Biennial 2012: Countdown to CAVE
Glasgow-based sculptor James McLardy tells us just why we should take shelter at CAVE Art Fair …
Just one of around 45 UK artists exhibiting work for sale at the debut CAVE Art Fair, James McLardy is busy putting the final touches to his installation. A graduate from Glasgow School of Art and a member of Glasgow Sculpture Studios, his ‘totemic’ artwork immediately grabs your attention.
Partly because it’s huge, partly because the finish is so glossy and perfect; wax, pigments and copper leaf built into hard-edged structures that are actually very fragile to the touch. Which of course, we’re not allowed to do.
Recommended for selection to CAVE by both David Dale Gallery and the Duchy, McLardy wanted to take part from the beginning. “I guess it’s an interesting thing to be part of a group of unrepresented artists. There was something in the initial emails from Kevin [Hunt, CAVE co-founder] about the selection process being through committee-led gallery spaces … it’s less about an ‘art fair’ and more about showing [your work] with a group of your peers.”
It was also an opportunity to meet lots of new artists from different cities. “I’m based in Glasgow and there are a few other Glasgow artists here, but then there’s similar arts communities [from all over] because CAVE went through this route, asking artist led communities to bring similar level artists together.”
Does this make CAVE unique to other art fairs? “In a way it takes the onus off the curation – it becomes less about the consumer objects and more about potentially something new that’s happening now … That’s its unique quality. I think this is a way to platform the community led structure/artist led organisations. That’s something that often gets overseen at art fairs.”
And of course this means that the artist led organisation that inspired this fair, The Royal Standard, is really getting its moment to shine as one of the most ambitious places in the city. Both CAVE founders, Kevin and lis Mitchell, have been studio members there since it started, and the gallery space is officially part of this year’s Biennial programme for the first time. This is in no doubt because of the quality, challenging, contemporary art that Royal Standard evangelists are so focused on.
As an artist who’s seen both sides of the commercial art world, both through selling work and working at art fairs, McLardy believes CAVE is a fantastic opportunity to get involved in something that’s just not happening anywhere else. ”To be honest there’s some absolute bargains in here … but I think that’s not the point. The point is the spirit of the occasion. There wouldn’t be much point taking part if it was just about the money.”
Is it difficult to try to sell your work at an art fair? “Commercial galleries do a lot of the pricing of things, so when artists have to price their own work it’s almost an impossible task … a lot of other fairs keep their costs down by asking for smaller works that they know will sell, but that’s not about contemporary art … this is daring to be different.”
How about the prospect of actually selling your work directly to members of the public – who do you want to buy your work? “I think that most of the artists really just want to know that their work will go to a good home and be looked after.”
CAVE opens tonight 6pm at the Baltic Creative Campus (Jamaica Street) and runs until Sunday 16 September 2012
See more of James McLardy’s artwork here
