...

Left to right: Assume Vivid Astro Focus, Todd James, Derraindrop, Phil Frost...

Rydel and Brian 'Pres' Rodriguez in the portrait studio (everyone that came through got snapped for a book of portraits releasing next year)...

Phil Frost detail...

Right: "No Pain, No Gain," by Kon Trubkovich...

Terence Koh's "African Michael Jackson"...

Darren "DR" Romanelli with Al Moran...

"My Life in T-Shirts," by Aaron Bondaroff...

Show curator Tim Barber (right) stares us down...

Photos by Slava Mogutin...

OHWOW's karina ors, Mills Moran, random dude, and the legendary Jose Parla...

Public visual disruption...