Merchandise Mart Plays the Shining Knight

The near-demise of the 2006 Art Chicago has many of the makings of a fairy tale — and Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. was the knight in shining armor that saved the day.

The 14th annual contemporary art consumer show, which was scheduled to take place inside tents in Grant Park's Butler Field April 28–May 1, looked during move-in like it was headed for an early grave.

Its longtime show management firm, Thomas Blackman Associates, was having trouble paying its suppliers and, according to local union officials, drew picketers because it had imported day laborers from Wisconsin.

Firm owner Thomas Blackman pleaded with other show managers, including MMPI and dmg world media, for monetary assistance. Dmg's lawyers advised against investing in the show, according to Mark Carr, executive vice president of its art and antiques division. However, dmg set up a worst-case-scenario plan to showcase the art dealers' wares at Navy Pier (where Art Chicago had been held for 10 years) if Blackman left them stranded.

MMPI, on the other hand, leapt right in.

The Chicago-based firm, owner and operator of consumer and trade-only shows, the Chicago Merchandise Mart building and several additional permanent showroom buildings in other cities, acquired all ownership and management rights to Art Chicago, reassembled it at the mart, squeezed what would ordinarily have been months of preparation into about 72 hours, and renamed the resulting show Art Chicago Now at the Mart.

But MMPI's tasks were more arduous than merely changing a show name. MMPI Senior Vice President Mark Falanga said the group rushed to change the signage on nearly 150 city buses, on light poles and in Butler Field.

Falanga joked, "It perhaps has given us a new perspective on what can be done and how much time is really necessary."

The show collocated with the ninth annual Chicago Antiques Fair at the mart, "a terrific complement," Falanga said.

"Everyone kicked in 150 percent. It was a great success," he added. "I would also give tremendous credit to all of the exhibitors. They didn't dwell on the problems that they had."

The two shows, with one ticket price, attracted about 21,600 attendees. Each show spanned 100,000 square feet, with Art Chicago featuring 101 companies and the antiques show 114.

In 2005, Art Chicago at Butler Field drew 14,000 attendees and the antiques show drew around 7,000.

The shows will again collocate at the mart next April 27–30.

Exhibiting art dealers told Tradeshow Week the relocation went off virtually without a hitch.

"A minor miracle happened in Chicago," said longtime exhibitor Linda Durham, owner of Linda Durham Contemporary Art in Santa Fe, N.M.

William van Straaten, owner of Riverhouse Editions in Steamboat Springs, Colo., and van Straaten Gallery in Chicago, agreed.

City officials and MMPI "didn't want the city to have a black eye, and the Merchandise Mart people were unbelievable," he said. "Chicago needs (the show) and the public needs it."

Durham said her only gripes with the show at the mart were ceilings too low for some large-scale pieces and the terminology the mart staff used.

"I don't want them to continue to call our paintings, sketches and drawings 'products' over the loud speaker," she said.

The low ceilings also bothered Carl Hammer, owner of Chicago-based Carl Hammer Gallery.

"This particular location isn't right for what I would call a great international art fair," he said.

Hammer suggested that the show move to another venue, like McCormick Place.

Falanga said, "I think we'll consider anything" to better the show.

In addition, MMPI is exploring the option of moving large-scale pieces to reception areas with 25 foot-high ceilings. Managers are assembling a group of advisors, and will recruit people with industry backgrounds to better understand the needs of the art dealers, Falanga said.

Blackman, who is also based in Chicago, did not return calls for comment.

In a statement, he said, "Exhibitors and dealers throughout the show have been amazed by the Herculean and gracious efforts of the Merchandise Mart. I can think of no better organization than the mart to ensure Art Chicago remains strong for decades to come."

Blackman will act as a consultant on the show for at least a year, Falanga said.

"We look forward to having a relationship with Tom," he added.

It apparently is not the only consumer art show he will be involved in. Blackman is also launching Art New York at Pier 94 Feb. 23–26. According to Pamela Doan, communications director for The Armory Show, scheduled Feb. 22–26 at Piers 90 and 92, Blackman is trying to piggyback onto the success of the armory show, which drew 47,000 visitors this year.

"I think it will be interesting to see if it is still possible for (Blackman) to do something," Doan said.

Blackman in December canceled the San Francisco Intl. Art Exposition, which would have occurred in January.