As the new intern at Chicago Gallery News, I have the opportunity to post blogs about what interests me and what I also hope readers find interesting. With an hour and a half commute to and from the office twice a week, I have had a lot of time to look into what interests me. I have found the world of art consulting, or art advising, intriguing for quite some time. I am spending time every week researching different art consultancies in the city and what it means to be an art consultant. It is my hope that as I am writing these blogs and giving readers more information on art consulting I will also learn more about this career field. 

Most of my acquaintances are not especially familiar with careers in art, and the constant questions I get when mentioning my interest in art consulting are, "What does consulting mean? What does an art consultant do?" Although art consulting is not historically a new career path, it has grown much larger in recent years. In these blogs I’m going to form a basic explanation of what it means to work in art consulting and share insights from some experts as well.

I will start by answering the question: what is an art consultant? Art consultants are really liaisons between artists and buyers, helping clients build art collections. They are distinct from art dealers because they work independently, without artists that they are trying to sell to clients. Instead, consultants form their decisions on art recommendations based on the needs of their client, the buyer. Of course consultants may have a few artists with whom they may prefer to work, but they usually do not have official ties to specific artists or dealers. With this freedom, the art consultant is free to work with the buyer’s desires, whether that is to build a personal or corporate collection, decorate a new house or office, or construct investment portfolios.

I plan to expand this subject in future blog entries by offering explanations of the different demographics for art consultants, and how they comply with the differences. I will research more of the history of the art consulting career. I will then uncover the importance of an art consultant for both the artist and the art collector. I will present some examples of different art consultants in Chicago, hopefully with interviews to get more personal experiences and answers. I will look into businesses that have worked with art consultants to observe how the art consultant aided in its choices of art. Finally, I will then offer some insight on ways to begin a career as an art consultant.

Last week I had the chance to visit Paul Rinaldi's latest exhibit at Perimeter Gallery. Though tricky to find, because the exhibit is in the basement of the gallery, I am so glad the gallery directed me down the stairs to this intriguing show. Rinaldi's works at Perimeter are paintings that call for contemplation and nostalgia the moment you enter the room. The works are painted on various sized blocks of wood. The paint used is not oil or watercolor, but Rinaldi's own mixture of raw pigments, beeswax and small portions of other materials to make a thick but flexible waxy substance. Rinaldi controls the pigment in order to make the wax more opaque or more translucent, and in this he creates ethereal works, which take a hold of time and create a sacred space on the walls where they are hung. By painting certain sides of the blocks with bright colors, the blocks cast a glow on the white walls causing the blocks to hover in front of a world of thoughts and memories.

This exhibit is showing until February 23, so there is time to stop by this gallery and experience Rinaldi's work for yourself. You can see if you experience the same sense of contemplation and nostalgia as I did when I went to visit. Below, are some pictures of Rinaldi's work.

Perimeter Gallery

210 W. Superior St.

Chicago, IL 60654

(312) 266-7984

www.paulrinaldi.net

www.perimetergallery.com

There are so many ways to enjoy the holidays, when you're not rushing here and there, keeping track of to-do lists or trying to meet end-of-year deadlines. In case you have any free time, or out of town visitors, we've come up with a few highlights you should check out this season. 

• Chicago Urban Art Society is having its’ annual holiday art sale Windy City Artist Alley on Sunday, December 16 from 12-6pm. Artists, illustrators, printmakers, DIY artists, and vintage sellers will all be there to cover your last minute shopping needs. This year’s event will be located at 1664 S. Blue Island Ave. at the intersection of 18^th and Blue Island in Pilsen neighborhood. Interested vendors or artists should contact peterkepha@chicagourbanartsociety.com. Chicago Urban Art Society Chicago’s First Annual Holiday Benefit is on Wednesday, December 12, 6-11pm.  An evening of good company and good music, along with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served. A fifty dollar donation is asked to attend. A special poetry reading by Kevin Coval is sure to make this a fun, holiday evening.

The Art Institute is always a festive place to visit this time of year - don't miss the chance to gaze at the impressive lion adorned with red wreaths for the season.  While the weather is still mild, wander the museum's sculpture garden, or spend some time in sunny Millennium Park.  Also, in honor of the season, the miniature Thorne Rooms have also been decorated for the season.  Details here.

• Come experience Greek traditions with the National Hellennic Museum’s one-day fun-filled event It’s A Greek Christmas! on Saturday, December 15, 11am-5pm. Festivities include crafts, caroling, dance lessons, christopsomo, storytime, and much more. Details here.

• Bring your kids along and get creative at Lillstreet's Holiday Family Party Saturday, December 8th from 12-3pm. Bring the whole family and decorate a lovely holiday ornament with Lillstreet's ceramics department and cookies with First Slice Pie Cafe. Stop by the gallery and take a peak at the Stacey Lee Webber jewelry trunk show reception. Free. Also this weekend, Let There Be Light: Lillstreet's 37th Annual Holiday Show and Sale. Details here.

• December 6-8 you can do some holiday shopping at the 4th annual ShopColumbia market at Columbia College.  Not only is this the perfect place for holiday shopping, but you'll also meet the artists behind the work! ShopColumbia will also host themed mini-boutiques within the shop for the environmentalist, art lover, fashionista, and more. Details here.

