Date: Fri 05-Jun-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDIR

Quick Words:

Navypier

Full Text:

Art 1998 Chicago

(w/cuts) AWEB

Susan & Al Bagdade

CHICAGO, ILL. -- At Art 1998 Chicago on historic Navy Pier, held May 8 to 12,

more than 200 foreign and domestic galleries exhibited a wide variety of

artwork that primarily ranged from post-war modern masters to some of today's

most challenging and controversial artists.

Featured were approximately 2,100 artists representing the entire spectrum of

Twentieth Century art; virtually every medium -- from paintings, sculpture,

and drawings to photographs, printmaking, mixed media, and videos -- was

shown.

According to Tom Blackman of Thomas Blackman Associates, the event's producer,

"Dealers like what is happening at this show. It is a great opportunity to

learn about art, and has become the most important art show in the Americas."

Blackman related that applications nearly doubled for this sixth edition of

the show, compared to submissions from last year.

Since the Festival Hall exhibition space is limited to 165,000 square feet,

the 16-member international selection committee was forced to accept only half

of the applicants this year and had to reject 200 galleries, some of which

were previous exhibitors. There were 146 returning dealers, along with 19 new

domestic galleries and 36 new foreign exhibitors, at the show. Fifty cities

around the world were represented.

Vernissage '98, the Museum of Contemporary Art's annual spring benefit gala,

was again held on the show's opening night. Organized by the Women's Board of

the MCA, this benefit was attended by more than 2,100 people and raised

$200,000 for the museum. Vernissage is a French term for art openings, which

literally means "varnishing day," and suggests the energy and excitement that

surround the opening of a major art event.

Approximately 35,000 people attended Art 1998 Chicago. In general, sales were

quite brisk, and most gallery owners were happy at the show's conclusion.

Jonathan Novak of Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, Calif., spoke

highly of the event. "It's a terrific show, the best selection in five years.

Attendees were more interested in purchasing this year. There is a tremendous

interest in American artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney, Frank

Stella, Jasper Johns, and Sam Francis. I am very content."

In Novak's booth was Sam Francis' "Untitled(SF-345)," a lithograph edition of

50 from 1991, priced at $6,500; Francis' "Untitled(SF90-001)," an acrylic on

paper from 1990, which was $75,000; and Jasper Johns "Target with Four Faces

(ULAE 203)," a 1979 aquatint etching from an edition of 88, which was $28,000.

From New Orleans, La., representatives of Arthur Roger Gallery reported active

buying at the show's preview. The gallery had a strong focus on Southern

African-American artists, who, according to Rogers, "are getting more

interested in the visual arts and producing very distinctive works." One of

the gallery's featured artists, John Scott, had recently won an award and was

exhibiting at the fair for the first time. His mixed-media collage "It Ain't

What You Think," 1997, drew a lot of attention.

Michael Lyons Wier of Lyons Wier Gallery, Inc, reported selling portraits by

Ann Gale, and landscapes and seascapes by Louise Le Bourgeois. "We had a great

response with wonderful comments. I sold seven pictures on Friday," Gale said.

Gales' "Michael" from 1997, an oil on board, was tagged $2,200; Holly

Greenberg's "Best Curls," 1998, an acrylic on canvas, was $3,500; Louise Le

Bourgeois "Lake #991," a 1998 oil on linen, was $1,600; and Mike Lash's

"February, 1998" an enamel on board, was $3,800.

Petra Risslebea from the Galerie Haas & Fuchs, Berlin, Germany, participated

in Chicago for the first time. "I like the show, the quality is good, and

there are many people. There is a good mixture of galleries and artwork." Haas

& Fuchs specializes in modern and contemporary works; it was difficult for the

staff to decide what to bring. Robert Rauschenberg's "House Party" 1979, a

mixed media on paper that was signed, titled, and dated, was tagged $38,000.

