Press Release

COLLECTING ART IN PHILLY CALLED “ACCESSIBLE” AND “FUN”
Art Schools, Galleries And Collaboratives Make City An Ideal Place To Start A Collection

PHILADELPHIA, February 7, 2008 - The Philadelphia region is quickly gaining a national reputation for being an ideal place to buy art of all kinds and in all price ranges. In November 2006, The New York Times Style Magazine called Philly’s art scene “more accessible and certainly more fun” than that of New York and Los Angeles. The main reason? Schools, galleries and collectives in Philadelphia are widely considered friendly and inviting, welcoming even novice buyers to take the first steps toward establishing a life-long love of art collecting. One event in particular creating plenty of buzz each year is the Annual Student Exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, taking place this year from May 10 to June 1, 2008.

Moore College of Art & Design

Photo by M. Hampton for GPTMC

 

• Philadelphia’s Moore College of Art & Design, the nation’s first and only women’s visual arts college, makes art affordable and accessible. Would-be collectors can find student and alumnae works on new searchable databases and virtual galleries. They can also pick up fine art, textiles, jewelry or photography for as little as $30 at the annual Alumnae Show (late winter) or at the Senior Show (April 23-18, 2008). Or, they can drop into The Art Shop at Moore, devoted exclusively to selling works by students and alumnae, and learn the ins and outs of purchasing art from the staff. Race Street between 19^th & 20^th Streets, (215) 965-8586, www.moore.edu
• It only happens once a year, but people in the art world talk about it months in advance: It’s the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts’ Annual Student Exhibition. As the culmination of their formal study, undergraduates and grad students at this highly-respected institution display their finest work, making this show the ideal place to spot fresh young talent. The 107^th annual show will run from May 10 to June 1, 2008, and—if last year’s net sales of nearly $300,000 are any indication—collectors with an eye for talent can select from an outstanding array of paintings, sculptures and prints. Historic Landmark Building, 118 N. Broad Street; Samuel M. V. Hamilton Building, 128 N. Broad Street, (215) 972-7600, www.pafa.org
• Located in the Philadelphia suburbs, The List Gallery at Swarthmore College displays works by both emerging and nationally known artists from September through April. The gallery also holds one-week solo student shows each spring (April 11-May 19, 2008). From June 6-8, 2008, alumni artists will participate in group exhibitions. And, because many of these artists have not yet emerged onto the national scene, they’re usually a good bet for relatively inexpensive first purchases. 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, (610) 328-8488, www.swarthmore.edu/humanities/art/gallery

• The Bridgette Mayer Gallery, a Washington Square jewel with a second location in New Hope, is notable among the city’s established galleries for its emphasis on displaying works by emerging artists and working with novice buyers. Named for its young owner, this art space was named by the New York Times Magazine as “One of the Top Gallery Destinations in Philadelphia” for its keen selection of abstract art. Mayer loves helping people get over the intimidation factor by explaining everything a green purchaser needs to know about art and its market value. 709 Walnut Street, (215) 413-8893; 3 W. Bridge Street, New Hope, (215) 862-3067, www.mayerartconsultants.com
• Nestled in the charming town that gave birth to the Pennsylvania Impressionist art movement known as the New Hope School, the husband-and-wife owners of the Gratz Gallery and Conservation Studio enjoy helping young collectors navigate their way through the initial phases of art investment. Although the Gratz Gallery specializes primarily in investment art, a stop to this two-story historic mansion often results in a thorough and valuable education in smart-versus-risky art buying. 30 W. Bridge Street, New Hope, (215) 862-4300, www.gratzgallery.com
• Although the 10-year-old Space 1026 is technically a gallery, it’s an extremely modern variation of one, with an unmistakable Philly twist. It’s possible to find some traditional paintings here, but a visitor is just as likely to fall in love with a funky tee-shirt, poster, book or “something you’ve had to go to [art] grad school to even want to look at,” says co-founder Andrew Jeffrey Wright. Prices are based on the artists’ labor costs so it’s easy to pick up the next great thing for less than $500. With most items going for less than $50, the newly opened gift shop features budget-friendly clothing, limited-edition screen prints, books, indie music and other works by member artists. 1026 Arch Street, 2^nd floor, (215) 574-7630, www.space1026.com

• The F.U.E.L. Collection—that’s short for “Fostering Undergraduate Exposure on Location”—provides all kinds of career assistance to artists who, without these services, might not thrive in the competitive art world. This means would-be collectors can find many one-of-a-kind, affordable works by emerging artists. What isn’t in the gallery can be found in the new gift shop where crafts, small prints, jewelry, sculpture and other items by new and established artists go for as little as $6. 249 Arch Street, (215) 592-8400, www.fuelcollection.com
• Another mandatory stop along the road to collecting funky, inexpensive art is Vox Populi, a collective of emerging artists who work in contemporary styles. Vox Populi is staffed by member artists and doesn’t take a commission, so collectors can buy art wholesale. While an interested buyer will most likely be asked to contact the artist directly, the collective’s director calls it “a great place to get your feet wet,” because of the wide range of free, informal monthly lectures that teach the ins-and-outs of contemporary art. 319 N. 11^th Street, 3^rd floor, (215) 238-1236, www.voxpopuligallery.org

Note to Editors: For photos of Greater Philadelphia, visit our Photo Gallery.

CONTACT:

Caroline Bean, GPTMC
(215) 599-7433, caroline@gptmc.com

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