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Art Chicago 2008
Category: Arts & Entertainment Art Galleries Shopping Art Galleries Art Galleries [Edit]
Merchandise MartChicago, IL 60686
Neighborhoods: Near North Side, River North
(312) 527-4141
- Nearest Transit:
-
Merchandise Mart (Brown Line, Purple Line)
Clark/lake (subway) (Blue Line)
Clark/lake (elevated) (Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
One review for Art Chicago 2008
1 review in English
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Review from Denise P.
Chicago, IL
4/28/2008 1 photo
There's a reason this fest runs four days - there is absolutely no way you can get through it all in one. Back in 2006, the fair was supposed to be in Millennium Park but then was abruptly canceled and last minute "saved" by the Merchandise Mart. This didn't just give the fair space for NEXT, the International Antiques Fair, The Artist Project and more, but saved Chicago as a premier location for blue-chip and emerging artists to showcase their work.
Now in its third year of hosting the fairs, the mart tacked on a day to the fair, provided much needed additional space and has plentiful seating (in case you're human and can't spend seven hours straight on your feet walking the largest building in the world (in square footage). I was pleasantly surprised not just with the easy-to-navigate fair (one floor has next, one has Art Chicago, one had the artist project and antiques), but with the food selection. I'm a Northwestern Alum now living in the dirty south (with pride), where we unfortunately do not have the delicious, if not North Shore pretentious, fare of Foodstuffs (but we do have Huck's!). Foodstuffs being a perfect match for the typical clientele of an art fair such as this. I don't mean this as a bad thing - I mean it in a "having exquisite taste" way. Your typical hot dogs and chips concession stand this is not. This is gourmet sandwiches and cookies. There were also bars, and Argo Tea set up shop there. What I'm trying to say is don't eat first because they actually have snacks. Good snacks. Don't be like me and stuff your face with three bagels en route to the fest to make sure you don't have to leave to eat :)
So back to the fairs - if you like emerging artists, go to Next...and make sure you see The Walsh Gallery with its "open your heart" boob-shirt making goodness. For $25 you can get your very own T-Shirt, with a picture of your breasts on it...and they may even hang it up as art. I made a shirt...which I suppose is subversive because I'm not a huge fan of my rack. Hopefully they were. There was also a lot of work displaying color theory, which is what interests me and is the kind of artwork I create. Unfortunately, this is the only part of the fair I got to go to. If I didn't take so many days off work, I'd be back there today.
Tickets are $25 for a multi-day pass...unless you go to the credit card machines where you can choose the "Student/Senior 65+" multi-day for $15. I had my student ID in hand...that expired 6/30/06. I'm not a thief or cold-hearted...just shit broke.
Last thing...going to the fair also gives you the excuse to peek in and browse around the interior design galleries of Luxe Home. If you wish you had a bidet, a $500 showerhead or hand-made tile, then peek around here. There's also a great exhibit on the green movement and sustainable furniture on the ground floor. Skip dream homes unless your dream home looks like your great-grandmother's house. Myne does not...although my great-grandma was French, fabulous, and I'm sure had far better taste.
