Palm Springs Fine Art Fair: Part 3, Fun Moments

Cara Barer Lilac 7/9

Looking up and down the aisles at all the booths this image caught my eye. From a distance I thought this might be an abstracted flower. Close up I realized it's a book.

Can you read it? I think it says, "something off down the hall through the cracked door" and then, "I think I already tried the obvious response".  Could it be Infinite Jest, by David Foster Wallace?

Above, that's not a sculpture, it's an actual person. This helicopter installation, called Ride-em-Copter by California Artist Steve Maloney, quiet through most of the weekend, made one or two, odd and yet loud, trumpeting blasts on the last day. Someone quipped, "Something must have sold!"

Many dogs came by. I thought this one matched Susie McKay Krieser's outfit, so I took their picture. She is a therapy dog and her name is Kaper.

In case you're wondering, she's a long haired whippet.

Susie returned the favor and managed to take a shot with both of us looking at the camera.

I took some time out to run over to the Palm Springs Art Museum and see the Diebenkorn exhibition. It was a nice perk they gave that allowed me to flash my exhibitor's pass and get in free. I thought it might be quieter there than the fair, and it was, but it was almost as crowded, which is to be expected on the last weekend of such a stellar exhibition.

Back at the Fair it was wonderful to visit with friends that came by, including Kathryn Hansen. Her boyfriend took one of my favorite photos - you can see it on Kathryn's blog here.

And then, it's a wrap! Within an hour of the closing time, most of the walls were bare and much of it already loaded up and on the way out of town.

Palm Springs Fine Art Fair 2014: Part 2, Home Tour

The day after delivery and installation of the artwork we were treated to home tours, visiting the homes to see the collections of Donna MacMillan and Justin Baldwin. 

If I had to summarize the collection of art at the MacMillan residence with two words I'd say it was whimsical and full of light. 

The house contained the largest collection of Dale Chihuly glass work I've ever seen together at one time. 

   

Everywhere I looked there was something witty or intriguing. 

The home of Justin Baldwin also filled to the brim with art, had a different feeling. Much of the interior felt solid and grounded, balanced by the airy and spacious views.

The view from the back can be seen through floor to ceiling windows. Sculptures reflect on each side of the pool. 

Part three and final installment of images from the 2014 Palm Springs Fine Art Fair will follow soon.

Palm Springs Fine Art Fair 2014 Photos: Setting Up and Reception

This past weekend was the 2014 Palm Springs Fine Art Fair and below are images of some of the fun as it unfolded.

Wednesday's hustle and bustle below, as artwork is arriving and finding it's place along the walls. This view is looking across the aisle at Gerald Peters Gallery (Santa Fe). Some pieces are already up, the Cynthia Corbett Gallery (London) next door unpacking, the Chopper in the center still wrapped and veiled.

The helpful art fair staff coming with a ladder for some last minute lighting adjustments.

Our booth - Izen Miller Gallery, Palm Desert - with the artwork installed. I felt very pleased and honored to be showing with such high caliber artists as Susie McKay Krieser, Harry James Moody, and works by Sam Francis, Andy Warhol, Jean Tinguely, and Carlos Almaraz.

I had to laugh when I saw the Marc Sijan sculpture below - akin to the one last year that I said good morning to each day. This one too is impervious to pleasantries; nevertheless he provided a sense of "security."

As the reception is just beginning, an obligatory before the artwork pose. Glad we remembered to shoot one this year. 

The opening reception in full swing. This photo is borrowed from the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair Facebook page. I added a red arrow pointing to our booth.

More images and moments from the 2014 Palm Springs Fine Art Fair to follow soon.

Chasing Clouds

Cloud Chasing ©2014 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 30 x 40 inches

 "Your hopes, dreams and aspirations are legitimate. They are trying to take you airborne, above the clouds, above the storms, if you only let them." -William James

This is one more of the selection of paintings going to Palm Springs this week for the 3rd annual Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, taking place this coming Presidents' Day weekend. There is still time to email me for a free pass, if you act today.

