Art Addict

Good art. Good cause.

Jenny Laden, Trying Fancy On, 2008, oil and gold leaf on wood, 12x19 inches

Buying at a non-profit auction can be a great way to pick up good art at under market prices. A nice selection of art is up for bid at the 5th annual BAMart Silent Auction running until this Monday, May 11. Bid online for works by 150+ artists. Some of my favorites: Carlo Ferraris, Eric Fertman, J. Fiber (Jane Fine and James Esber), Adia Millett, David Opdyke, Chris Piazza, John Rappleye, Fidel Sclavo, and Mary Temple.

Should I?

Just a quick post...while doing research on Pierogi's online Flat Files (for this post) I came across these three gems. All three artists I have collected in the past. Feeling very boudoir to me. Must have been influenced by Paddy's post on "potty themed art". 

Decisions, decisions...

Ellen Harvey, Pair of Knickers, watercolor on paper, 15x11"

Kara Hammond, Extra Abdominal Control Girdle, graphite on paper, 15x11"

Susan Graham, Insomnia (Sugar Subtletie 1), silver gelatin print, 10.5x13.5"

Pierogi - Again and Again

Peter Coe, Untitled (#6), watercolor, 9x12", estimated under $400

I have recommended Pierogi (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) to collectors for years. I recently forwarded their web address to a new collector and noticed that Pierogi's Flat Files are online and searchable. (They may have been online for a year and I am just now noticing. Forgive me.) The fact that the Flat File artists are online means you can search and take notes before you visit the Flat Files in person.  You may find something to inquire about while perusing for notes. I am especially thrilled with the search criteria. You can search by price! They have a great selection of works $400 and below. I selected $400 and clicked 'Random Selection'. There are too many great artists to list here, but in the first three random selection searches a few recognizable names appeared: Polly Apfelbaum, James Hyde, Bob and Roberta Smith, David Humphrey, Joel Adas, James Esber, Jane Fine, Ellen Harvey, Allison Shotz, Edward Del Rosario. The list goes on and on. So does the search criteria: there are over 24 Media search selections (including crayon, fabric, and marker) and over 45 Tags search selections (including erotic, kinetic, and humerous). Let the collecting begin!

Bravo Joe! Again and again!

Three Very Different Artists

I'm drawn to paper. It isn't the economy (works on paper tend to be easier on the wallet) that is attracting me to this work. it is the work itself. Here are three I like:

Julie Evans:

Her show comes down tomorrow (4/11) at Julie Saul Gallery in New York. I was completely taken by these images - and I went to the gallery not expecting a "wow" experience. They are calming. And beautiful. And skilled. She's an Ed Winkleman pick. (The images on his post are much better so check them out.) I lucked out and visited the gallery on a day when Julie (Evans) was there with family. She was lovely and spoke easily and openly about her work. If you can, get to Julie's (Saul) to see these gems before they come down. Julie Evan's blog here. 

Lesson From a Guinea Hen #3, 2008, mixed water based media and colored pencil on paper, 22x30"

Geoffrey Todd Smith:

Crazy-hurt-your-eyes art is not generally something I am drawn to. But this work is stunning and mesmerizing. And, yes, obsessed. Now showing at Western Exhibitions (until May 30) in Chicago, Geoffrey Todd Smith is a local favorite and star. You most likely will be able to check out some of his work at Western Exhibitions' both at the NEXT Fair May 1-4. 

Suicide Eye, 2008, ink and gouache on paper, 31x29"

William Powhida:

OK, so this is a very different kind of work on paper, but what the f&!#... it's Powhida! I love this guy. For real. Not just because I am worried that if I don't love him I may be immortalized in one of his "New York Enemies" Drawings. (I should be so lucky.) I really find his work smart and funny just like all of the other f*#%ers out there who do...here and here. Tonight is the opening of The Writing is on the Wall at Schroeder Romero in New York. Show runs until May 16.

Note: To understand my tone and word choices, check out Shroeder Romero's write up on the show. Brilliant!

