Tuesday Edition: Ann Toebbe

Red Plastic Plates
11.5"x8" ($20) | 14"x11" ($50) | 22"x17" ($200) | 40"x30" ($2000)
by
Ann Toebbe

Tuesday greetings, collector friends! The sun is finally shining down upon us here in NYC, and for a few days running no less. I'm considering abandoning my ark-building plans, but not just yet — I'm not entirely convinced that El Nino's done having his way with us for the year. I do have my fingers crossed for a pleasant weekend, though. The Otter and I are headed north as soon as we can, with fresh air and picnicking in mind.

Today's edition seems appropriate for the season — Red Plastic Plates are sure to be set atop many a picnic table this weekend! Ann Toebbe's distinctive style also puts me in an out-of-the-city frame of mind; her folk references and decidedly un-citified subjects remind me of weekends spent with my grandparents in the suburbs and beyond.

Red Plastic Plates also makes me nostalgic for the not-too-distant past. It wasn't long ago that I first introduced 20x200 collectors to Ann's paintings. Back in January of this year, we released the two other editions that you see here: Drying Our Boots by the Stove and Burning Down the Second House. Even more recently, while in Chicago for the NEXT fair, I had the good fortune of meeting Ann in person and I got to see the original work on which our Red Plastic Plates edition is based. What a treat it was!

I am nuts for this painting and seeing it in person strengthened my conviction to add it to our Ann Toebbe 20x200 offerings. Ann was a bit hesitant though; the original had been acquired by a fabulous collection and what would its curators think? Fortunately for all of us, you lucky collectors included, it's the fabulous West Collection that acquired the painting. They're lucky too — it's a truly wonderful piece. And me? I am green with envy — and told the collection's founder, the wonderful Paige West, exactly that. She also immediately gave us the green light to do an edition with the piece — she's been a big fan and supporter of 20x200 from the get-go.

Paige is a huge patron of the arts and her passion manifests itself in a variety of ways. We share a keen interest in supporting emerging artists and collectors, and I've got nothing but admiration and awe for the things she's done on their behalf. She was way ahead of the curve when she founded Mixed Greens* back in 1989 — its program and approach are all about demystifying the art world and supporting new collectors. She even wrote the book on it: Art of Buying Art: An Insider's Guide to Collecting Contemporary Art offers smart advice and lots of eye candy to boot.

It was the West Prize that brought Paige to Chicago for the fair. NEXT was hosting an exhibition of its 10 finalists, including our very own Ms. Toebbe. The highlight of the trip for me was the cocktail party for the prize, which was held at the W Hotel. Jeffrey Teuton, Sarah McKenzie** and I trudged over there, tired from a long day at the fair. Thankfully, the event itself was energizing — I was excited to have a chance to introduce Paige to Sarah and Jeffrey, and also thrilled to run into another West Prize finalist who Paige and I share an interest in, Hot Shot photographer Georg Parthen.***

We didn't get to stay as long as we would've liked; we had a dinner reservation to keep, which meant I had to practically pry Ann and Sarah apart. (They were deep in conversation about their mutual alma mater, Yale.) And speaking of prying apart, it's time to pry myself from the computer and get it together for the rest of the day's engagements. I'm back tomorrow with another seasonally appropriate edition — look for me then!

*Mixed Greens' Coke Wisdom O'Neal is here on 20x200 too! We introduced his work last Fall:
Needle-Needle-Nee by Coke Wisdom O'Neal.
**Sarah McKenzie has a few great 20x200 editions as well:
Support by Sarah McKenzie
Site by Sarah McKenzie
Lift by Sarah McKenzie
***Georg Parthen: coming soon to 20x200!

Jen Bekman Projects is hiring!....

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