Fog Lifting

Fog Lifting ©2014 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 30 x 40 inches

“Under the thinning fog the surf curled and creamed, almost without sound, like a thought trying to form itself on the edge of consciousness.” ― Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep

Here's another of the paintings going to Palm Springs next week for the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair. Come see the work in person if you'd like. The 3rd annual Palm Springs Fine Art Fair is this Presidents' Day weekend. For a free pass. email me, or sign up for my newsletter.

Billowing Clouds Go By and By

Billowing Clouds Go By and By ©2014 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 16 x 20 inches

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky." Rabindranath Tagore

This is one of the paintings that I'm planing to take to the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair in February. If you're in the area and you'd like to come to the Fair and see it in person let me know. Email me, or sign up for my newsletter..

Palm Springs Fine Art Fair 2014

I'm pleased to once again be participating in the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, which takes place President's Day weekend at the convention center in Palm Springs, CA. Full details below. I can send a limited number of complimentary passes to newsletter subscribers. Please sign up here.

IZEN MILLER GALLERY

Booth 210

PALM SPRINGS FINE ART FAIR

Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, CA 92262

V.I.P. Opening Preview Party

Thursday, Feb 13, 7 - 9:30 PM

(Requires pass)    

             

Friday, February 14, 11 AM - 8 PM  

 Saturday, February 15, 11 AM - 8 PM 

 Sunday, Feb 16, 11 AM - 6 PM

www.palmspringsfineartfair.com

Fairing Well: What I Learned, What I Would Do Differently, What I Would Do the Same

All booths are good, all wall space is good – the first piece that sold from our booth was hung in a back side aisle right next to an emergency exit.

 I would bring less work, hang less work; I'm not sure that the works placed higher – above 6 feet - could be seen very well.

 I'd plan a more open booth, use a smaller table, allow more room for people to come in with smaller or no returns on the sides, smaller or no middle wall. Again, the easier it is for people to see the work, the better.

 Norman Zammitt, North Wall, 1976 

Acrylic on canvas, 96 x 168 inches, Installation view

 

Kate Breakey, Las Sombras Series 

 Bright colors sold first. Overall most of the work I saw everywhere was big bold bright. Very few quiet, subtle pieces – they were there, but few, or maybe just difficult to notice.

 Professional art handlers and installers were a godsend, although expensive - but worth it. Would I use this option again, or do it all myself? I don't know....

 Bring only work that can fit in my vehicle – I had one over sized piece and was always aware that it is expensive and time consuming to hire a truck to deliver or one must depend on favors from very busy and often asked busy friends with trucks. That’s partly why I work more these days on triptychs and other modular art. I did manage to fit 23 paintings into my car including, 3 triptychs and a modular piece, one of which is over 10 feet wide installed, of course about half were small to medium sized work.

 Make more use of the provided storage area and of viewing rooms to show work that isn't on the wall. The storage provided was ample and it was pretty easy to grab pieces from storage to show. I can also see possibilities for changing work out every few hours.

 Labeling the cardboard with an image of the work along with pertinent information was really helpful when pulling artwork out of the car and in and out of storage.

 Be comfortable. Wear comfortable shoes. Put gel soles in your shoes, bring your own water, bring protein bars. The food available is reminiscent of airports. It's okay, but rarely vegan and was expensive. Luckily there were vegan and vegan friendly restaurants nearby.

 No need for an electrical outlet if your booth is near a perimeter wall.

 Consider bringing your own table and chairs.

More Fun From the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair

I made a couple of stops at the booth featuring "After van Eyck," 2006, by Devorah Sperber. The first thing I saw walking by are the 5,024 spools of thread, supported by stainless steel ball chain. To the naked eye the blurry pattern of an upside down face is apparent, but not clear, however when you look through the clear acrylic viewing sphere supported on a metal stand, which acts as your eye, the image is upside right and picture perfect. A very fun experience. Also featured was After Warhol - you can see that at this link to her website.

I Stop for Drops  ©2012 Katherine Kean

oil on linen 12 x 16 inches

Someone from the George Billis Gallery walked by our booth and when he saw I Stop For Drops he came over and asked if it was a Karen Woods. If you take a look at her website you can see why he'd think so.

One of my favorite things about this event was the chance to meet and talk with other artists. One came by a couple of times and then mentioned that he liked skies and that he was a painter also. When he introduced himself and handed me his card I was delighted that I recognized his name, George Peebles, whose work I've admired for many years.

