March art madness, aka Armory Arts Week, is back again. And, for those who like their art a bit more on the DIY-side, SPRING/BREAK Art Show is an excellent option. A curator-driven, non-traditional, multi-day affair, SPRING/BREAK has raised the bar with its 2015 edition. Bidding farewell to Old School in Nolita, this year’s extravaganza inhabits the vacant upper floors of Skylight at Moynihan Station. A far roomier spot, the historic but tattered space is perfect for a rough-and-ready show like this one. Enlisting over 80 independent curators, including the likes of Dustin Yellin, Renee Ricardo, and the dynamic duo of Eve Sussman and Simon Lee, the show is united under the theme of TRANSACTION. Guests are invited to roam massive hallways, where each room contains a distinct, well-thought-out exhibit. The show is also well-rounded, in that it includes art in all its forms, from video and sculpture, to painting and performance.

Having spent many hours happily wandering the halls, we’d like to offer up some highlights of our visit:

A talking painting that tells your fortune (ROOM 3118)

The Oracle at Painted Sphinx

One of the first things we came upon was The Oracle in the room curated by Arielle De Saint Phalle and Michael Valinsky. This little winged lady was part painting and part human. Flanked by two masked assistants who handed out little notes (ours read: Dang Your Nice), the Oracle’s human elements were her eyes, mouth and a single hand. She requested we hand over our note and in return she would make us an artwork. She ducked out for a few moments and returned with a line drawing that was supposed to represent our future. It was very squiggly.

Made out of money (ROOM 4006)

Dustin Yellin and Bazaar Teens’ money art

Perhaps by now you heard of artist Dustin Yellin’s plan to shred a whole lot of money and team up with Bazaar Teens to create an 8-artwork series titled The Riches of God’s Love unto the Vessels of Mercy. The crew working on the paintings when we rolled through their space.

Very Donnie Darko (ROOM 4015)

Rabbit Record

Eve Sussman and Simon Lee’s eerie Rabbit Record was on display in an old vault in the room curated by Maureen Sullivan. The sculptural work features a large rabbit head on a spinning turntable and reminded us of Donnie Darko. We could have watched it revolve all day long.

Dolly Presley sings her heart out (ROOM 4032)

Cate Giordano as Dolly Presley

Cate Giordano reprised her Dolly Parton/Elvis Presley mash-up, Dolly Presley, and could be found karaoking her heart out among paper mache chickens and a cow in the room curated by Eve Sussman and Simon Lee.

Robin Williams made a guest appearance (ROOM 4030)

Erik den Breejen’s Robin Williams

A selection of Erik den Breejen’s text portraits were hanging in the room curated by Progress Report (aka Kris Chatterson and Vince Contarino). In addition to den Breejan’s Robin Williams at the Met, also on view were works by Ghost of a Dream, a duo who are known for their lottery ticket sculptures.

Christine Sciulli’s Propulsion Field

Light projections and fabric come together in an exciting whirl in Christine Sciulli’s site-specific installation Propulsion Field. Don’t miss this one. The door is closed, but all are welcome.

Greed is Good is good (ROOM 4105?)

Fall On Your Swords’ Greed is Good

Inspired by Gordon Gecko’s speeches in Oliver Stone’s WALL STREET, Fall on Your Sword’s Greed is Good is an immersive audio/visual spectacle featuring champagne bottles, a large sphere and an original score.

Surveillance, cicadas, praying mantises and the work of Rhonda Wall (ROOM 4115-4117)

Collage by Rhonda Wall

Renee Ricardo highlights the playful collages of Rhonda Wall in her contribution to SPRING/BREAK. We kind of fell in love with these mixed media works that blend imagery from old magazines and science manuals with vibrant brushwork.

Send in the creepy clowns (ROOM 4124)

Brian Whiteleys

Whitney V. Hunter invited Brian Andrew Whiteley to bring in the creepy clowns for his SPRING/BREAK outpost. A video featuring the news story about the clown haunting Green-Wood Cemetery compliments the larger-than-life clown sculptures. Beware, this one could give you nightmares.

Prepare to be wowed by Luminessenz (ROOM 4127)

At the end of a long hallway in a curtained-off room is the mind-blowing immersive audio/visual installation Luminessenz. Guests are invited to walk in and around the installation which senses motion and reacts. It’s quite amazing.

A SPRING/BREAK wedding

The wedding of Ambre Kelly & Andrew Gori

We were also among the lucky few who witnessed the wedding of the fair’s co-founders, Ambre Kelly and Andrew Gori. Before SPRING/BREAK’s official press conference went to questions, a ceremony took place that featured Dustin Yellin as one of the witnesses. It really kicked things off with a bang and shut the press up; there were no questions or objections for that matter.

Other things to look out for at SPRING/BREAK include musical performances by Jim Jarmusch’s SQURL, and Llue, the electronic project of Grace Villamil & Tyondai Braxton which will take place in Villamil’s site-specific installation, A Door Within A Door Within A Door, curated by Fabiana Faria + Helena Barquet and Katya Braxton.

For more information about SPRING/BREAK visit their website.