"Water" by Miriam Hinds

Today’s Artwork of the Day is an aluminum/bronze/wood sculpture titled “Water” by Artexpo New York 2012 exhibitor Miriam Hinds.

Miriam’s artwork explores surfaces, lights and shadows with contemporary elegance. She favors complex, abstract forms, which she infuses with energy and intrigue.

Born In São Paulo, Brazil, Miriam obtained a degree in Advertising and Marketing at Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing. Even as she studied marketing, however, her deep passion for artwork was always present. In 1980, she embarked upon her career in artwork in earnest at the Millenarian Art Ceramic. She worked and studied with different artists, developing a variety of techniques in ceramics: molding, raku, glazes,etc.

After some time, “the need of experimenting with different materials” led her to explore the mediums of bronze, iron, aluminum, resin and wood. Today, these are the materials she works with, predominently.

Miriam has participated in many exhibitions throughout Brazil, Chile, New York City, Berlin, Paris, Washington DC, and other locations. We look forward to hosting her at Artexpo New York 2012, slated for March 22-25 at Pier 92 on the Hudson River. See you there, Miriam!

The process of packing, and shipping fine art is in itself an art, requiring both artistic sensitivity and historical consciousness.

Artexpo New York sponsor La Rosa Del Monte offers comprehensive and thorough services in the relocating of fine arts and antiquities. Skilled in the unique aspects of handling fine art, LRDM specializes in packing, crating, transport and storage.

Our commitment to the fine art community is to handle the art entrusted to our care with an appreciation, respect, and understanding of its value. Experience and knowledge is required in every phase of a fine art relocation including the proper materials chosen, to which we adhere to worldwide standards as well as country specific standards.

Services Include:

• Packing & Crating – Specialized in the handling, packing, and transport of works of art, and antiquities for museums, galleries, and dealers, corporate and private collections.
• Worldwide Transportation – Experts in transportation (Air – Ocean – Surface), Customs Clearance, temporary country admission, secure storage, and re-exportation of Fine Arts.
• Comprehensive Insurance Coverage – International network of insurance carriers dedicated to providing coverage and risk management strategies for fine art.

With more than 40 years of experience in the International Moving industry, backed by a dedicated team of bilingual customer service-oriented office staff, experienced packing crews, self owned warehouses and fleet of vehicles, LRDM is an expert in:

• Fine Art Handling
• International & Domestic Relocation of Household Goods & Vehicles
• Full Origin & Destination Services – USA & Caribbean
• Commercial, GSA, Military Relocations
• Machinery Movers & Rigging
• Hotel Furniture & Fixture Installers
• Storage & Crating Service
• Worldwide Coverage with Fine Arts Certified and Qualified Agents

For more information, visit www.larosadelmonte.com

"The Innocent Gaze" by Xu Jie

Today’s Artwork of the Day is “The Innocent Gaze” by Xu Jie, a Chinese artist who will be exhibiting with the Chinese Cultural Promotional Society at Artexpo New York 2011.

For the second consecutive year, the Chinese Cultural Promotional Society (CCPS) will feature some of China’s most celebrated artists at Artexpo. This March, the CCPS will present 25-30 top Chinese artists, many from the avant-garde Beijing 798 Art District and the Song Zhuang Art District, as well as from Shanghai and Shandong.

The MENTAIGNE GALLERY from Shanghai will spotlight nationally acclaimed Xu Jie (work featured above). Born in Shanghai and graduated from the Art Institute of Shanghai University in 1991 with a major in oil painting, she has participated in exhibitions held in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Venice and Japan. Reflecting originality and unique skill, her works have been appreciated by collectors all over the world, especially in Europe and east Asia. Xu Jie’s paintings can be found in corporations, homes, and art galleries in over 30 countries.

In Xu Jie’s “Chinese Boys and Girls” series of oil paintings, she puts the gaze of her subjects squarely on the viewer. Beady eyes peer at you, turning the act of observation on its head. One cannot help but become the subject of their scrutiny and wonder, “What is it they see?”

