When we buy an artist’s work, we’re not just buying something pretty to put on the wall; we are buying a story. Who are they? Where do they fit into art history? What does the work mean?
Usually such stories are revealed piecemeal in gallery handouts and pub gossip, but this weekend, you can ask the artists in person at the Art Car Boot Sale.
Organised by the force of nature that is Patricia Fleming, this is the eighth edition of the alternative art fair and the first one to be held at the Briggait. It is a huge event, with work by 100 artists or organisations available to buy direct.
Here are a few of my highlights.
Wendy McMurdo recently took the number one spot in the Herald’s list of the 50 most exciting Scottish artists.1 Here is Neil McKie letting me stage a photograph of him buying a work from McMurdo.
Alan Dimmick has a huge archive of black-and-white photographs, most of which he has printed himself in his darkroom. There is a story behind every picture, so I recommend picking one at random and asking him about it. Here he is showing me a photo from his beloved Millport, where he encountered a group of day-tripping cyclists.
A more traditional art fair vibe can be found at the stands for Shapeero Murray and Horsepower, both relatively new galleries who represent young local talent. I chatted with Andy Murray (left) about the lubricious gaze of Erica Eyres’s Readers’ Wives, which belong in any serious collection of Glasgow art.
The Art Car Boot Sale runs over two days, so it helps if you are in a duo and can take a day each, like Beagles and Ramsay. Here is Graham Ramsay with one of my favourite works of theirs, a limited-edition can of black pudding made from the artists’ own blood.
If you can’t be a duo, it helps to be a couple to keep each other company. Alasdair Wallace and Rachel Mimiec make very different but equally intriguing work, and they make a great double act.
Rhona Warwick Paterson (left) and Toby Paterson (not pictured) were too busy with customers to speak to me, but I took the opportunity to photograph Rhona pointing at one of her beautiful ceramics.
I’m not sure why I like photos of people pointing so much. I suppose it adds a bit of movement and purpose to what would otherwise be an awkward encounter. Here is Noru Innes indulging me by pointing at her name.
It is fantastic that Patricia Fleming has got so many recent graduates involved, though it must be brutal to encounter the commercial reality of the art world. Here is the joyful Creation of Adam-esque moment when Richard Domenico Ehlert made a sale.
For those who can’t afford an original work, it helps if there are books available. Here is one of Glasgow’s most celebrated photographers, Chris Leslie, selling a copy of Concrete Dreams to a guy who was actually from Cumbernauld.
Andrew Miller works at the intersection of art and design, so it was unsurprising that his work looked ready to enter any home. I particularly liked his sculpture of a dog made from glue.
Printmaking is perfect for the Art Car Boot Sale. Everything has touched the artist’s hand, but it is not as expensive as a unique painting. Master printer Ros Lawless is one of the best and most committed printmakers.
Likewise, Rachel Duckhouse shows an exquisite sensibility in her meticulous prints and in her immaculately tidy table.
I was beckoned over to Sarah Grant, who was selling paintings at incredibly reasonable prices. We spoke about the mystery of what happens to these paintings when they are out in the world. Who knows if you’ll ever see them again? Thankfully, Sarah was dressed like one of her paintings, so we could at least imagine it.
This was my first Art Car Boot Sale and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. As a cheapskate, I was reluctant to spend £10 on a ticket to just wander around. But I can’t recommend it highly enough. A feast for the eyes and a very different way of experiencing art. Check out the Art Car Boot Sale today (Sunday) until 5pm.