McNay Print Fair 2018 – 22 Years of Bringing Fine Art to the Southwest

I had heard great things about the McNay Print Fair from other print collectors and my friends at the Amon Carter Museum.  Most of my print purchases have been through auctions, but having the input and knowledge of print dealers was a missing piece.

The Print Fair lasted two days – March 3 and March 4, 2018.  I chose to make the drive to San Antonio on the Sunday – March 4th.  Aided by a good Audible book (Ron Chernow on “Grant”), it was an easy 4 hour drive to the McNay.

The 2018 event was the 22nd annual.  Thirteen dealers were in attendance.  The Sunday crowd was moderate (which made it easier to look at prints).  I was told the crowd was substantial on Saturday – particularly at the Reception on Saturday night.  Every dealer I visited with was pleased with their participation.

One of my reasons for wanting to visit the Print Fair is that Susan Teller of Susan Teller Gallery was participating.  She wrote a chapter in the book Art for Every Home: Associated American Artists 1934-2000.   The book covers the life of Associated American Artists (better known as AAA) from its founding by Reeves Lewenthal in 1934 as the means to bring the art of such well known artists as Thomas Hart Benton, John Steuart Curry and Grant Wood (as well as many others) to the homes of Americans to its eventual closure in 2000 as a gallery in New York specializing in modern prints.  AAA was one of the leading vehicles promoting prints for a good part of the time of the emphasis of this website. (1900-1960)

Susan Teller worked at Associated American Artists from 1973-1988.  For the first ten years she worked with another of the most important people in AAA history – Sylvan Cole.  Cole was a major part of the American print world for many years.  He knew everyone – artists, collectors, museum directors, curators and dealers.  Much of Susan’s chapter in the book focuses on his positive influence on her and the other employees at AAA.

When my father, Charles Rosenthal, was doing research on his print collection, he contacted Sylvan Cole regarding valuations of the prints.  Eventually, this led to a connection with the Phoenix Art Museum and his donation of much of his collection to that institution.

In the early years, the AAA was essentially a mail order business.  Initial sales were made to customers through full page advertisements in popular American magazines like Life Magazine.  After the initial sale was made the names and addresses of customers were embossed onto metal plates.  (The major manufacturer of these plates and the equipment to use them was a company called Addressograph.)  The addresses for customer mailings were printed on envelopes or labels using these plates.

Computers were a long way in the future.  So the mailing lists consisted of drawer after drawer of metal plates in metal cabinets that filled many rooms of all mail order companies.  The AAA was not an exception.  Susan’s description of this is one of my favorite parts of her chapter.  (As it turns out, Addressograph machines and plates were part of my Dad’s printing and direct mail advertising business that he owned when I was growing up in Itasca, Illinois and I spent many an hour working with the plates to keep the mailing lists in order.)

I had a nice visit with Susan at the Print Fair.  By the time Susan arrived at AAA, the response rates on their mailings had started to decline.  Apparently, customers were divided into at least two classifications – frequent buyers (collectors) and regular customers.  Mailings to frequent buyers were sent First Class.  The regular customer mailings were sent Third Class or Bulk Rate.  The Bulk Rate mailings were becoming increasingly expensive and less responsive.  Susan was the one who ran the test to show that money was only being made on the First Class mailings to frequent buyers.  From that point forward all mailings were done First Class.

After her time at AAA, Susan started her own gallery.  Her husband Bill is involved as well.  One of their major specialties is working with the heirs and estates of well-known artists.  They can be reached at:

http://www.susantellergallery.com

Susan and Bill Teller of Susan Teller Gallery

Sam Davidson has a gallery on Pioneer Square in Seattle, Washington.  He – like the other participants at the Fair – had an excellent inventory.  It is fun just looking through the prints.  Davidson Galleries also produces a first class print catalog.  The gallery website is:

http://www.davidsongalleries.com

Sam Davidson of Davidson Galleries

As I was going through the Print Fair, I was introduced to Lyle Williams.  Lyle is the Founder and Head of the event.  He is also the McNay Curator of Prints and Drawings.  During our very pleasant visit, I asked him how he got interested in prints and works on paper.  He said it all began when he was in school and his parents had this friend by the name of Sylvan Cole (yes – the same AAA Sylvan Cole) who would invite him to spend weekends with his family at their country house.  Mr. Cole had such a profound influence on him that he changed his Major and has been involved in the “print world” ever since.  The McNay has a very fine print collection thanks to Lyle’s diligent work.

Lyle Williams, McNay Curator of Prints and Drawings, Founder and Head of the Print Fair

I also had a great visit with Dan Lienau of Annex Galleries.  I have been on Dan’s “Print of the Day” email list for the past several years.  Each print is reproduced along with an explanation of the piece and the artist.  This is a great marketing tool for Annex Galleries – but also educational and enjoyable for the recipients.

Annex Galleries specializes in the works of Gustave Baumann.  In fact, Dan’s wife, Gala Chamberlain, is working on a catalogue raisonne of Baumann’s work.  The book is soon to be published.  I look forward to buying one of the first copies!

As it turns out, Dan and Gala have spent quite a bit of time in Santa Fe.  Once I heard that I had to tell him the story of  Tom Leech and Press at the Palace of the Governors http://www.inpraiseofprints.com/tom-leech-jim-trissel-and-the-press-at-the-palace-of-the-governors/

As it turns out Dan and Tom are friends.  The small world of prints gets even smaller.

Annex Galleries can be reached at http://www.annexgalleries.com

 

Daniel Lienau of The Annex Galleries

In summary, the McNay Print Fair was well worth the drive to San Antonio and back in one day.  It is an excellent event.  Well organized.  Good print galleries represented.  Lots of nice people.  I will be back in March of 2019 for the 23rd!