Relational Wall (detail), 2009, watercolor, colored pencil and graphite, 44x60"

Great Group Show - Online or Off

Deborah Kass, I am Telling You I'm Not Going (diptych), 2002, gouache on paper

Schroeder Romero Gallery has done a fabulous job allowing you to see most of the works in their current show on their website. Bravo! So even if you aren't in New York, you can peruse what is hanging in their gallery. 

Why can't all galleries do this? Most already have websites. Most have images of the works or can take digital snaps of the work after they are installed. If I were able to peruse shows in other cities on the web, I know I would be collecting more art from more galleries in more cities. Prices, too, should be posted on gallery websites. Most (almost all) don't provide prices. Very curious. What's the big secret? The time has come for galleries to put tools (images, prices, shipping policies, payment plans, return policies, etc.) on their site to help broaden their collecting audience!

Anyway, check out this show - whether you are in your living room or in NYC. 

Note to Self

February 27 - April 4

Schroeder Romero Gallery

637 West 27th Street

Artists: Laura Ball, Amelia Biewald, Nancy Chunn, Dawn Clements, Mary Coble, Jennifer Dalton, Eric Heist, Laurie Hogin, Barry Hylton, Deborah Kass, David Kramer, Christina Mazzalupo, Jonathan Newman, William Powhida, Michael Schall, Guy Richards Smit, Jim Torok, Michael Waugh, Julie Weitz

Ahhhh....

Marc Johns, This drawing is not about death, 5x7, $75

Deep breath. The art fairs have come and gone in New York. So far reports are great, good, and bad. If you couldn't find what you were looking for, or perhaps were out-priced at most booths, here is a solution for your "didn't buy, couldn't buy, wouldn't buy" dilemma. Marc Johns. Quirky, original, and totally affordable (between $60-$140 for drawings, $20 for prints), these little gems will allow any collector a rosy post-purchase glow. They are a cross between Marcel Dzama and Christina Mazzalupo. (Both favorites of mine but a little pricier. If you can afford 'em, buy 'em all!) And, you know me, I'm a sucker for a nice guy and Marc is one of the nicest. 

A nice little interview here.

More affordable gems to follow in the coming weeks.

If I lived in Philadelphia...

Steven and Billy Blaise Dufala, Special Air Mission 28000, Mixed Media, 2008

Relating to the last post, as luck would have it, the grand prize winners of the WEST PRIZE have a show up now in Philadelphia at Fleisher/Ollman Gallery. Titled "Trophy" the show includes the above work. Their show proves to be an amazing confirmation of our grand prize choice. I am looking forward to seeing and collecting more and more from these two talents. 

Fleisher/Ollman Gallery

Trophy - February 27 - March 28

1616 Walnut Street, Suite 100

215.545.7562

Great review here.

Great video interview here.

The 10

Dufala Brothers, Ice Cream Truck Tank, Mixed Media, 8'x6'x13' 2007

As many of you know, last year my family launched our first annual art prize. On December 1, 2008 we announced the 10 winners. Last night we announced the $25,000 Grand Prize Winner - the Dufala Brothers.

The 10

2008 West Prize Winners

Rob Carter

Brian Cooper

Jonas Criscoe

Thomas Doyle

Dufala Brothers

Deborah Hamon

James Johnson

Georg Parthen

Ann Toebbe

Nathan Vincent

There have been some nice reviews of the Prize winners recently (Roberta and Libby's art blog, again here, Philadelphia Inquirer, City Paper, Phawker) and I am looking forward to sending all of the works to be shown at NEXT in Chicago. Before we open the prize for applicants again, I thought I would share some trivia about last year's prize:

Number of artists submitted: 3,496

Number of artworks submitted:  17,997

Countries represented: 77

(Top country count: US - 2546 artists; Israel - 199; UK - 139; Argentina - 86; Canada - 62; Germany 45)

Number of unique visitors to the website from May to December: 14,182 (that averages out to almost 70 unique visitors per day)

Art breakdown (as categorized by artists):

7,109 paintings

3,463 photographs

2,603 mixed media

2,032 sculptures

1,620 drawings

756 installations

414 videos

I am humbled by the response to our first year at this. The database grew through the public launch at NEXT in Chicago last year and then through word of mouth. We contacted schools and public arts programs and let our gallery and artist contacts know what we were up to. I am thankful for the support of the art community and because of them this prize will live on. I truly feel that now more than ever is an important time to be supporting contemporary artists.

