The Fair CHAPTER 3

"with young artists, you find the greatest purity. When you buy from the first or second show, you're inside the confidence-building, the identity-building of an artist. Its not just about buying a piece. It's about buying into someone's life and where they are going with it."

I enjoyed this comment because it showed that a work of art is more then just a product you can buy at a store. I think this is especially true of new artists, they haven't been corrupted by commercial influences. I feel that when artists first emerge they are somewhat naive to what goes on thus they are making art for the sake of making art.

"There are no prices or red dots on the wall. Such an overt gesture at commerce is considered tacky. Moreover, a prospective buyer's query about cost is, according to Scott Wright, "an opportunity for engagement."

The fair differs greatly from the auction. There are many more factors that contribute to selling a painting at the fair then at the auction. The dealers are able to manipulate the buyer, and choose who they think the painting is best suited for. They also can spur competition between buyers like in the auction. In short the purchasing of paintings is much more intimate then the auction. You don't just put a price on a painting, then have someone say ok ill buy that one here is the money.

"The art world has no rules," he explains. "so i attribute the longevity of the gallery to the fact that i wrote my own."

"the art fair is no place for an artist." One of Baldessari's oft-repeated jokes is that an artist entering an art fair is like a teenager barging into his parents' bedroom while they're having sex.

I thought Baldessari's comment was funny. It is quite apparent from the reading the fair is not a place for an artist. Although it does show how an artist's carreer is very relant upon business, and that it is not all about making art in your studio. There are many other outside factors that go into being a succesful artist.

"you can't use money as an index of quality. That is a fallacy. That will drive you crazy!"

If you are making art purely as means to make money then you are not a real artist.

"If they are any good, they make art because they have to," he says. "they don't do it to please the market."

This relates to my previous quote in that her it shows that at some point an artist may be forced to make art to maintain his practice, but that is the sole purpose. They do not make commercially driven art to please the market.