FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Press - The Merchandise Mart
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Press - The Merchandise Mart
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Press - The Merchandise Mart
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<strong>FOR</strong> <strong>IMMEDIATE</strong> <strong>RELEASE</strong><br />
MEDIA CONTACT:<br />
Kasey Madden<br />
Director of Public Relations / Art Chicago<br />
312.527.3357<br />
kmadden@artchicago.com<br />
ARTROPOLIS, A CITY-WIDE CELEBRATION OF ARTS, CULTURE & ANTIQUES<br />
MAY 1 – 4, 2009, ANCHORED BY THREE SHOWS AT THE MERCHANDISE MART<br />
CHICAGO (March 24, 2009) – Three shows running concurrently at <strong>The</strong> <strong>Merchandise</strong> <strong>Mart</strong> will anchor a city-wide<br />
celebration of arts, antiques and culture called Artropolis, May 1 – 4, 2009.<br />
ART CHICAGO ®<br />
<strong>The</strong> centerpiece of the weekend will be Art Chicago, the international fair of contemporary and modern art.<br />
Presenting a fresh-slate of exhibitions, call-out panels and 110 leading galleries from around the globe, Art Chicago<br />
2009 will be the 29 th edition of an art fair in Chicago.<br />
Presenting curators, collectors and art enthusiasts a wide-ranging survey beginning with early 20 th Century modern<br />
masters up through the freshest, most celebrated art of our times, Art Chicago includes works in an endless variety of<br />
media, including drawings, prints, sculpture, video and special installations.<br />
“With galleries from Spain, Germany, England, Canada, Japan, China, Korea, India and France exhibiting,” notes Art<br />
Chicago Vice President Tony Karman, “Art Chicago 2009 will maintain its international flavor along with highlighting<br />
extraordinary work from a strong showing of U.S. and noted Chicago galleries.”<br />
Numerous changes to Art Chicago include a concerted effort to ensure the fair experience is more focused, with fewer<br />
galleries displaying in more open spaces. <strong>The</strong> content-rich show will present an engaging and provocative series of<br />
panels and presentations called Art Chicago Speaks, featuring 100+ renowned art experts, as well as stand-alone<br />
exhibitions thoughtfully curated by some of Chicago’s brightest art minds.<br />
“Art is the subtext for every decision made for Art Chicago,” says Paul Morris, vice president of MMPI Art Shows. “To<br />
this end, Art Chicago has taken a lead position in emphasizing art education through a docent program and scheduled<br />
tours to make the exhibited work accessible to new collectors and developed exhibitions with local curators to engage<br />
experienced collectors.”<br />
For more information on Art Chicago, visit www.artchicago.com.<br />
NEXT<br />
NEXT, the critically acclaimed complement fair to Art Chicago, debuted in 2008. <strong>The</strong> invitational exhibition of<br />
emerging art includes works from both commercial and non-commercial art organizations including galleries, project<br />
spaces, art publications and key private contemporary collections from around the world.<br />
Organized by critic/curator Christian Viveros-Faune and dealer/art fair organizer Kavi Gupta, NEXT is a unique model<br />
for experiencing the best of contemporary art – carving a niche for presenting brilliant if as yet under-known work.<br />
Organized for collectors, critics, dealers, artists and enthusiasts, the fair represents the next step in innovative<br />
presentation of contemporary art. NEXT is dedicated to placing the newest developments in contemporary art in a<br />
truly global context, and will be showing galleries from Antwerp, Dublin, London, Melbourne, Tenerife, among others,<br />
as well as galleries from around the United States.<br />
<strong>The</strong> West Collection of Philadelphia, one of the nation’s premier collections of emerging art, is<br />
dedicated to championing rising talent, and will be presenting 10 promising artists, showing at the fair, with cash<br />
prizes.<br />
“NEXT will be edgy, smart-looking and responsive to the changing times,” states Christian Viveros-Faune. “We
highlight art over artifice, content rather than flash, and affordability instead of speculation.”<br />
Additional information on NEXT can be found on www.nextartfair.com.<br />
THE MERCHANDISE MART INTERNATIONAL ANTIQUES FAIR<br />
<strong>The</strong> leading exhibition of antiques and fine art in the Midwest, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Merchandise</strong> <strong>Mart</strong> International Antiques Fair<br />
returns for its 12th year and will unite more than 100 international dealers, allowing enthusiasts to shop an amazing<br />