Joan Miro's "Tete," 1968, a signed and numbered bronze, was $90,000. Works by

Chagall, Degas, Picasso, Dufy, Kandinsky, and Baselitz were also offered.

Robert Mann Gallery, New York City, sold vintage Henri Cartier-Bresson and

contemporary prints by Jeff Brouws. According to Mann, "There was

extraordinary attendance. Friday was very busy, and Saturday also lived up to

expectations. People really have no shortage of interest or cash. It has been

an extraordinary season. Photography is the chosen medium right now; many

galleries are showing photography for the first time."

Maya Polsky Gallery from Chicago has represented Ed Paschke for over a year.

Quite a few of his paintings that were in the booth were already sold, with

holds on almost everything else. Polsky also featured work by the Russian

artist Vasiliy Shulzhenko. Koshliakov, whom Polsky believes is the most

significant Russian artist to emerge from the Conceptualist tradition, lives

in Moscow. His works are extensively exhibited in Russian and European museums

and galleries. In Chicago, Polsky showed his "Moscow, Embankment" from 1998, a

mixed media on paper canvas.

A crowd always seems to form in the booth of Angela Flowers Gallery from

London, which sold a major piece by Patrick Hughes, boxing paintings by Peter

Howson, and works by Nicola Hicks. A Hicks bronze entitled "Recovered Memory"

was $50,000, and a small horse bronze was $42,000. Peter Howson's "Boxer III,"

from 1998, was $4,500.

Robert Henry Adams Fine Art from Chicago sold expensive pieces by John Storrs

as well as moderately priced inventory pieces. "I've never had a bad show

here," Adams related. Of special interest in his exhibit were three paintings

by Alexander Calder, recently acquired from the sale of another artist's

estate in New York. These works dated from about 1930, during the height of

Calder's painting career. Adams said that about 52 such Calder paintings were

influenced by Mondrian, and since they were being shown to the public for the

first time, they commanded a great deal of interest. One did sell during the

fair. Adams sold six other paintings on Friday and had to rehang his exhibit.

John Berggruen Gallery from San Francisco, Calif., reported selling a wide

variety, as did Landau Fine Art from Montreal, Canada.

Carl Hammer Gallery from Chicago related that both contemporary and outsider

artists were selling well, and the crowds were very good. "The show is so big

that people can't really see it all at one time."

From New York City, Susan Sheehan said Andy Warhol drawings and prints, as

well as Frank Stella works, were selling well.

White Cube/Jay Jopling from London sold a Damien Hirst skeleton, and related

that Mona Hatoum video installations drew a lot of interest. David Zwirner

from New York City sold an important Gerhard Richter to John McEnroe, now a

Soho gallery owner who is considering exhibiting in Chicago next year.

Nishimura Gallery from Tokyo, Japan, showed interesting sculptures by

Funakoshi Katsura, such as "The Mountain Hears the Words," 1997, of painted

camphor wood, marble, and tin, and "Mountain Breathing," 1998, of painted

camphor wood, marble, plaster cast, resin, and tin.

Two important galleries had a combined exhibit in Chicago: Leonard Hutton

Galleries from New York City and Galerie Jan Krugier, Ditesheim & Cie, from

Geneva, Switzerland. Both showed an excellent mix of modern Twentieth Century

works. All of the most important artists were represented here.

Praxis International Art from Buenos Aires, Argentina, showcased works by

Ignacio Iturria, an artist from Montevideo. His paintings and sculptures have

attracted a wide range of collectors all over the world.

Thomas McCormick Works of Art, which enjoyed its best opening night ever,

showed the larger works of Anna Kunz for the first time. "People were going

nuts over them," a representative enthused. Etchings by Diana Sudyka also sold

well.

Mimmo Paladino mixed media and bronzes were successful for Waddington

Galleries, Ltd, from London, England. Henry Moore sculptures also sold well.

Rhona Hoffman Gallery from Chicago sold two pieces by Joseph Beuys and across

the board on her other artists.