Mostly I went to the Chicago Expo, which was both impressive and thought provoking for me. As a spectator I was overwhelmed by the thousands of art pieces as well as the important looking gallery representatives. It was crazy to witness the large transactions of art between such diverse galleries and people. I almost felt inadequate because I did not have a foreign accent, spiffy clothes, or the ability to afford anything there.
The fact that I was a poor college student, however, did not prevent me from feeling like a kid in a candy store. It was hard not to be inspired by all the creative pieces or excited by the recognition of work from familiar artists. It is amazing how art can communicate so well through different cultures and those of different economic levels. I was disappointed, however, by the fact that there was hardly any metals work to be seen. I realize that 2-dimensional art sells better, but I feel like the chance to see international metal work was greatly neglected. Maybe that is just my biased opinion.....
Witnessing the Expo also made me wonder how the value of art is determined. Is it by the artist's skill, their name, or by the gallery's name? Do artists need a gallery representative in order to become credible? Some of the pieces, in my opinion, needed a good explanation as to why they were worth thousands of dollars. As an art educator, how could I explain to my students the commerce behind art? I have definitely realized that there is much to learn about the world of art dealers.
Overall the Expo was a beneficial experience. Being exposed to the representation and dealing of art gave me a behind the scenes perspective to galleries or museums. It would be interesting to learn the stories behind the art that hangs on public walls. Why was it chosen to be there? Where was it purchased? What relationships exist behind the piece? I left Chicago with more questions than answers, but sometimes the questions themselves are more influential.
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