Chicago Rehash

Over the next few days I will be sharing some highlights, favorite artists, and experiences from NEXT Chicago. In summary, I had a great time and thought NEXT was one of the best fairs I had been to in a long while. I am biased, of course, because I had two booths there (the West Collection and Mixed Greens) and was in attendance for three days straight. I bought art, learned of a few new artists, and sat on a panel discussion about collecting art.

For starters, I must state the obvious and say that the work pictured below was my favorite. (Sorry, the pictures were taken with my phone.) It was so fun checking on it throughout the weekend and watching everyone's faces light up when they realized what was going on. Pictured here are two muscle cars that with the help of hydraulics very slowly crashed into each other - moving an inch at a time over the four day fair period. If you walked by too quickly you'd think you had seen a stationary sculpture. Jonathan Schipper is the artist and the piece is titled 'The Slow and Inevitable Death of American Muscle'. Love that!

Thursday

Friday

Saturday (Jonathan is pictured on the right with beard and beer)

Sunday

Monday

More pics of it here. Thanks to Joe and Susan at Pierogi for showing the work.

Comments

[Tom Anderson]

What would have made that exhibit great is to have placed Mr. Schitter in the middle of those two cars. We could have called it the "Slow and Inevitable Death of a Buttwad".

Mr. Schitter should take a look around and soak in the enormous continuing popularity of American Muscle from all the decades, the GROWING number of restoration supply houses, and the fact that muscle and sporting cars continue to be made with no end in sight.

But that would take some actual thinking.

[Busby SEO Test]

well it just wasting some pretty cars

[Katy]

This is great! Such an original idea and something I have never seen before. I like the underlining meaning about the "muscle" cars. The title explains it well, and the inevitable death should come soon for the manly man and his muscle car. Once again we see great art produced and a double meaning which degrades gender roles and sexism in America.

[poncho]

The hoods on those cars were worth more than the wine those Prius driving pussies were drinking! Use jap crap for "art", not classic American cars you douchebags!

[Paige]

Martin, The name of the documentary on Sal Scarpitta is ART AND RACING. You can't rent it but if you send me your address at paige@mixedgreens.com I will send you a copy. Free. It is in VHS form. Sorry.

[Jon]

What A fucking Waste! I hope this fucking fag fucking dies in a little fucking Honda! wait thats too good for him.. how about a Firefly

[HB]

What a waste.

[martin]

hi - i just clicked on your profile via art fag city, and saw that you did a documentary of scarpitta. what is the name? is that something i can rent? thanks.