Art vs. Art 2009 - Main Event

At the end of September, 2009, a near-capacity crowd gathered at the Vogue nightclub, in Indianapolis, IN, to choose the winning painting and witness the drama unfold at the Main Event. At this sixth incarnation of Art vs. Art, the Primary Colours production sold a record 58 paintings, totaling $5,175, with 70% going directly back to the artists.

Steps 1 & 2: Learn more at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0icU09Zo64

Step 3: Save the art.
The 32 paintings with the most votes were displayed at the Main Event held on Friday, September 25, 2009, at the Vogue Theatre in Broad Ripple.

Paintings not making the cut were sold at the event for $50.

At the show, the audience members were treated to DJ performances, food, and drink as they previewed the work and filled out a ballot for their three favorites. The top 16 vote-getters then battled it out on stage, where two randomly selected finalists squared off head-to-head. A capacity crowd of art patrons chose between each pairing by yelling and screaming to achieve the highest noise level determined by a digital decibel reader. The winning painting advanced to the next round.

The losing painting faced the threat of destruction (by chain saw, baseball bat, jackhammer, etc.) as determined by a spin of the ominous Wheel of Death.

Audience members saved paintings from impending doom by buying them. Artists kept 70% of the sales of their paintings. Auctioneers from Christys started the bids at a minimum amount depending on the round:
▪ Round 1: $150
▪ Round 2: $250
▪ Round 3: $350
▪ Round 4: $450

Anxiety builds as the wheel spins because if the spin lands on Instant Death, the painting is not auctioned and faces immediate destruction.

The last painting standing, Mab Graves' "Bride of Frankenstien," was crowned the Art vs. Art 2009 champion. She received the traveling title belt, a serenade, and an oversized check for the $3,500 Butler Scion Grand Prize.

Mab then faced a crucial decision: take her winning painting home with her winnings or put it up for auction but face the Wheel of Death. She took the risk, but the Wheel clicked on Instant Death and her painting suffered destruction.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Art_vs_Art
• painting
• Indianapolis
• Vogue
• arts
• competition
• chainsaw
• destruction