The (Not So) Affordable Art Fair
January 22, 2012
I visited the Affordable Art Fair at LA Live and quickly found that their idea of affordable was much different from my idea of affordable. Fliers claimed that no piece was priced higher than $10,000 and most were $100. In reality I found the average price to be closer to $4,000. I realize that compared to Sotheby’s or Christie’s this might be “affordable”, but I don’t think it’s right to call this art fair affordable when you see art walks that sell art considerably cheaper.
It was interesting to see how the atmosphere is different at an event like this compared to a regular gallery or museum show, or even an art walk. Where a museum may focus on education, and a gallery show despite often selling the work still places a high emphasis on the work itself, the art fair exists for the sole reason to sell sell sell!
However my reasons for going were not to buy, but to observe. If I want to be involved in the art world in any capacity, then it is generally a good idea to know what is out there. It’s the same reason I like going to art walks, though I never go with the expectation of being wowed. But it’s good to see what kind of work artists are churning out.
Most of the work was shallow, decorative, and only sometimes interesting to look at. But I suppose that is to be expected at an art fair of this type. The type of art for sale here is the type of art that is used to “liven up” a waiting room at a dentist’s office. What was surprising was how shiny most of the work was. Photos were typically printed on glossy paper and mounted on polished plexiglass. Paintings were covered in thick layers of resin. Even glitter made several appearances. With all these artworks together under the same roof, I guess they do what it takes to “outshine” the others. Another surprising trend I noticed was the playfulness of a lot of the work. Lots of pieces involved toys in one way or another. From toy cars parked in front of fast food joints, to figurines playing a soccer match atop a piece of fruit. These actually were some of my favorites. Oddly enough there were also a lot of bunnies. One artist I talked to even said it was “kind of his thing” at the moment. There were a lot of animals in general, and one booth had paintings covered in beeswax, which was certainly different. There were a lot of figurative works, but very few abstract works.
I’m very interested in all aspects of art. From the making of art, to the viewing of art, history, and curating. So I am always very observant at events like these. One thing that caught me off guard was the low level of professionalism. When I used to help run Catalyst, we never had the best equipment, nor knowledge, not experienced “staff”, but we always made sure the shows looked as best as they could. I cannot comprehend how at an art fair it is acceptable to see scratched plexiglass, dented frames, crumpled paper, hand-written labels, and workers placing their hands all over the surface of paintings when carrying them. I don’t really consider myself a perfectionist, but that shit would simply not fly with me if I was running a gallery.
Toward the end of the night the conversation with my friends turned to whether we could see our work one day shown in this type of setting, or whether we even wanted that. Our work was really nothing like any of what we saw there. Not that it was of different quality, but just in a different category altogether. I don’t really think I make the type of art that sells. It’s hard to imagine anybody wanting to buy something I’ve made. But I can only hope that just because nobody would want one of my photographs hanging in their dining room, it does not mean that there is no worth at all to the art that I make. I’ll continue making it regardless.