In a telling recount of her childhood, she refers to the boys she played with as “wild children,” and how their carefree disregard for the sun “turned our fair skin to a shade of tan and our cheeks to tomato red.” To her, those years were “a perfect dream” and she relives them on the easel in lovingly layered strokes of richly toned oil paint in the colors of her memories.

The multiplicity of children in her oeuvre is elucidated by the artist’s confession of being afraid of loneliness, both for herself and her only son. The unfulfilled desire to have a large family might explain why few of her subjects stand alone. In this light, the faces seem to take on a look of quiet longing.

According to Gu Wencan, Vice President of the CCPS Arts & Exhibition Committee, Artexpo New York provides an ideal venue for showcasing China’s finest artists:

“As such, this is the perfect show for introducing our top Chinese artists to the international art market. In addition to bringing more artists from China to the U.S., we hope to host Artexpo in China in 2012. When that happens, the show will break all previous records for attendance and art sales!”

Here’s to a 2012 Artexpo in China, and here’s to another successful CCPS exhibition this March at Artexpo New York!

"Before Things Go Cold" by Tim Gagnon, winner of the Artexpo Artist Challenge

Thanks to all who entered their work in the Artexpo Artist Challenge—and particularly, our Top 10 Finalists! We received many outstanding pieces by nearly 800 talented artists and really enjoyed seeing such an outpouring of so many creative works.

Out of 766 total submissions, Tim Gagnon’s painting “Before Things Go Cold” (24 x 36, acrylic on canvas) has been chosen by the Artexpo Jury as the grand prize winner of the Artexpo Artist Challenge! After weeks of public voting, “Before Things Go Cold” received 1,996 votes from the general public, sending it into our Top 10 Finalists last week.

Here’s a sampling of some of the comments voters made on Tim’s painting:

“My vote is with you. Stunning piece!”

“You’ve inspired me to keep painting. Lots of luck!”

“Tim you are the best artist and the best teacher… I learned a lot from you… I’ll vote for you for sure!”

“Tim, you are so creative and I love your work. I hope you win, you deserve it!”

“This is a beautiful piece! I’m not familiar with your work but looking at this one, I can imagine what your other pieces look like ”

The Prize

As the winner of the Artexpo Artist Challenge, Tim will be given the opportunity to exhibit 3 pieces of his original artwork on an elegant, 50 square-foot wall space (a $2,000 value) in our shared [SOLO] Gallery for independent artists at Artexpo New York 2011.

He’ll also receive:

Artexpo Artist Challenge winner Tim Gagnon in his studio.

About Tim

Tim Gagnon was born in Northern Maine and took an interest in painting at an early age. He says:

“Most of the time I drew animals or cartoons. I found that drawing was a good way to express emotions, or to vent in a non-verbal way.”

Growing up, Tim spent a great deal of time drawing and painting, and went on to enter and win art contests. As a college student, he enrolled in the University of Maine at Presque Isle, but left in favor of working for a tax software company. A year later, he went back to school, this time majoring in art and studying under Anderson Giles. After obtaining his BFA, he decided to quit his job in the tax software industry and began to paint full time.

Today, he is a full-time artist and couldn’t be happier.

“My style is defined by my mood. I can paint flowing clean landscapes… or, I may paint thick, slashed paintings that have emotion and energy. I enjoy painting things that have meaning, or energy. I am always thinking when I’m painting. I don’t try to reproduce images as they are filtered through our eyes, but how I envision them in my mind.”

Congrats once again, Tim. We’re looking forward to seeing your work in New York!

For those interested in seeing more of Tim’s work, here’s his website: www.timgagnonstudio.com

Thanks to all who entered, and stay tuned: we hope to host another Artexpo Artist Challenge in the near future…

…and the results are in! Thanks to all who participated in Artexpo New York’s “Artist Challenge” contest! We received hundreds of outstanding submissions and truly enjoyed seeing the diverse range of talent you all have to offer.