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Fun Moments at the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair

Lots of photos were taken of the art. I loved this couple posing for photos in front of Spooky Action at a Distance - Left.

This little guy was so tired he refused to take another step - that is until he saw the car in Peter Kempson's Roadside Attractions painting - not unlike his own car.

Peter's paintings were crowd pleasers for all ages.

I said good morning to this guy every day. Although I thought he was a rather quiet, and his uniform didn't match the other security, it wasn't until the last day that it dawned on me that he was a sculpture by Mark Sijan.

More to follow next week.

Palm Springs Fine Art Fair Opening Night and Beyond

We had some time the afternoon morning before the opening to add last minute details, labels, guest book, and cards. The Fair opened with an evening reception.

From the left, Peter Kempson, Pam Douglas, Deanna Miller, and Camey McGilvray. All set up and ready.

This woman's tunic matches the painting! She was kind enough to let people take a photo while she was standing in front of Thomas Downing's Untitled (I).

The opening preview party in full swing. 

Installation Day at Palm Springs Fine Art Fair

I'm back from Palm Springs and the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair. I'm exhausted, however I had a really good experience. I'll post all about it over the next few days, starting with the arrival and set up.

Meeting up at our booth on installation day.

                         
The first day was a long day. I loaded up my car the night before so I was ready to leave in the morning. It's helpful that everything fit with the exception of one large painting that came in a truck. The truck made stops for the other three artists, so most of us arrived well before the artwork did.

Discussing wall plans while waiting for the truck to arrive.

We weren't allowed to begin until noon and had to leave the building by 9 pm. We wanted to get everything set up on the 13th so that the installers didn't have to stay overnight. The truck also had a two hour drive and three stops to load between 50 - 100 pieces of artwork.

When the truck still hadn't arrived by 3 pm we started getting nervous. At 3:30 it arrived and by 7:30 everything was unloaded, laid out, and either hung on the wall or placed in the storage room. The storage area turned out to be a great benefit. It was easy to get to and retrieve additional pieces to show people and to replace paintings that were sold and removed.

Ladders, crates, and tool kits everywhere, plus the sound of power drills. 

I was happy that the floors had carpeting and that the booths were spacious. Ours was 10 x 24 feet and the walls were 12 feet high. I'm also so grateful we were able to work with professional art handlers that made installing everything look easy. They made quick work of it and then headed back to L.A. while at last we went searching for food!

Art Fair Checklist

All artwork has been cleaned and edges touched up, or picked up from framer. Everything has been wired, inventoried, labeled, padded and wrapped for transport. Support materials are sorted and ready to go: binders, brochures, cards.  

An installation plan has been made, invitations sent out, posted, replied – did I miss anyone? (Email me if you think so…)

Guest book ready, pens ready.

Looks like I’m ready! See you in Palm Springs?

Palm Springs Fine Art FairIzen Miller Gallery: Booth 211  
Friday, February 15, 10 AM - 8 PM
Saturday, February 16, 10 AM - 8 PM
Sunday, Feb 17, 10 AM - 6 PM

Palm Beach Convention Center
277 N Avenida Caballeros
Palm Springs, CA 92262
www.palmspringsfineartfair.com

Palm Springs Fine Art Fair February 14 – 17

 

I'm excited to be exhibiting with Izen Miller Gallery at this year's Palm Springs Fine Art Fair on February 14 through 17. Come see us in Booth 211. 

The focus of the second annual Palm Springs Fine Art Fair is on providing an extraordinary art experience in a relaxed and beautiful resort environment. Collectors will have access to 55 top galleries who are defining the contemporary art scene, along with opportunities to interact with curators and members from the Southwest's leading art museums and cultural organizations.

 I'll send free day pass information to my newsletter subscribers, so remember to sign up below if you haven't already. 

PALM SPRINGS FINE ART FAIR 

Palm Beach Convention Center 

277 N Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, CA 92262 

www.palmspringsfineartfair.com 

Thursday, February 14, VIP Preview Part 6 PM - 9 PM (Requires VIP Pass) 

Friday, February 15, IO AM - 8 PM 

Saturday, February 16, lO AM - 8 PM 

Sunday, Feb 17, 1O AM - 6 PM

Hope to see you there!

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