There are a number of artists (23 to be exact) who didn't make the 10 but who I am stealthily following since discovering them through this year's prize. I am encouraging last year's artists to resubmit their work this year for consideration. (It will be extremely easy to resubmit on the website when the prize opens this year.) It was nearly impossible to choose 10 winners last year. Some of the artists I am still following may end up next year's winners. 

We will be launching the 2009 West Prize at NEXT this year. I have been spending the last few months getting to know as much as I can about some of the art communities in the countries with the most submissions last year so that this year I will be better informed about art outside of my comfort zone.  

We will have a catalog of this year's winners available by NEXT. The catalog will include interviews between an artist already in the collection and a winner. (Didier Massard interviews Georg Parthen, Leah Tinari interviews Deborah Hamon, Warren Isensee interviews Ann Toebbe, Jonathan Schipper interviews Dufala Brothers, Tracey Snelling interviews Jonas Criscoe, Peter Garfield interviews Thomas Doyle, Sarah Bridgland interviews Rob Carter, James Hyde interviews James Johnson, Ron van Der Ende interviews Brian Cooper, Don Porcella interviews Nathan Vincent).

I was able to meet all of this year's winners (except Georg Parthen) last night in Philadelphia at the Grand Prize event. Having met them all face to face now I am even more excited about their work and our relationship moving forward. They are all Grand Prize winners in my book. 

Buy

OK, so the world has bigger problems than which galleries are closing. But, it is happening and will continue to happen. And, dare I say, should have happened a long time ago in some cases. But, in times like these some of the good guys will be forced to close and that is a bummer. (example: Roebling) 

That being said, now is an odd time for me to start blogging again. About buying art. Yes, buying art. I'm not buying art right now. I'm strapped, mainly due to supporting the West Prize winners. But, I am pooling funds and hope to be buying again some time soon. Because it is important to buy right now. If you can. 

There are a few galleries showing work that is affordable and good. Here are two examples:

Eric Fertman at Susan Inglett Gallery

Through February 7 

This is a wonderfully quiet and solid show by a talented Cooper Union grad. Drawings are $200 framed. 

Drawing upon the Russian Suprematists and Philip Guston, film noir and the Sunday
comics, the work gallops through time on Olive Oyl's oversized shoes. Seamlessly mixing
high and low culture, the artist assigns equal value to Malevich as to Raymond Chandler.
Working in wood and metal, Fertman inflects these inert materials with humor and
humanity, charming both object and viewer in the process.

Things Fall Apart

curated by Joy Garnett

Winkleman Gallery

Through February 21

This group show has some really strong works on paper pinned to a wall salon style that are between $100 and $500.

...the international group of artists presented in Things Fall Apart mark precipitous global power shifts in their work while positing the darkest moments—when things fall apart—as salient points of departure for change.

1,000,000

Mary Temple, 441,500-443,500 (detail), 2003, 30"x36", pigmented ink on mylar

What does 1,000,000 look like? A favorite artist and good friend, Mary Temple, sought to answer that question with her 1,000,000 Ellipsoids body of work. From her website:

1,000,000 Ellipsoids 2001-2003

The drawing series 1,000,000 Ellipsoids is comprised of a single ellipse-like shape that I drew and counted one million times. The series includes over 400 drawings; each contains thousands of ellipsoids rendered in monochrome ink on vellum, using forms based on simple systems and consecution. The drawings are sequential: each day's work adds to the previous number of ellipsoids in the continuum toward 1,000,000.

This two-year project allowed me to build a structure by drawing the ubiquitous number as if it were an object that could be experienced empirically.

I was reminded of this body of work after discovering Sighn's ITS OK project.

From his website:

NOV2007>>ITSOK. Edition of 1 million.

Every single one is solid wood (no plywood or particle board) and is hand cut by me.
It should take me about 60 years to finish this 'limited' edition.

$20.00 each (currently) and a tree is planted for each one sold. Cool. Get a few. For those times when you really need a reminder that all is OK.