Thanks, also, to all you voters who pitched in and cast your votes! Your online ballots have determined our Top 10 Finalists, from which the Artexpo Jury will now choose one winner. Without further adieu, here are the Top 10 Finalists, determined entirely by your public votes:

Olga Gouskova
Incognito II
Votes: 4520

Betty Leonor
Breakfast in Venice
Votes: 4486

Erica Kavanagh
Dancers
Votes: 3170

Maria Elena (Manena) Elvira
Apple Around the World
Votes: 3050

Fulgen Sabatier
Abundancia (Abundance)
Votes: 2467

Tom Fleming
Spirit & Life
Votes: 2293

Glamaris Gonzalez
W-hole?hearted
Votes: 2114

Lala Holt
Esther Hanuka
Votes: 2086

Tim Gagnon
Before Things Go Cold
Votes: 1996

Martynas Ivinskas
View
Votes: 1921

The Artexpo Jury will review these finalists over the next few days, and we’ll announce the grand prize winner on or before November 15. Best of luck to our finalists, and thanks once again to all who participated, whether by submitting art or voting!

Our team had such a fantastic time with this contest, we’re strongly considering running another in the months to come. If you have any feedback to offer, feel free to leave a comment below. What did you like about this contest? What would you do differently? At Artexpo, our mission is to help artists gain exposure for their work — we’re always open to your suggestions as we move forward with new ways to help new artists with their careers.

Interested in growing your business and expanding your knowledge base? For more than 30 years, Artexpo New York has offered the finest education seminars for artists, galleries and trade professionals—entirely free of charge. As we gear up for our 2011 Artexpo Education Series, we’re excited to welcome both new and returning speakers, who will deliver expert perspectives on a wide range of timely topics, including:

Litsa Spanos, President of Art Design Consultants, Inc.

Lisa’s award-winning, retail/wholesale art gallery specializes in corporate and residential art consulting.

Lisa’s AENY 2011 Seminars:

• Selling Art to Corporations, Hospitals and Designers
• Innovative & Low-Cost Marketing Ideas to Boost Your Gallery Revenues
• Bringing New Buyers Through Your Door with Special Events

Rick Barnett, Senior Vice President, Business Development & Founding Partner International Artist Management Group (IAMG)

For over 15 years, Rick served as SVP of Retail Development, designing and developing the Thomas Kinkade worldwide retail gallery chain, building the business to 400+ galleries and owning seven galleries himself.

Rick’s AENY 2011 Seminars:

• The Top Ten Check List for Sales Success
• Licensing
• Marketing & Branding

Free Webinar, Oct. 20th
If you’re interested in meeting Rick and the IAMG team, you’re welcome to join a free webinar on October 20th at 11 am PST. IAMG says their team will be announcing a new retail concept that could drastically change the art industry and help you increase your margins. Sounds exciting to me… To register, visit www.iartmg.com

What are the top three reasons artists, galleries and publishers return to exhibit at Artexpo New York again and again? Location, location, location! New York City is home to more art lovers, collectors and industry professionals than any other city. It’s the number one city in the country to exhibit in!

An International Audience
With attendees from all over the world, Artexpo New York hosts the largest gathering of qualified trade buyers, private collectors and fine art enthusiasts. Each show offers artists, galleries & publishers an unmatched opportunity to gain exposure, forge new business relationships and find new opportunities for sales! Read some Success Stories>

Elegant Exhibit Space
Showcase your work on gallery-style hard wall booths with professional signage. NYC’s celebrated Art & Design Pier, Pier 94 hosts only the most respected fine art shows in the country. Artexpo New York 2011 will follow The Armory Show & Architectural Digest Show, rounding out the city’s month-long celebration of prominent art fairs. See our Floor Plan now, or explore our attractive, competitively priced booth packages for exhibitors of all levels.

Effective Exposure
Get noticed! Artexpo New York has an aggressive, multimedia advertising campaign through online and print advertising. We also work hard to promote exhibitors through our blog, high-traffic website, and via our 18,000+ fans on Facebook and Twitter.

