Next Art Fair

NEXT Art Fair adjoins Art Chicago in the Merchandise Mart, this year a few floors above the Chicago Antiques Festival (I may misremember the exact name of this 3^rd show). All are accessed with one ticket, which can be obtained for free in advance on the web.
This is a mind-​blowing show, probably the finest art available for viewing and purchase by the Chicago public. Gallerists from around the world displayed works, in all media, from modern and contemporary artists. You will see pieces from artists just breaking out all the way up to Warhols and de Koonings.
If you’re reading Unilocal,you probably can’t afford anything here. If you are a chambermaid reading Unilocal to assist your Lady with her future social calendar, she can probably afford something. But this should discourage none of us hoi polloi from gawking and admiring. Dude: take a date. Stay for a snack or wine at the many food stations.
Make sure you see the antiques also. I most enjoyed the antique silver services (typical item: 1870s Tiffany 5-​piece tea set valued at $ 125,000). One gallerist was displaying top impressionist and old Master paintings, though the real ones were probably somewhere else — and can be yours for $ 5 million or so.
I will be back next year, and this time for two days.

This is the Contemporary/​emerging artist part of Art Chicago. I’ve been twice and I love it. So many things each year to see and discover. I have lived in SF and Boston, and both those have large-​scale open studio events which Chicago is lacking. This is the closest thing to capture that whole spirit. Though it is more like a formal convention than those other things. I recommend this 100%, especially if you can finagle a free ticket somehow.

Love Next! Simply inspiring and refreshing, Next draws out the vibrance and curiousity in all that observe. Full of funk, color, metal and creativity, the spread of ideas and theoligies go on and on. When I mean on and on, I mean it both figurtively and litterally… its huge! The Next show sprawls the eighth floor of the Merchandise Mart, a few floors below Art Chicago.
Next is part of a larger compilation of shows including Art Chicago and the International Antique Show, making up Artropolis Chicago. It features local and distant artists, galleries, performance art and organizations. I believe that the name is well suited for the show, as it is what is on the left side of now and what is next, after viewing the antiques and contemporary art of the other 2 shows.
With that said, in comparison to previous years, it seems as though Art Chicago and Next are growing greatly in similarites. Perhaps that can be attributed to more of an acceptance of what we think of as «low-​brow» art and fully beginning to understand that art is just that… art. As such, it is individual, personal and public, and drawn from energy and thought. I like to refer to it as an Avant-​garde revival. Evocatively pushing the envelope on the status quo.
Wow, so this is what I can use that degree in art history for.
Anyway, a fabulous showcase of youthful and eclectic pieces, Next is a show that should be experienced by all. Make sure to watch out for tickets next year so that you too can be inspired.

Next Art Fair for 2009 is, like Art Chicago, housed in the Merchandise Mart, though events are also occurring throughout the city.
This is more than an art fair, NEXT is a showcase for the world’s talents and an adventure in cutting-​edge culture. The showcase is promoted as a portal to seeing contemporary art in new, innovative, eye opening ways. It includes both commercial and non-​commercial art organizations — galleries, project spaces, art publications and key private contemporary collections from around the world.
Unlike Art Chicago, NEXT is a different animal… and though it was housed just 5 floors below the main event, it had a totally different look and feel.
Now I’m a fan of contemporary art, but up to a point. After viewing the classic art on the 12^th floor at the Art Chicago preview event I headed down to the 7^th floor to view the NEXT artists. First, the noise level was 10 times higher and as much energy and much younger crowd that were trying very hard to push the envelope of fashion at each and every opportunity. There was what I call «live art» where sexy young ladies went walking about the space blowing whistles and carrying baseball bats yelling something to the crowds that I couldn’t understand. When I see this type of art I think of the saying, «Different Strokes for Different folks.» Though I enjoyed a portion of this space, it was a small portion. The photography was mainly digitally manipulated images, but I think the real treat was the paintings. Some were really great works of art.
Unlike the 12^th floor where you had to pay for drinks, this floor was giving away many things to attract folks to see the art… in case you didn’t know, give aways are an indication that the art probably isn’t as good as one would like as free beer allows you to drink away your inhibitions and look at the art and say, after hiccupping, this isn’t such a bad piece of art when in fact if you were sober you’d think otherwise. In addition to free beer (bottles of Grolsch no less) ice cream and pop corn was also being handed out. I think it was the pop corn that really made me think of this event as more of a carnival atmosphere than an art show… and some art made me think is was more of a freak show than a carnival.
It was a good time and if you have time between now and May 4^th, you should try and check out is event and location.