REVIEW: Out of Order

Out of Order
Maryland Art Place

Maryland Art Place has three beautiful galleries designed for the sensitive and intelligent display of art. Its mission is to promote contemporary visual art by artists working in Maryland. Not fringe.

However, one of MAP’s fund-raising events is fringe: “Out of Order” invites any artists to bring a work of their art, hang it wherever they choose and set a minimum price. The night of the gala party, guests bid on the art works between drinks, food and dancing. MAP splits the selling price of works sold with the artist.

This year 310 artists participated, nearly twice as many as last year. When I first walked into MAP, I was struck by how well the works were installed. It is a daunting challenge to hang so many unrelated works of different media. When I learned that artists hang the works themselves when they bring it, I was even more impressed. These artists clearly knew where to put their art to best advantage.

On Friday afternoon before the gala neither titles, media, nor prices were posted, just the artists’ names. And more than ninety percent of these artists were unfamiliar to me, even though nearly all evidenced a high level of training. Most of the art was quite accessible and in the mainstream of contemporary work.

So I had the fun of just looking at art with very little context—what stood on its own merits for me on that Friday afternoon, what did I especially like then and there? Andy Sanders, mixed media photo collages; Jeffrey Kent, painting; Andrew D. Hoch, wall sculpture; Donald Lee Smyth II, mixed media; Edna K. Emmett, painting; Leslie Sheldon, painting; Chris Peregoy, etching/aquatint?; Doug Henson, photograph ; Denise Tassin, mixed media drawing; Christine Bunting, photography; Judy Sellman, mixed media sculpture; Seth Adelsberger, painting; Patrick Ross, photograph; Melanie Chang, water color; Kathleen Hayes, paper construction; Heidi Smith, mixed media painting, and Andrew Yff table. [James Beau is familiar with the work of 29% of these artists.]

When I returned the next day, I learned titles, media, and prices—either sold or minimum—for some of the works listed above. Approximately one hundred works sold at the gala, and the average price was somewhere around $160—a great bargain, way, way, way below what I would expect these works to sell for in a commercial gallery. For something that will enrich your spirit, mind, and environment for years to come.

Viewed April 7 & 8
www.Mdartplace.org
Maryland Art Place
8 Market Place, Suite 100
410-962-8565 Visit My Current Blog!