We know, we know. A couple of hours gawking at paintings goes a long way toward fulfilling your cultural quota. You’re a busy lad or lass; standing around making smart small talk about some dead guy’s brushstrokes just doesn’t sound like your kind of Friday night. Or does it?
Sure, there’ll be a few blue hairs stalking the antiques aisle, but the three big art fairs blowing into town this week also offer some serious parties. Show up and show off your art knowledge, and who knows who you’ll impress–perhaps that saucy hottie inspecting the Hoppers?
And if you’d like to keep the creative juices flowing after the shows, we’ve got suggestions for spots where you can sign up to make some art of your own.
Nova Young Art Fair
10 p.m.-2 a.m. Tuesday. Noon-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Noon-6 p.m. Sunday. 840-850 W. Washington Blvd. 312-421-2227
Perhaps the hottest art show on the night life set’s radar, the first-ever Nova Young Art Fair debuts this week with a mission of supporting young and emerging artists and galleries. That means less highbrow, big-wallet collectors and more twentysomethings supporting their pals. About two-thirds of participating exhibitors hail from our fair city, so it’s a great intro (or refresher, for the more art-educated) to the young Chicago art scene.
What to browse: In addition to 30 participating galleries and hundreds of works on display, Nova includes a performance area that’ll host bands, video screenings and a special Sunday pancake brunch, at which artists will make and brand pancakes for onlookers. Also look for Art Institute grad and performance artist Joseph Ravens, who’ll seal himself inside an inflatable bubble.
Don’t miss: Tuesday’s opening-night reception from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. $10.
Feel inspired? Sign up for a one-day screenprinting workshop at Chicago Printmakers Collaborative (4642 N. Western Ave. 773-293-2070).
Chicago Contemporary and Classic
Noon-8 p.m. Friday- Sunday. Noon-6 p.m. Monday. Free-$15. Navy Pier Festival Hall, 600 E. Grand Ave. 312-447-0430
Also new on the art front this spring is this show, featuring around 1,500 works from 100 participating galleries. Unlike Nova, CC&C’s angled a bit more for the serious collector; there’ll be plenty of contemporary and modern paintings to ogle, as well as a chunk of space dedicated to European masterpieces and antiques. That might not sound thrilling, until you consider the romance opportunities of a little old-world atmosphere.
What to browse: Check out the Foley Gallery (New York), Galerie Bernd A. Lausber (Dusseldorf, Germany) and Carol Jazzar (Miami) exhibit spaces.
Don’t miss: CC&C is one of Nova’s co-sponsors, and the two shows are jointly hosting a Garage Party at 10 p.m. Friday. $5. 850 W. Washington Blvd.
Feel inspired? Try your hand at a Palette & Chisel life-drawing class (1012 N. Dearborn St. 312-642-4400).
Art Chicago in the Park
Noon-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Noon-6 p.m. Sunday-Monday. Free-$35. Butler Field, 100 S. Lake Shore Drive. 312-938-3838
Unlike newbies Nova and CC&C, Art Chicago’s been on the scene for the past 12 years, though 2005 marks a new location: a 125,000-square foot tent in Butler Field. Considered one of the nation’s foremost mingling grounds for serious collectors and fancy-pants galleries, this year’s show includes more than 100 participat-ing galleries, 2,000 artists, and 5,000 to 6,000 modern and contemporary works.
What to browse: The show does offer a couple of art-gazing opps for the non-millionaire club crowd. Two of Art Chicago’s subsections, the International Invitational and the Stray Show, focus on young and emerging artists from the U.S. and abroad. Look for Chicago’s Lisa Boyle Gallery, Milwaukee’s Lucky Star Studio and photography from Los Angeles’ Apex Fine Art.
Don’t miss: Tuesday’s opening-night preview party from 7 to 10 p.m. $25. Cash bar.
Feel inspired? Photography’s an easy entry into artmaking; sign up for an intro class at the Chicago Photography Center (3301 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-549-1631).