Unmatched Education
Expand your knowledge base with state-of-the-art education seminars for artists and galleries. Topics include Art Marketing 101, Social Media for Artists & Galleries, and much more.

Booths Are Selling Quickly – Reserve Yours Today
Well over 125 exhibitors have already registered, so don’t miss this opportunity to exhibit your work to an international audience of over 10,000 fine art buyers, dealers, publishers and collectors. Reserve your booth for Artexpo New York 2011 while we still have space in our Floor Plan!

The Artexpo Web and Marketing team is back in our Fairfield, Iowa office after eight days in New York City. And we’ve got lots of photos to share.

This was my first Art trade show and one of the things I found fascinating was the transformation that occurs over a two day period – from a space hastily abandoned by the last trade show exhibitors, to a new show with fresh paint and exhibitors ready for the crowds.

I put together this slide-show to capture that transformation:

Here are some of my favorite shots from the show:

Here’s the Artexpo Web and Marketing team moments after the show closed on Sunday:

Milo Winningham (Senior Software Engineer), Will Merydith (CTO), Stacy Dalton (Creative Director), Christine Schrum (Director of Social Media)

If you’ve got some great shots you’d like to add to the pool, please tag your photos on Flickr with “artexpo” and they will show up in this stream.

“Beyond the Line:” Alex White Mazzarella & Giuseppe Andriani
January 14 – 31, 2010
Chashama 112 Gallery, NYC

From January 14-31, 2010, Artexpo New York 2010 exhibitor Alex White Mazzarella will be exhibiting his paintings at Chashama 112 Gallery, alongside the works of his renowned great grandfather, the Italian artist Giuseppe Andriani.

“Beyond the Line” exhibits the artists’ works from two different centuries and celebrates the artistic blood passed down between generations. Brooklyn-based Mazza will reveal paintings from his recent body of work, “Remixing Media to Remix Reality,” and will share the stage with a retrospective of his great grandfather Andriani.

Building upon today’s street art and the neo-expressionism of the 80’s, Mazza’s mixed media paintings are fun yet provocative commentaries and assertions on today’s age and culture. They are abstract, spontaneous explosions of color and line that engage the viewer. With mixed textures, photograph, paints and charcoal, Mazza creates imagery that communicates the life embedded in city walls and surfaces. Here’s one of his works, “Welcome to the Inside”:

Giuseppe Andriani, who was born in Lecce (Puglia) in 1864 and died in Florence in 1948, dedicated his entire life to art. Influenced by Antonio Piccini, a famous engraver of 1800 in Italy, his repertoire of drawings, acqueforti (etchings), punte secche (dry point etchings) oil paintings and watercolors depicted scenes of his everyday life and surroundings. His sketches of the original Florence bridges, which were destroyed during WWII, bring back to life Ponte alla Carraia, Ponte Santa Trinita and Ponte alla Vittoria. Rome’s Fine Arts Academy, the Florence Society of Fine Arts and the International Black and White Expo have all honored Andriani’s work.

“Beyond the Line” is curated by Taiwanese- and New York-based curator NuNu Hung. If you live in or near NYC, I encourage you to attend!

Gallery Hours: Wed – Sun, 12:00 – 6:00 pm
Gallery Location: 112 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036
For further information please contact nunuhung@gmail.com / 646.520.8388
or alxwytmazzarella@gmail.com / 646.270.9828

WITH A NEW LOOK AND NEW LOCATION: PIER 94 ON THE HUDSON RIVER

New York, NY – International Artexpo New York, the world’s largest popular and fine art fair, announces its return to New York with a brand new look and a new location in 2010.

From March 25 – March 28, following The Armory show and The Architectural Digest Show, International Artexpo New York will be held at Pier 94, completing the convention center’s month-long, critically acclaimed offering of exciting and influential art fairs in New York City.

