ART Punctuate!

Affordable Art Fair: VIP Style

Art & Art Fairs

 

It's the first week of spring, and it's a nasty rainy day here in NYC. But,  I received a nice little pick-me-up in my email box this morning!  The Arteria Gallery sent me an invitation for two free VIP tickets to the annual Spring Affordable Art Fair  (AAFNYC) which will be held from May 5- May 8. I really don't know yet what kind of VIP treatment I'll be getting with these tickets, but I do know that the tickets will be arriving by "post" from Arteria's gallery in Canada. And as my accompanying blog Good Mail illustrates, I am a sucker for fun stuff that comes signed, sealed and posted marked through the US Mail System. That alone is enough for me. It really is just the "little things" sometimes.

Last Fall's AAFNYC was filled with inspiring new artists. I  stayed all day and still couldn't soak up all there was to see. Several galleries across the country were represented and many internationally as well. A stand-out favorite artist of mine was a gentleman named, Nick Papadakis who saw me engrossed in one of his paintings and came over to talk to me.

During our conversation, Nick's enthusiasm for his work and his self-awareness in terms of understanding what propells him to create was fascinating.  Nick explained to me a technique he calls "Erosion Painting," which he discovered by happenstance while trying to solve a separate artistic dilemma. This is a process by which paint is placed on a substrate surface and then removed from the surface instead of added to it. I was so intrigued by his style and interested in his process that I asked if I could interview him at his studio. He agreed and invited me to a beautiful estate just outside of New York City where he works out of a charming big red barn. 

In an upcoming post, I will share this artist studio visit. 

 Nick Papakakis at Affordable Art Fair NYC Fall 2010

 

Nick Papadakis in Studio

 

Nick Papadakis' Studio Barn

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 Highlights from 2010 Fall Affordable Art Fair 

At the time that I attended the 2010 Fall Affordable Art Fair, Art Punctuate! was still an idea germinating in my creative and ambitious mind. But of course, I took pictures and spoke to artists, a few of whom I now follow. Here is a montage of some of the great work that appeared at the Fall Fair.  

 

How Wonderfully Bazaar!

Art & Gallery Shows

theartbazaar.com

As promised, I am reporting back on the "goings-ons" over at The Art Bazaar. I tried to drag my friend Sherry with me to the gallery, but she feigned having to work on some special project...something to do with her wanting to advance her career or something silly like that.

Anyway, it was just as well that I went alone because I got a chance to stay awhile and managed to have a great conversation with the gallery's co-owner and one of the exhibiting artists. Let me tell you, if there is one thing an emerging artist could get excited about in this dreg of an economy, The Art Bazaar is definitely it. 

The Art Bazaar is a space managed by gallerist Michael Lyons Wier. Fourteen artists were selected on a first come, first served basis by The Art Bazaar to showcase their works in this bright and open space on a high traffic Chelsea corner.  The exhibitors paid a fee of $250 to participate and from what I could tell, received an excellent platform for exhibiting works and drawing an audience in a very respectable and professional space.

Cassandra

 

Tobias Batz , Damon Pablo , Melissa Silverman

The most impressive thing about the Art Bazaar is that according to them, they do not do any preliminary screening. None. It is completely on a first come, first served basis. That essentially means that, well, "they get is what they get."  My mind couldn't help but question if  The Art Bazaar is ever concerned that they will wind up with bad stick figure drawings scribbled in cheap finger paint or, in essence, "bad art." But Ms. Deanne Shashoua, the The Art Bazaar's Co-Founder/Director and also wife of gallery owner Michael Lyons-Wier, suggests that the process of giving all artists the fair chance to exhibit adds and element of freshness, excitement and surprise. That fact that they don't know what they will get is part of the appeal, in this "democratically curated" show.  It just so happens that the “pluck of the draw” in this year’s crop of participants appear to be a nice mix of styles, techniques, mediums and expressions; balanced nicely within the space.  A stand out favorite of mine is Yeji Jun, whose paintings are displayed in an installation of small canvases featuring abstract designs along with whimsical sayings and platitudes. 

  Oscar Dotter 

 

Yeji Jun

 

John Kneapler

I speculate to Ms. Shashoua, that in order to apply to The Art Bazaar, most artists must already have  self-confidence that they are good enough to cut the mustard at an NYC gallery, because after all no one wants to embarrass themselves, right? Ms. Shoshoua interjects and counters that in fact many artists are still finding their voice, exposing their work for the first time and observing the audience's response---and the Art Bazaar is a good place to help them in that process.  She says that the event is also a place for established artists to test out a new medium or technique on an audience. 

The Art Bazaar's event was first organized in 2009, out of the gallery's desire to make good use of the slow gallery season. It was a huge success coming right out of the gate. Ms. Shashoua says that the first time the event was advertised they received a line of artists that wrapped around the corner. Now, potential participates must apply online. To-date, they have sold $100,000 worth of artist's work. 

One of the participating artists, Edward Eichel, stops by to take some photos of his work. He is a well travelled artist for over 30 years, full of life experience and art tales. He and I get into an interesting conversation about science, agriculture, traveling ...and of course, his artwork. His portion of the exhibit features English Bulldogs drawn in black ink. The Art Bazaar for him it seems, is a way to keep his creative juices flowing. 

Any artist who is interested in getting their work out there for the first time, or keeping their creativity fresh should get to know The Art Bazaar. Right now, the gallery is transitioning into its next exhibit, this time for photographers.  From March 15-27, they will be holding the Photo Bazaar. The exhibit is held alongside AIPAD Photography Show (The Association of International Photography Art Dealers).

 

 

Abstract Art: Man or Monkey Made?

Art & Contemplation

If you think most people can't tell the difference between a painting made by a chimpanzee and one made by an abstract artist, the New York Times says, think again. A recent article posted on the NYT Arts Beat Blog claims that when asked to choose between two paintings, one made by a child or primate and another made by an adult abstract artist, most people still prefer the artist. 

I can't say that I was shocked by this apparent "discovery". However, upon doing some further research on this topic, it became evident to me that our primate cousins are not that far off from us  in terms of their artistic aptitude...at least not in the abstract sense. Let's take a look....

The top painting belongs to Cy Twombly, a renowned abstract artist of the 20th century whose work I happen to respect and enjoy. The latter painting was made in the 1950's by a chimpanzee artist named Congo. Congo picked up the brush at two years old and learned to draw and paint. By the age of four, he had become the prolific painter of over 400 pieces of work.

 I don't know folks...you decide. 

(Learn more about Congo, the chimpanzee artist  and other monkey art. )

Cy Twombly: Quattro stagioni,Part I: Primavera, 1993-94

 

 

A painting by "Congo"