Opponents are also concerned that the new focus on performances may squeeze out fairs. When the organizers of the International Asian Fair rescheduled it from late to mid March, to coincide with Asian-art auctions and avoid conflict with Easter, they had to relocate it to a church four blocks south because the armory was already booked for events by artists in the Whitney Biennial. As a result, the Asian fair will be smaller, with only 33 dealers versus last year’s 57. But they hope to return to the armory next year.

SPARC has hopes, too—for a compromise. It wants the armory to agree to limit attendance and the number of events. Sklar concedes, however, that the conservancy is acting within its charter. So for now, he says, sparc plans to stir up community opposition and meet with unnamed politicians who might put pressure on the conservancy.

"Standoff on Park Avenue" originally appeared in the March 2008 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's March 2008 Table of Contents.