“TRANCHES DE SAVOIR”—a French phrase meaning “slices of knowledge,” it featured a mix of French, Belgian and European artists. (The title was inspired by a collection of poems by Henri Michaux, the Belgian-French writer and visual artist celebrated for his intricate ink drawings and known as a major proponent of psychedelics.)

“A lot of people were in town for it, and a lot of Europeans, too. The Armory Show was hugely popular back then,” says Babin. “I’d been in the country for two years, and Harold for about the same, but we definitely didn’t have a Rolodex of collectors’ names. Still, we met a few people, got some interest, and it really became about the energy.”