artPark

Pre-selling Art

Here is an interesting way for an artist to pre-sell his work prior to a major exhibit:

Tim Tate (a Migration favorite artist) is exhibiting again this year at SOFA Chicago (a Migration favorite fair). During the week leading up to the November 5 Preview Opening of SOFA, Tim has taken a piece scheduled to be shown at SOFA and listed it on ebay. The piece, titled "Summer of Love", will be priced at $12,000 in Chicago, but bids on ebay start at $9,500. See the listing here.

Tim is a well known and highly recognized artist. If anyone can make this strategy succeed, it will be him. Potential bidders/buyers can bid on "Summer of Love" with confidence (not always the case for most internet art sales). Tim has traditionally done well at SOFA selling virtually all his work on display. So, odds are, "Summer of Love" will sell in Chicago – for the full retail price. This ebay listing is an excellent opportunity for savvy bidders to get a beautiful Tim Tate piece for an excellent price... and a great story.

Tim is not the first artist to list his work on ebay, but this is a particularly unique preview opportunity to a major exhibition. Will this be a trend in retail art? Will it be a successful trend?

Success in the art world is often dependant on creating a buzz. Tim is a master of buzz. But, above all, he is a master of contemporary glass art.

Street Art

Street artists add color to our life – and ask little in return. Here is a slideshow of photos of an artist (who goes by Cristophe) and his dog in Paris. He created a pastel self portrait with his dachshund in front of the Pompidou Center.

The photographer who took the shots says this:

he has no greed...doesn't know today's head-lines...has no idea about memory cards or computers....but,...he knows about life on the street, art, his accordion, a good calavados and to take good care of his dog...for some that does the trick...just look in his eyes...that's life!..

The world could use more street art.

The fall Art Fairs are upon us

October, November and December mark the height of the art fair year. It all starts in London at the Frieze Art Fair and culminates with December’s art-fair-orgy in Miami, Florida (featuring over 20 art fairs in just one week). Needless to say, every gallery’s bean counter has their eyes focused on Frieze. Last year, galleries exhibiting at Frieze (through clinched teeth smiles and drippy mascara) wept doom and gloom and endless talk of the global recession affect on the art market. This year, the reports have been quite positive. Participating galleries reported clear evidence of renewed confidence in the contemporary art market as well as an enjoyable and positive atmosphere (not sure if this translates into big profits or not, but it is upbeat nonetheless). Below is a video tour of Frieze. If you have never been to a gallery fair before, this pretty much captures what it is like inside [add your own comments below].

Next up is one of my favorites, SOFA Chicago. Opening night preview is November 5. This year, in addition to the exhibition of the finest contemporary sculptural objects in the world, the SOFA organizers have added some very special VIP events, exhibits and lectures. For those of you going to Chicago, keep your eyes on two of my favorites: Michael Janis and Tim Tate at the Maurine Littleton Gallery. Have your checkbook at the ready, because their work promises to go fast.

As usual, Miami in December will be as over-the-top as ever. I never know how any single person can take it all in. Even if you are not shopping for contemporary art, the trip to South Florida is still worth it – an "event" like no other.

Optimism is high – it always is. Hopefully, the reports will continue to be good, and we can all stop wringing our hands over the piss poor art market and get 2009 behind us.

Art? Not Art?

I am a big fan of public art. Anything expressing creativity and beauty that is displayed in the open air is all right with me. But I have a head scratcher...

You know when a massive tree meets its premature fate and has to be cut down; sad to see something so majestic and time worn be reduced to saw dust and firewood. Apparently, those who feel the same have found a way to keep that beloved tree "alive". They carve something out of the massive trunk that remains standing. A home in my neighborhood happens to have one these treasures in its front yard. I see it everyday. It's a squirrel. But is it art?

 

A fine piece of craft? Yes. But art? Not so much.

Now here is the head scratcher: Within this genre, I have another example – another one I drive past virtually everyday (pictured below). A few months ago, a gorgeous beech tree was victim of a powerful windstorm. The damage required the whole tree to come down. However, about eight feet of the trunk was left firmly planted in the ground. To pay homage to what that tree once was, it looks like someone has tried to make something out of it. A little carving was done. There is even some drawing on it. But I can't tell what the intent is. Is the owner just having fun with his chainsaw? Is it an abstracted form that I'm not seeing (I still see "tree stump"). Is it art? Is it craft? Is it better than my neighbor's squirrel?

Ruth Duckworth, 1919-2009

I'm sad to report the passing of modernist sculptor Ruth Duckworth at age 90. Ms. Duckworth is best known for her abstract (and not so abstract) ceramic sculptures. Her career spanned over six decades. She worked daily, and her reputation as one of the foremost sculptors in the world never waned.

Laura and I were fortunate to see her retrospective exhibit at the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery a few years ago. I can safely say that show changed the way I look at abstract sculpture. Every piece was distinctive, gorgeous and rich.

The art world will miss her.

Here is a nice CBS report on Ms. Duckworth filmed in December 2006.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

There's a new blog in town

Attention art readers: There's a new art blog in town. Second Street Gallery, Charlottesville's 36 year old not-for-profit art space has launched a blog. They call it Second Look.  Read it here. As an art space that is dedicated to bringing contemporary art to the community, I say... It's about time!

Hopefully, SSG will use its blog to consistently give the public some sneak peeks and behind the scene news (even to non-members). More importantly, the blog should provide its featured artists a much wider exposure.

I look forward to reading.

Looking back 25 years

Is a 25 year old observation still relevant? Or is it stale? You decide.

What are the arguments about right now? There are arguments about whether it is still OK to paint, to make painted images. There are arguments about the possibility of feeling. There are arguments about what images mean... There are arguments about what artists do, about what relationship they have to the works they make... Arguing about art – you hear it, read it – it is very of the moment. To decide if certain art is of the moment – or if a certain show is of the moment – decide if it is worth arguing about.

- From "Your Show of Shows,"
Gerald Marzoratti, Sept 1984

R and R

Attention Artists

This is a short lesson in how not to present your work to a gallery for representation.

On a daily basis, both Migration and artPark are approached by artists seeking representation. I thought I had seen all the crappy ways artists choose to do this. But this morning I got one that is a clear winner. It was an email – text and the three attachments are below (I am withholding the artist's name – but not identity).

Dear Galleries,

These paintings are seeking for exhibition/sales.

Thank you.

 

I trust this lesson needs no further explanation.