FAQ

So, what's the deal with this so -called "art fair"?

I like the idea of satellite art fairs--art fairs that take an established thing and build off it. I thought about doing this last year, but I didn't have time to pull it together. I couldn't do it very easily with the Houston Fine Art Fair because if its highly uncongenial location. But with the Texas  Contemporary Art Fair, I could set something up right across the park--a short walk in what I hope will be very pleasant fall weather.

I'm hoping that the Pan Art Fair is seen as an alternative. Our galleries are very unlike the galleries showing at TCAF. They're smaller and more grassroots. One is owned and run by an artist, Sharon Engelstein. And I thought that showing individual artists would also set the Pan Art Fair apart, since as far as I know, individual artists can't buy booths at most art fairs.

Of course, I was inspired by hotel art fairs. But unlike those fairs, I only have one room (two actually--it's a suite). So the Pan Art Fair is very small, kind of unofficial, and near a much larger fair. I like to call it a micro-guerrilla-satellite fair.

Yeah, but why you? And who the hell are you anyway?

My name is Robert Boyd (robertwboyd@yahoo.com) and I publish The Great God Pan Is Dead. I'm very interested in art in Houston and in the institutions and economies of art in Houston. This art fair is a way for me to involve myself even further. Writing a blog is very voyeuristic, after all. The Pan Art Fair is me crashing the party (in the rudest way possible, short of spray-painting a Picasso at the Menil.)

OK, so when is it? And where?

It begins at 5 pm on Thursday, October 18. Then on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we'll be open from 11 am to 6 pm. And we'll be in a hotel suite at the Embassy Suites in downtown Houston, TX. (1515 Dallas Street, Houston, Texas, 77010.)

Sounds excellent. Is there anything I can do to be involved, beyond showing up with my credit card?

Why, yes! You can become a "Friend of the Pan Art Fair."

Um, what does that entail? 

Nothing. You just have to send me a request (to the email address above) and I will list you on the Friends of the Pan Art Fair page. You, as a Friend of the Pan Art Fair, have no other responsibilities whatsoever. It's the least demanding club in the world.

I notice that there are "Friends of the Pan Art Fair" and "Friends of the Pan Art Fair, First Class." What's the difference?

I'm pretty sure the First Class Friends have more money.

Really? More money? That seems kind of crass.

This is an art fair, remember? Those with money ride first class. The rest ride steerage. Do you have some kind of problem with that, commie?

I'm cool. I'm cool. Just so long I can be a Friend.

I'll think about it.