August can be a slow month in the art world, gallerists go on vacation or wrap up group shows, museums are filled with tourists but save their blockbusters for later in the year, and art fairs take a brief break.  Well, that doesn't mean that things are quiet at all. This month in particular there's been quite a bit of buzz on a variety of topics. Highlights are listed below. 

• The Bizarre Peter Doig Trial Involving a Chicago Art Dealer

Yes, this really happened - a Chicago dealer and a former corrections officer from Canada tried to say a Scottish artist's work was actually his, even though he said, over and over and over, that it wasn't... Read the details here from the Chicago Sun Times and Artnet.com

• The Bizarre Case of an Art Switcheroo and Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin fell in love with a '90s painting by Ross Bleckner, so famed dealer Mary Boone got him what he wanted - or as it turns out, not quite. Read the NYTimes story here. 

• Leslie Hindman has Real Estate Fever

Haven't you heard that the West Loop is on fire? Everyone, from meat packers to fish markets to parking lot owners, is selling space for big bucks as developers take whatever they can find to build highrise condos and rentals. Hindman may get to build a new state of the art facility if the sale nets a high result. Read the Crain's story here.

• Cleveland Gets a Triennial

Art will be hot in Cleveland in 2018 when “An American City,” will take place July 7 through Sept. 30, 2018. Over 50 international artists are expected to participate, under the dual leadership of Chicago artist Michelle Grabner and Jens Hoffmann of New York's Jewish Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. Read the NYTimes story here. 

CGN follows more art world news on Twitter @ChiGalleryNews

Top image, from Left: art by Ross Bleckner, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Peter DoigSaveSave

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