The Art of the Deal
Tuesday May 12, 2009 | Contributor: Jennifer Wright

Nearly all of us would love to have beautiful art on display in our homes. However, we don’t often have the funds – or access – to pursue this interest. Nor do we always know which galleries to visit to see new artists’ work. That’s why it was such a pleasure to attend the Opening Night Benefit Preview of the Affordable Art Fair where everyone had an opportunity to acquaint themselves with talented visionaries’ creations.



Over 90 galleries were showing carefully selected works at the Fair – and not a single piece was priced over $10,000. Many went for as little as $500. It was refreshing to see guests not only milling, air-kissing, sipping cocktails and talking to the artists, but also eagerly buying the art. Sadly, that purchasing spirit has been a phenomenon lacking at other recent art fairs.



Huang Yan’s depiction of Marilyn Monroe (as featured on our Ask Melissa site) was a highlight of the evening. While I wasn’t surprised to see people flocking toward it, I was taken aback to see that Marilyn was hardly alone. She was surrounded by depictions of other celebrities with landscapes super-imposed upon their faces, such as this one of Elvis Presley:



I was also engrossed with some of Jamie Baldridge’s fantastical photos. These depict scenes that draw upon classic fairy tales and are filled with mystical imagery; however each has a darker and somewhat more harrowing element. Mr. Baldridge is a writer as well as a photographer, and has created a “travelogue” called The Everywhere Chronicles inspired by his photographs. You can see his work at href=”http://www.jamiebaldridge.com/”>www.jamiebaldridge.com.



Jefferson Hayman’s photographs also drew a great crowd. The still life photographs, beautifully displayed in vintage frames of varying shapes and sizes, were grouped together. The way he displayed ordinary objects – like starched shirts or high heels – reminded me of some of Andy Warhol’s comments on everyday life. The pieces at the fair looked as though they were priced at about $700, though if you missed them, Jefferson can be contacted via his website at www.jeffersonhayman.com.



The benefit supported some of the amazing arts organizations of lower Manhattan, including The New Museum of Contemporary Art, Downtown Arts Project, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and The Swiss Institute. Doubtless, the guests were happy to aid these very worthy causes, but may have been even more delighted to go home with their new – affordably priced – masterpieces.