Free Art Fair
In 2007 he created the Free Art Fair in central London. It was an art exhibition where all the art works that were in the exhibition were given away at the end of the exhibition. Other artists who exhibited at the Free Art Fair included Harry Pye, Bruce McLean, and Bob and Roberta Smith. The event was intended to contrast the Free Art Fair with another art fair that was occurring at the same time (October 2007), known as the Frieze Art Fair. In the opinion of many artists and people interested in art, the latter fair had commercialism as its primary purpose, not the display of works of art. By all accounts, the timing and execution of the Free Art Fair was indeed effective. The giveaway of the works of art received live coverage on BBC News 24, and a queue formed overnight.
The Free Art Fair returned in 2008 with 50 artists participating and a program of performance art organised by Lee Campbell and Frog Morris. A catalogue included an interview with Lewis Hyde author of "The Gift". Artists giving work away included Gavin Turk, Marta Marce, Martin Sexton, Stephen Farthing, and Stella Vine.
In 2009 the final free art fair took place at The Barbican Centre in London. Artists including Marlene Dumas, Bob & Roberta Smith, Robin Mason, Harry Pye, Artists Anonymous and Geraldine Swayne gave away work.
Read more about this topic: Jasper Joffe
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