anthology of works ranging from rare antiquities to modern design.<br />
National and international antiques and fine art dealers exhibiting in the fair will showcase the finest in 20 th Century<br />
Design, Americana, Architectural Design, Asian Art & Antiquities, Barometers, Books, Ceramics, Clocks, Decorative<br />
Arts, Folk Art, Furniture, Glass, Jewelry, Paintings, Posters, Prints, Maps, Sculpture, Silver, Textiles and Tribal Art and<br />
more.<br />
Additionally, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Merchandise</strong> <strong>Mart</strong> International Antiques Fair is proud to announce business magnate and founder of<br />
<strong>Mart</strong>ha Stewart Living Omnimedia, <strong>Mart</strong>ha Stewart, as their keynote speaker. Stewart will present at 10 a.m. on May<br />
1.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> Fair offers collectors extraordinary finds from the past and the opportunities to learn what makes each object<br />
unique and to fill their home with design of a greater meaning,” says Lisa Simonian, vice president of marketing at<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Merchandise</strong> <strong>Mart</strong>. “With first-class events and an outstanding lecture series, the Fair offers something for<br />
everybody.”<br />
Further information on Antiques Fair can be found at www.merchandisemartantiques.com.<br />
City-wide Celebration / Artropolis<br />
“When resurrecting Art Chicago in 2006,” explains <strong>Merchandise</strong> <strong>Mart</strong> Vice President Mark Falanga, “it was important<br />
for us to get the input of Chicago gallerists, business, civic and cultural leaders. <strong>The</strong>y resoundingly recommended we<br />
invite and foster the participation of Chicago’s great cultural institutions. This has added tremendous dimension to<br />
the entire experience.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> number of institutions and their involvement has grown; in 2009, 85 cross-discipline cultural organizations<br />
throughout the city will participate in Artropolis. From the MCA, the Art Institute, Hyde Park Art Center to dance<br />
troupes, organizations are banding together to make this an extraordinary weekend.<br />
A sampling of other Cultural Partners include:<br />
- <strong>The</strong> Museum of Contemporary Photography - Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies<br />
- Art Dealers Association of Chicago - Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park<br />
- Millennium Park - Gene Siskel Film Center<br />
- Goodman <strong>The</strong>atre - Second City<br />
- Chicago Children’s Museum - Hubbard Street Dance<br />
“This is a city with a spirited commitment to art and architecture,” states Chris Kennedy, president of <strong>Merchandise</strong><br />
<strong>Mart</strong> Properties, Inc. (MMPI). “<strong>The</strong> cultural institutions have lent us their expertise and their participation. Chicago is,<br />
without question, a destination city May 1 - 4.”<br />
ART CHICAGO FAIR HOURS<br />
Opening Preview: April 30, 2009<br />
Noon – 3 pm First Focus, providing sneak peek at Art Chicago. All proceeds benefit the<br />
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased by visiting<br />
www.mcachicago.org/firstfocus<br />
3-6pm: Art Chicago Professional Preview By invitation<br />
6-9pm: Art Chicago Opening Preview<br />
Benefiting the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased<br />
on-site, or by visiting artchicago.com.
General Run of Fair, May 1 – 4, 2009<br />
Times: Friday, May 1, 11am - 7pm<br />
Saturday, May 2, 11am - 7pm<br />
Sunday, May 3, 11am - 6pm<br />
Monday, May 4, 11am - 4pm<br />
Location: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Merchandise</strong> <strong>Mart</strong>, 12 th Floor<br />
Information: www.artchicago.com or 312.527.3701<br />
NEXT FAIR HOURS<br />
Opening Preview: April 30, 2009<br />
5 - 7pm NEXT Professional Preview By invitation<br />
7 – 10pm NEXT Opening Preview By invitation<br />
Times: Friday, May 1, 11 am – 7 pm<br />
Saturday, May 2, 11 am – 7 pm<br />
Sunday, May 3, 11 am – 6 pm<br />
Monday, May 4, 11 am – 4 pm<br />
Location: <strong>Merchandise</strong> <strong>Mart</strong>, Chicago, 7 th Floor<br />
MERCHANDISE MART INTERNATIONAL ANTIQUES FAIR HOURS<br />
Preview Night: April 30, 2009<br />
6 – 9 pm Benefit for the Women’s Board of the Rehabilitation Institute<br />
of Chicago (RIC). Ticket information will be available at<br />
www.merchandisemartantiques.com.<br />
Times: Friday, May 1, 11 am – 7 pm<br />
Saturday, May 2, 11 am – 7 pm<br />
Sunday, May 3, 11 am – 6 pm<br />
Monday, May 4, 11 am – 3 pm<br />
Location: <strong>Merchandise</strong> <strong>Mart</strong>, Chicago, 8 th Floor