October 2005
The Cottelston Bulletin
Michael S. Sellinger
Art fairs in October jumpstart the contemporary art world’s fall selling cycle. From Art Forum Berlin at the beginning of the month through Art Cologne at the end, there are fairs every week. In addition to the major ones, such as the Frieze Art Fair, there are concurrent events such as -scopeLondon.
Market estimates for contemporary art sales, at fairs and auction houses, are a record breaking $500 million, for 2005. The sheer amount of work being made, shown and sold to support the increasing number of galleries and art fairs, has changed the art world substantially in the last years. The proliferation of new work, along with the growing number of works sold at the auction houses, indicates that there is a steady and strong demand. While the demand grows, one cannot but wonder whether the quality is affected, and if so, how does one navigate the market? Also, is this growing demand for art the cause of the market obsession with emerging art? These and other questions will be addressed at various panels I will be part of, in the next few weeks.
In NYC, on October 15th, is the panel Selective Affinities, a discussion about current trends and gender in the emerging art world. Other panelist include: curators Anat Ebgi, Lea Rekow, and Lilly Wei; artists Phong Bui and Carla Gannis; and writer Brian Sholis. This panel is in conjunction with the group exhibition Multiple Partners.
In London, on October 22nd, I will be moderating a panel titled Teach your Children Well: Art & Education. The panel will address current trends in arts education and the impact on society. The panelist include: Henrietta Hine, schools programmer, Whitechapel Art Gallery; Jens Hoffman, ICA; and Amanda Levete, Future Systems.
The following day, on October 23rd, I will be moderating the panel Should I Stay or Should I Go: Art Schools & the Marketplace. In recent years there has been a noticeable trend in the market place towards emerging art. The panel will address the markets infatuation with youth. Panelist include: Leslie Forbes, author & broadcaster; Sarah Thornton, sociologist of art; and Suhail Malik, writer & professor, Goldsmith’s College.
These panels will bring together a diverse and distinguished group of art professionals, artists, curators, critics, and collectors. I hope you will join us.
Michael S. Sellinger
- Saturday October 15 th - 4pm Selective Affinities at Pablo’s Birthday 84 Franklin St, NYC (between Church and Broadway)
- Saturday October 22nd - 4pm Teach your Children Well: Art & Education at -scopeLondon St Martins Lane Hotel, 45 St. Martins Lane, London WC2N 4HX
- Sunday October 23rd - 4pm Should I Stay or Should I Go: Art Schools & the Marketplace at -scopeLondon St Martins Lane Hotel, 45 St. Martins Lane, London WC2N 4HX