The Artist Project

Standard American VI, Michael Majon

Chicago Apparel Center, lobby; theartistproject.com

If Artropolis has a clear underdog exhibition, it is the Artist Project, a new addition to the fest featuring work exclusively by independent artists (those not represented by a gallery). “Independent artists are not seen as much in galleries, so collectors usually have to search them out,” says Kathleen Hogan, director of sales for the project. “[The Artist Project] gives these artists a presence at the festival and exposes them to a bulk of people that they wouldn’t get otherwise.”

Of the 182 applicants, a jury chose 48 artists. Most are from Chicago, with only a handful hailing from outside of Illinois. Each dropped $1,000 for ten square feet of booth space in the lobby of the Chicago Apparel Center, the Mart’s sister building.

Veteran Chicago muralist Jeff Zimmerman, who has shown work in Art Chicago in association with the Linda Warren Gallery, sees the pricey entrance fee as an investment. “Selling is usually tough for me,” says Zimmerman, while taking a break from working on the commissioned 60-foot-long painting outside the West Mart Center entrance. “But the odds of doing a better job are greater because the numbers [of people] are greater. I’m also hoping to make some connections with galleries from out of town.” Zimmerman admits most of his work is too big for his little booth, but he will show a new series of smaller paintings he says was partly informed by Our Lady of the Underpass, the stain under the Kennedy Expressway some thought resembled the image of the Virgin Mary.

Others, like locals Jonathan Gitelson and Paul Nudd, aren’t so focused on marketing themselves to gallerists. Until last summer, Gitelson—best known for his photographs of a car blanketed by nightclub flyers—was represented by Peter Miller, but says he’s been enjoying his independence. “I’ve been pretty busy, which makes me think that having a gallery is not completely necessary,” he says. Among other works, Gitelson will show two photos from the above-mentioned “Car Project” and all of his “Dream Jobs” series, which combines a portrait with an incisive, often tragicomic imitation classified ad the artist has penned for job titles such as political radical, rock star and housewife.

Like Gitelson, gross-out master Nudd feels little pressure to attract gallery attention. “I don’t get a boner for art fairs,” says Nudd with the same wryness he injects into his delightfully disgusting work, which ranges from short videos starring pulsating pits of neon pus to animal cell–like drawings from his various zines featuring phrases such as “cream stews,” “ripe feet” and “liquid pig funk.”

How will the success of the Artist Project be gauged in its trial year? “Business,” Zimmerman says. “That should be the barometer. It shouldn’t just be like, ‘Chin up, kid. You made a good effort, but you’re just a little small-fry.’ They put us in a good spot and we should take advantage of it.”

Hot tip If you’re looking to put every cent of your money toward art this weekend, the Artist Project boasts free entry.

Preview Party, Thu 26 7–10pm, $20 ($25 at the door); free Fri 11am–7pm; Sat 11am–8pm; Sun 11am–6pm; Mon 11am–4pm