While Tom Blackman and the good people at the Chicago Merchandise Mart have managed to salvage Art Chicago, Michael Workman and the gang at the NOVA Art Fair have been making busy as usual. We at Sharkforum think that shows like NOVA are exactly what the Chicago scene is in need of - spirited advocates who are prepared to help others and themselves as well.
We'll wait for the dust to settle on this week's controversy, but the smell of change is in the water. Regardless of all the competing views about museums, galleries, shows, academies and artists, one thing is certain - the Chicago art community had better find a way to move forward and institute some real change.
There's been a lot of talk around these parts lately, much of it heated, regarding the nature of our "problem." Many feel that the "tastemakers" are overtly doctrinaire and self-serving, while others feel that the problem is excessive dissent and rancorous in-fighting between people who have more to gain from cooperation and collaboration.
My personal feeling is that there's likely a smidge of truth in both, and the problem is greater than both of these positions. As always it's clear that artists need to take back art, need to take an active role in their career, and need to take some responsibility for our current condition. Additionally, it's becoming increasingly obvious that dealers had better realize that things are much different than they were in the late 80's. The advent of the web, in addition to the fact that we no longer enjoy a centralized gallery district have provided powerful opportunity and daunting challenge.
The Chicago scene seems to have become top-heavy, ponderous and brittle. And while we fight for the remaining deck chairs on the Titanic we're all going to be chillin' in Davey Jones' Locker if we don't get some movement happening.
So go to the fairs, enjoy the art - and remember that art is basically Soylent Green - people.
Leave a comment