Art Chicago, My Art Opening and That Which Feeds Us . . .

I attended this year’s somewhat controversial Art Chicago which was held at the Merchandise Mart. There was concern that this thing would never find a space but at the last minute the MM became available. Personally, I think if this show happened in another city like New York, things would go much smoother. Chicago is just not a big art town. Surely, there are exceptions and with technology being what it is, artists are free to go anywhere but I still think the average Chicago Joe just doesn’t get art. People (Ok, some people) here think that because it’s something you love to do that you should just do it for free or for a very nominal fee.

Art Chicago had some memorable work from the Julie Baker Gallery in Nevada City, CA. A very unique installation featuring cartoonish looking sculptures of characters representing each letter of the alphabet with a name for various people who died during 911. Such as "A" is for Albert who grabbed his co-workers hand and jumped from the 50th floor. Very powerful work.

I’ve been going to Art Chicago for years. I prefer it at Navy Pier but whatever. Maybe I’m getting old and jaded but I remembering thinking years ago that you needed a week to get through all the work. Every year it seems like a little less. This year I was done in a few hours, could be that there were simply less exhibitors due to all the problems organizing this thing. Actually, I’m more into SOFA (sculpture and objects of art). It is just less bull, more fun and less attitude. I wouldn’t mind getting into objects of art somehow. I haven’t figured out the "how".

My opening was Sunday night at the Bleeding Heart Bakery. The weather sucked—cold rainy and windy but I had some good support. I sold two works—one to my friend Helen and another to the very talented owner, Michelle Garcia. There was champagne and truffles. Everyone had a great time and it warmed my heart. If I could eat wheat and dairy, I would have a field day but hey I still managed to get my hands on some yummy soup and granola. Speaking of food, next month I begin my raw food detox. For a month I will be eating only raw vegan foods and taking herbs to gently (at least that is what they tell me) cleanse my colon. I’m actually looking forward to it. Although, socially it will be difficult because sometimes warm weather brings people out, people who want to have margaritas and cooked food. Then again May is a good month to do this sort of thing, not too warm yet not in the middle of winter = burr! I can still go to raw restaurants and have salads nearly anywhere. I’m curious how this cleanse will change me. I eat about 75% raw now, I probably have about 4 cooked meals a week. I’ve got plenty of raw nuts and hemp protein powder for the month ahead. Some people do go through radical changes during a cleanse. I don’t want to lose weight but I would like to relive sinus trouble and some digestion issues (I will spare the details).