After already checking out the Armory show yesterday, here are some fairs that are well worth the trip. Opening to the public or for preview today here are the first 5 fairs to check out, stay tuned for part two of fairs opening this weekend tomorrow.

1)    Volta New York

Opening Thursday, March 8 – Sunday, March 11 VOLTA NY is an invitational show of solo artists’ projects and is the American incarnation of the successful young fair founded in Basel in 2005. VOLTA NY was conceived by art critic and fair director Amanda Coulson to continue the original mandate of a tightly-focused, boutique event that is a place for discovery. Both Basel and New York fairs provide a showcase for current art production and relevant contemporary positions regardless of the artist or gallery’s age.

Visit www.ny.voltashow.com

2)    INDEPENDENT

The third edition of INDEPENDENT, the temporary exhibition forum devised by and for gallerists is taking place at the former Dia Center for the Arts building opens March 8-11, 2012.

The layout of INDEPENDENT is customized to reflect the spatial and curatorial concerns of the 43 participants and to optimize the public’s viewing experience. Architect Christian Wassmann, in addition to devising the exhibition layout, created 29º Observatory, a site-specific environment on the roof of the building. The roof installation as well as the spatial configuration of the building layout is based around the concept of aligning with the true North-South axis of the earth. INDEPENDENT was conceived by Elizabeth Dee and Darren Flook and developed in conjunction with creative advisor Matthew Higgs and Co-Directors Jayne Drost Johnson and Laura Mitterrand. For more information, please visit www.independentnewyork.com or email us at contact@independentnewyork.com.

3)    SPRING/BREAK Art Show

SPRING/BREAK Art Show is a brand new curator-driven art fair during the Armory Arts Week.  The fair will inhabit Old School, a four-story schoolhouse located in NoLIta from March 6^th – March 11^th, 2012. Featuring the projects of 23 curators, the show will abandon the traditional focus on galleries – offering a “break” from the typical art fair model – and showcase a range of New York City’s curatorial voices, all surrounding a single exhibition theme – Apocalist: A Brief History of The End.

More info at springbreakartshow.com

4)    Korean Art Show

Opening March 8 – 11^th from 11am to 8pm at 82 Mercer Street, The Korean Art Show returns to New York for its third consecutive year. Showcasing the best of Korean contemporary art with 14 top Korean galleries and a special exhibition. K-Artists in New York presents the work of seven Korean contemporary artists who have had a foothold in New York City, the center and the hub of the contemporary art scene for over a decade.

For more information visit koreanartshow.com

5)    SCOPE Art Show

Opens Thursday – Sunday March 8 – 11^th 11am – 8pm at 57^th and 12^th Avenue.

Opening for it’s 11th consecutive year in New York, SCOPE Art Show returns with a new venue across the street from the Armory. Known for showcasing contemporary art from around the world often in an unruly setting, this year’s edition has some interesting highlights including 50 participating international galleries, several special projects, installations and film screenings including a focus on Puerto Rican art and most importantly snacks provided by La Esquina.

For more information visit www.scope-art.com

Image via INDEPENDENT