Visit Chicagogallerynews.com all season for art news, events and openings!  Happy holidays! 

This past weekend I had a chance to check out Andrew Rafacz Gallery’s current group show Lake Effect/ Nor’easter: Part I in the West Loop. An exhibition of two parts collaboration with LAMONTAGNE, a gallery located in Boston. Each gallery will feature works represented by the other. Part II will take place at LAMONTAGNE opening in Boston on December 15. Featured artists in Part I include: Tory Fair, Jeff Perrott, Daniela Rivera and Joe Wardwell.
 
The aim of the show is to give Chicago a unique glimpse of the vitality of the work created by artists working and living in the Bay State.
 
I enjoy the idea of a two part collaborative show in different cities, functioning as a sort of artist swap, giving the other city a friendly glimpse of different work. The works themselves were lighthearted. Tory Fair’s cast resin sculptures Sculpture From Above and Pink Crate Sculpture struck me as innovative and a little strange, in an unexpected way. Fair’s palette utilizes a soft pink - a color I’m not typically drawn to - in a satisfying manner along with bright yellow and metallic silver. The way the sculptures are positioned casually on the hardwood floor instead of formally on a pedestal, adds to their contemporary air. These sculptures have a presence of being honest, and give off the idea of hope that art can connect to the viewer without being too serious.
 
Daniela Rivera’s oil paintings are arranged with some hung on the wall in a grid, and others trailing off into two stacks onto the floor. All twelve canvases are painted varying shades of green, reminiscent of summertime grass. Rivera’s paintings are easy to relate to, giving an intriguing mix of nostalgia and that refreshing, forbidden feeling of not wearing sandals in the summer while sipping on homemade lemonade.
 
Fair’s sculptures and Rivera’s paintings stood out to me in the group show. Jeff Perrott’s abstract large paintings and Joe Wardwell’s graphic paintings were both interesting, unfortunately I didn’t relate to them as much as I would have liked. Overall, the show was refreshing, contemporary, and the works were playful.
 
Be sure to check out the exhibition for yourself - the show runs until Saturday, December 22. Andrew Rafacz Gallery is located at 835 W. Washington Blvd, Chicago.

Tory Fair, Sculpture From Above, cast resin, 18” x 14” x 12”, 2012 and Tory Fair, Pink Crated Sculpture, cast aluminum and resin, 15” x 15” x 14”, photographer: Erin McGuire

Daniela Rivera, Growth, oil on canvas on panel, 24” x 24” x 2 ½ ”, 2011, photographer: Erin McGuire

Daniela Rivera, Growth, oil on canvas on panel, 24” x 24” x 2 ½ ”, 2011, photographer: Erin McGuire

This week is all about eating, but next week will be all about the holiday frenzy and plans to make before 2012 comes to a close.  For a change of pace, especially on a Monday evening, we recommend that you check out Fear No Art's The Dinner Party on Monday, November 26 at the Mayne Stage. The Dinner Party is a creation dreamed up by the ever-enthusiastic Elysabeth Alfano, who brings together a dynamic group of creatives to sit together and eat and chat while a live audience listens in and looks on. Monday's event features several of my own favorite local personalities: the witty host of NPR's "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!", Peter Sagal, will be there, along with star violinist Rachel Barton Pine - a talent I saw perform just this past Friday night at a Scottish extravaganza called the Feast of the Haggis.  Also around the table will be SNL alum, actor and screenwriter Tim Kazurinksy, and the dinner will be created by Jared Van Camp of Nellcote (I still havent' managed to get reservations there at a decent time.) There will also be wine pairings and chocolate (by Vosges!).  There's more: Lynne Jordan, of the super fabulous Lynne Jordan and the Shivers, will be the opening act (she performed at my wedding, plus I never miss a chance to see her perform at the Drake) and artist/cab driver Dmitry Samarov will be sketching live. Seriously - this is too good to miss! If you can't make it there in person (which is the best option, since you get to taste the food!) you can watch live online while the show streams at TimeOutChicago.com/dinnerparty

Bon Appetit!  And Happy Thanksgiving from CGN!  

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Join host Elysabeth Alfano at the Mayne Stage the last Monday of every month for a live filming of THE DINNER PARTY, a completely new and different kind of show. Alfano invites 3 cultural luminaries and a celebrity chef to join in food, art, wine, Twitter, performances and conversation during this 90 minute show which also streams live on the internet. Can't make the Mayne Stage? Watch THE DINNER PARTY live on TimeOutChicago.com/dinnerparty and www.FearNoART.tv and tweet in (and win prizes) to be a part of this fantastic, new multi-dimensional show.

When & What & Where: November 26th live dinner, conversation, performances at the Mayne Stage and streaming live on TimeOutChicago.com/dinnerparty and www.FearNoArt.tv

Price: $25 Buy tix to Mayne Stage including food, wine and chocolate tastings, or free on-line viewing.

Mayne Stage: Doors open at 6:30 pm. Starts at 7PM, including dinner sampling. No late seating. Post show party at the Mayne Stage's Mezz Gallery.

Streaming On-line: starts at 7:30 pm CST on FearNoART.tv and TimeOutChicago.com/dinnerparty

More Information, click on Fear No ART presents THE DINNER PARTY.