The Approach Gallery | Frieze NY 2022

Installation of The Approach at Frieze New York (left) shared with Simone Subal Gallery (right)

Title: Frieze NY 2022 Fair Booth
Artists: Tom Allen, Heidi Bucher, Hana Miletic, Sandra Mujinga, Magali Reus
Presenting Partner:  The Approach
TYPE: ART FAIR BOOTH

Introduction

The Approach decided to do a Climate Impact Report for their 2022 Frieze NY booth in an effort to attend art fairs in a more environmentally sustainable way, or at least be more environmentally conscious of the impact fair participation has and what the gallery can do to minimize that climate impact.

Emissions

Airfare:
Two round trip flights were taken to realise this presentation:
- 1 staff member travelling to New York from London and back
- 1 staff member travelling from Dallas and returning to New York
The gallery did not have access to energy use data at Frieze NY
- Air freight shipment from Los Angeles to New York @ 40 kgs
- Air freight shipment from London to New York @ 378kgs
- Air freight shipment from Sandefjord (nr Oslo) to New York @ 80kgs
- Estimated return shipment to London from New York @ 189 kgs

While emission calculations won't be finalized until after the fair, the gallery has so far paid for two international flights for gallery directors in order to participate in the fair, totalling 2.8 tCO2e emissions. The gallery consolidated Frieze New York travel with other US travel, such as a trip to Texas, in order to minimize flights taken in the broader framework of its activity. The gallery didn’t bring its technician to New York, hiring a local tech in order to reduce flights. By sharing a booth with Simone Subal Gallery, the gallery didn’t require a third director to come out, which also reduced the amount of flights that would typically be taken for an art fair.

The majority of shipping was done by air freight. Shipping is expected to generate 4.28+ tCO2e emissions, including an estimate of return shipping (the final volume of air freight will be contingent upon sales at the fair). In order to reduce emissions, the gallery tried to send the main shipment from London by sea. Although all the work was ready in time, and the gallery’s artists were on board with this new way of working, at the last minute the sea shipment was canceled by the shipping agent and the gallery had to revert to air freight. This was frustrating and disappointing, but it proved instructive insofar as it demonstrated that it is achievable, in theory, to meet the deadline of shipping art by sea with the right forward planning.

Waste

Waste Category	Items
Reuse	Wooden crates for various artworks, Card packaging for various items
Storage	The items sent to storage were artworks or items that will be reused, such as tools and stationary
Landfill	Quite a bit of card, polythene and bubble wrap, originally for around 4 artworks
Consumable	There were many cartons of water consumed. The packaging was recyclable, but it was not clear that the fair was managing the division between landfill and recycling very well. We were given many cans of iced coffee each morning that we were not drinking. We tried to return these to the supplier, but not always successful. Many unused cans got sent to landfill. This was clearly happening for all galleries.

The gallery opted not to use pedestals or other one-time-use objects, but will likely have leftover unused crates after the fair, which will contribute waste to landfill.

Additional Thoughts

Completing a Climate Impact Report has shaped the way The Approach planned for its Frieze New York booth by helping its team to think in a more long-term and sustainable way in regards to how they minimise their climate impact – such as taking fewer flights and shipping art by sea rather than by air. By sharing a booth with Simone Subal Gallery, some aspects of art fair participation were more efficient, such as having fewer staff travel to work on the booth, shipping a smaller volume of art, and sharing resources such as lighting and stand furniture.

After making this Climate Impact Report, the next time the gallery participates in an art fair, it will consider the possibility of reusable crates and how to firmly secure a sea shipment.

Credits

This report was prepared by Emma Robertson from The Approach Gallery, with contributions from Jo Harrison and Mike Allen. They were supported by Artists Commit mentors Laura Lupton and Andrew Kachel.

All images courtesy of The Approach Gallery.