About Artexpo New York 2010

Currently in its planning stages, Artexpo New York expects to host over 600 innovative exhibiting artists, galleries, and publishers from across the globe, showcasing exciting original artwork, prints, paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, giclee, lithographs and more, ranging from $100 – $100,000, all under one roof. Trumping last year with more exhibitors and additional square footage, the show expects to host more than 25,000 buyers and art enthusiasts.

Artexpo New York will remain as the only trade show to offer industry professionals access to thousands of works at wholesale prices. The first two days of the show will be open to the trade, with the last two days open to trade and the general public alike.

Always seeking ways to improve the experience of the show for its trade attendees and exhibitors, Artexpo will introduce new initiatives, dramatically expanding its services, tools and information to better serve artists and galleries. The 2010 International Artexpo Education Series will offer three days of seminars and conference classes in two state of the art theatres. These courses will offer expert perspectives on subjects ranging from art and the economy, small business management, art marketing, to social media for artists and more. A full schedule of programming will be ready in the fall, and plans for an exciting and compelling lecture series are currently underway.

The popular “SOLO” show will also return, with more than 250 of the world’s top emerging, independent artists exhibiting and selling their work in the hopes of being discovered. A new addition to this year’s SOLO show will be a “SOLO Jury” composed of influencers and tastemakers from the design, fashion, art and culture worlds who will critique and nominate SOLO’s “best in show.” Over its 30-year history, Artexpo New York has enjoyed the participation of many of the art world’s most renowned artists, including: Andy Warhol, Peter Max, Robert Rauschenberg, Robert Indiana and Leroy Neiman.

About Pier 94

Often referred to as the unconventional convention center, Pier 94, managed by Merchandise Mart Properties, offers 135,000 square feet of uninterrupted convention space in an airy venue for art exhibitions and trade shows. Over the past several years, Pier 94 has quickly become a recognizable event space in New York City, utilized for high end shows and large scale events.

“We’re thrilled to have Artexpo New York join us at the Piers. The event is the perfect addition to our lineup of art fairs for 2010. Artexpo is a critical event in New York City’s cultural calendar so we are very excited to host their event. We are looking forward to a successful partnership next year and for years to come,”

- Lorenz Hassenstein, Vice President and General Manager, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., Pier 92/94.

Artexpo’s move to Pier 94 from its former home at the Jacob Javits Center was born out of a new business venture and new ownership of the Artexpo show property. Under the new company, Redwood Media Group LLC, art industry veteran Eric Smith and his partner Robert Reeder acquired the Artexpo trade show in July 2009 from Summit Business Media, LLC. Smith was formerly Vice President of the Art Group of Summit Business Media. Robert Reeder, a former executive at ArtSelect, has distinguished himself as a successful internet enterprise pioneer in the art industry.

“We are eagerly looking forward to a fresh start in New York at Pier 94. 2010 marks a new decade in the new millennium – a perfect time to breathe new life into this show. With my business partner Robert Reeder, under our new company, Redwood Media, LLC, we’re excited to offer innovative, quality work and a new show that will be better than ever. We plan on expanding our education series and will continue to form alliances with like-minded organizations that benefit artists and the industry. Artexpo 2010 is going to be amazing – a not to be missed event.”

- Eric Smith, Redwood Media Group, LLC.

Registration for Artexpo New York 2010 will begin on September 7, 2009. Interested attendees and visitors can expect more information over the next coming months.

Press Contact: For more information on Artexpo New York or media credentials to attend, please contact:

• Alison Nakamura at 212-829-0002 Ext. 103 / an@sharpthink.com
• Nicole Mostaccio at 212-829-0002 Ext. 113 / nm@sharpthink.com

About Artexpo New York

Artexpo New York is produced by Redwood Media Group, LLC, a new company formed in July 2009 by Robert Reeder and Eric Smith, an art business veteran, and former Vice President of Summit Business Media. Summit Business media was the leading worldwide producer of art shows and art-related trade publications, including Artexpo Las Vegas, Art Miami, Art Business News, DÉCOR and Volume. Under Redwood Media Group, Artexpo New York will return to Pier 94 in March 25 – March 28, 2010.