Centerstage - Chicago's Original City Guide

photo: courtesy of Max Protetch Gallery

Buckminster Fuller's fly's-eye dome is just one of many new exhibits at this year's Art Chicago show.

After such a politically charged year, Art Chicago 2009's Partisan exhibit is sure to spark a citywide reaction. The annual international fair of contemporary and modern art (held at Chicago's Merchandise Mart April 30-May 4) will use this year as a platform to explore a visual myriad of social and political issues. "We've taken a dramatic turn as a country," says Art Chicago Director of Public Relations Kasey Madden, "and this [exhibit] is reflective of things that people think need change."

If there's one thing that we can all agree needs change, it's the frail economy. But Madden and Art Chicago Vice President Tony Karmen don't think that money woes will pose a problem for potential attendees, especially fellow artists and enthusiasts. "We expect another great year," says Karmen. "Art Chicago is still a major attraction, especially for those in the art world." And as Madden points out, "Chicago offers the perfect contextual backdrop for an art fair." We do, after all, have entire city blocks devoted to some of the nation's best architecture and recreational parks. Heck, even our street art is inspiring, not to mention totally free.

You'll have to pay ($20) to get into Art Chicago, and you'd better bring a checkbook if you plan on shopping, as prices range from $500 into the millions. Those numbers might not mean much to serious art enthusiasts, but as Madden puts it, "Every purchase will be more considered and thoughtful this year."

In addition to the Partisan exhibit, Art Chicago will feature New Insight, a collection of work from graduate art programs around the country, and The Hairy Who and Imagist Legacy in Contemporary Art, which will honor the legendary, subversive Chicago movement of the 1960s. Those looking for further intellectual stimulation should explore the provocative series of panels and presentations called Art Chicago Speaks, featuring a vibrant palette of experts discussing everything from museum cutbacks to collecting outsider art. "Our speaker series has about 100 of the brightest minds in art participating in one way or another," says Madden. The full schedule is available on the Art Chicago website.

Continuing the theme of change, ARTropolis (Art Chicago's umbrella art fair) has undergone a few transformations. First, the fair is hosting fewer galleries in more open spaces, along with fewer shows. Typically, Artropolis features five different shows, but with so much art to see and so little time, that got to be a little overwhelming. This year, there will be more focus with just three shows running concurrently, including Art Chicago, NEXT (an invitational exhibit of cutting-edge art) and the 12th annual International Antiques Fair, where long-time antiques enthusiast and collector Martha Stewart will serve as keynote speaker.

Another big (and we mean big) change is the recent Buckminster Fuller installation. Both Karmen and Madden are particularly excited about the 24-foot fly's eye dome (courtesy of Max Protetch Gallery, New York), which will serve as a focal point for the fair. Madden points out that "it will be the first thing people see when they walk in." The modern structure, constructed from fiberglass sections and stainless steel bolts, will be displayed in Merchandise Mart's grand South Lobby through late June.

Fuller's work will also be represented at Art Chicago by Carl Solway Gallery from Cincinnati. The booth's exhibition, titled, "Buckminster Fuller and his Friends at Black Mountain," will feature the work of Fuller, John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Joseph Albers and Robert Rauschenberg. In all, Art Chicago will showcase work from 110 leading galleries, 42 cities and 9 different countries (Spain, Germany, England, Canada, Japan, China, Korea, India and France). It will also include pieces from world-renowned artists like Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, David Hockney and Andy Warhol.

If you've got $150 to spare, we suggest heading over to the Merchandise Mart on Thursday, April 30 (noon-3 p.m.) for a special sneak preview during Art Chicago's First Focus, benefiting the Museum of Contemporary Art. There will also be a nighttime preview (6-9 p.m.) for $40. The general and more affordable ($20 gets you into all three shows) run of the fair will take place from Friday, May 1-Monday, May 4.