Art Chicago

Art Chicago is an international contemporary art exhibition held each year in Chicago, Illinois. It is Chicago's longest-running and only remaining major contemporary art exposition. [Charles Storch and Alan G. Artner, "2 Days From Show, Art Fair in Disarray: Exhibitors Left in Dark over Weekend Expo", Chicago Tribune, Wednesday, April 26, 2006, p. 1]

History

Art Chicago was founded as an American version of the Art Basel contemporary art exposition in 1980. It was the first such in North America. [Alan G. Artner and Charles Storch, "Merchandise Mart to Buy Art Chicago", Chicago Tribune, Saturday, April 29, 2006, section 1A, p. 1] For years it was held in the long barnlike sheds on Chicago's Navy Pier. In 1989 the leaky old sparrow-infested sheds on the pier were demolished and replaced by a mall, theatres, entertainment venues and convention exhibition halls. In 1993 Thomas Blackman took over as organizer of Art Chicago.David Bernstein, "Faltering Art Fair Chills Chicago", "New York Times", July 17, 2004] During the 1990's, Art Chicago was called "the nation's leading fair of 20th-century art," [Garrett Holg, "City Focus Chicago: Industrious Evolution", "ARTnews", April 1998, p. 68] "second only to Art Basel in Switzerland in global importance." [Andrew Patner, "Chicago: Special Report: Contemporary Art", "Art & Antiques", Summer 1996, p. 55]

As the 1990s progressed, Art Chicago had troubles. The new Navy Pier buildings were cleaner and more inviting than the old ones, but the carnival atmosphere on the pier attracted an audience unused to art fairs. Robert Landau of Landau Fine Art in Montreal said of his experience in 2002, "we had more customers walking in off Navy Pier who really weren't there to see the art show. We had so many people coming in making remarks like, 'Are any of these paintings real?'" Sales decreased and major galleries pulled out. The newer "Art Basel Miami" fair surpassed Art Chicago in excitement, and drew away more galleries and important collectors.

In 2000 there were over 200 exhibitorsAndrew Herrmann and Misha Davenport, "Big Chicago Art Fair Up In the Air: Art Chicago is Set to Open Thursday But Has Money, Labor Troubles", Chicago Sun-Times, Wednesday, April 26, 2006, p. 3] ; in 2004, the last year the fair was held on Navy Pier, there were more than 150 galleries exhibiting. In 2005 Art Chicago, redubbed "Art Chicago in the Park" was held in a giant tent in Grant Park behind the Art Institute of Chicago. There were now only 94 exhibitors, several of whom were new young Chicago galleries. [ [http://www.artnet.com/magazine/reviews/cassidy/cassidy4-29-05.asp Victor Cassidy, "Art Chicago 2005", artnet.com] ]

2006 Troubles

In 2006 catastrophe struck. The fair was again planned to be in a tent in Grant Park. Construction had been visibly slow, but it was not until the evening of Tuesday, April 25 -- two days before the fair was scheduled to open -- that the news came out that Art Chicago was unprepared. There was a dispute between Blackman and the contractors, with Blackman claiming that the flooring was unacceptable and the contractors claiming bounced checks. Blackman appears to have tried to arrange quick financing, including offering to sell his business the Friday before. Embarrassingly, several international art dealers were turned away from the tent, where they had arrived to set up their exhibits. Mayor Daley, through a spokeswoman, expressed annoyance and disappointment. An attempt to quickly reorganize the fair on Navy Pier fell through. [Charles Storch and Alan G. Artner, "2 Days From Show, Art Fair in Disarray: Exhibitors Left in Dark over Weekend Expo", Chicago Tribune, Wednesday, April 26, 2006, p. 1]

On Thursday, April 27, it was announced that Art Chicago would take place on the eighth floor of the Merchandise Mart, sharing it with the "Chicago Antiques Fair" which was already scheduled. [Misha Davenport, "On With the Art Show -- At the Mart", Chicago Sun-Times, Thursday, April 27, 2006, p. 8] Although makeshift, the fair was professionally handled, and although many exhibitors expressed concern, only three out of 104 dealers dropped out. At the same time, it was announced that Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. would buy the fair from Thomas Blackman Associates. [Alan G. Artner and Charles Storch, "Merchandise Mart to Buy Art Chicago", Chicago Tribune, Saturday, April 29, 2006, section 1A, p. 1] A number of exhibitors said they were impressed at how well the fair turned out, and many preferred the new location. [Rummana Hussain, "Art Chicago 'Great Despite the Odds': Saved at Last Minute, Expo Exhibitors Call Mart Move a Success", Chicago Sun-Times, Sunday, April 30, 2006, p. 14A]

Recent Fairs

In 2007 Art Chicago's new owners brought back some of the strength of the older fair. With 132 exhibitors, it was part of a five-day art exposition, "Artropolis", which also included Bridge Art Fair Chicago 07, The Intuit Show of Folk and Outsider Art, and The Artist Project Independent Artist Exhibition + Sale . [ [http://www.artscope.net/VAREVIEWS/artchicago0507.shtml Katherine R. Lieber, "Reviews: ARTROPOLIS: Art Chicago 2007, Bridge Art Fair Chicago07, The Intuit Show of Folk and Outsider Art, The Artist Project Independent Artist Exhibition + Sale" artscope.net] ]

Art Chicago 2008 built on the success of Art Chicago 2007, with more international galleries and more favorable attention and support. [Susan Snodgrass, "Art Chicago Comeback", Art in America, April, 2008]

Notes