Tina Kirk’s painting of a dog and its toys is called “Hoarder.”For some, selecting pieces of art to buy can be akin to understanding quantum physics. They worry about paying too much, or choosing a piece that art experts might dismiss as nothing more than the doodles of a child.
IF YOU GO
What: Hunter Underground.When: 8-11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21.Where: Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View.Admission: $60 at the door (if still available); $50 non-Avant Art members; $40 Avant Art members; go to huntermuseum.org or call 423-267-0968 by Feb. 20; tickets for Smash & Grab special drawing: $25 each or $100 per five; call 423-267-0968.
One of the missions of Hunter Underground, which will take place Feb. 21 at the Hunter Museum of American Art, is to make art accessible to first-time buyers and new collectors looking to increase their collections, according to event chairperson Amber Norton.
Norton, a member of the museum’s Avant Art, a group of young art enthusiasts who plan educational and social events at the museum, says anyone interested in buying art should follow one simple rule:
This sculpture piece by Bev- erly McNeil is called “Karate Kid.”“If you like it, then it’s art,” she says.
“I was very intimidated by art when I was younger. My goal in getting involved [with the museum] was to personally learn more about art, the museum and how things work,” she says. “If you are collecting to make money, that is different, but if you want to make your home nicer; if you like it, buy it.”
Hannah Legg, Hunter director of communications, says Hunter Underground will feature live music, food, a silent auction and something called Smash & Grab. For the latter, guests can purchase a ticket which goes into a drawing for a chance to select one of 30 or 40 donated art pieces.
Other goals of Hunter Underground are to introduce local artists to a buying public and to raise funds for the museum, and the items in the Smash & Grab were donated by artists or collectors and chosen by the Art Selection Committee at Avant Art.
Items in the silent auction primarily came from local artists or from a selection of Birmingham-based artists, museums or galleries. The event chooses a different city in the region to work with, though the majority of participating artists and galleries are local, Legg says.
Norton says the art selection committee chooses its pieces by visiting galleries and museums — in both Chattanooga and Birmingham. If the piece is sold at the Hunter’s auction, the asking price is paid to the artist and the gallery with whatever’s left going to the Hunter.
The pieces this year range in price from $100 to $500, she says.
Several pieces are currently on display at River Gallery in the Bluff View Art District, Area 61 Gallery and Showroom on East Main Street and the Hart Gallery on Main Street, which showcases works from area homeless.
“There will be everything from sculpture and paperweights to oil paintings,” Legg says.
Scott Hill, who grew up in Northwest Georgia, is among the artists with pieces in this year’s auction.
“His work is at River Gallery,” Norton says. “He does these cool things with painting on blocks for this; he’s done a piece on part of a pipe organ. It’s really neat.
“We also have oil-on-paper piece from Susan Burns. She’s from Birmingham and was this year’s Kentucky Derby official artist.”
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.