November 13-19, 2003

mixpicks

"Emerging Art as an Investment" with Thomas Delavan

by Keegan O'Connor

Investing always requires effort but, as with anything labor-intensive, if you have fun doing it, it doesn't really count as work. The most rewarding investments you can make will be in something you love. So if you enjoy gallery hopping on First Friday, the company of artists or even if you just need something clever to cover that unsightly bare spot on your wall, you might consider investing in art. Here's where the Creative Artists Network comes in. Since 1984, the Network has taken on fledgling artists and provided them with the support that they need to break into the highly competitive art market. Now, in addition to seminars on grant writing and marketing for talented emerging artists, the Network will also educate potential art collectors and investors. This initiative will indirectly help the Network's artists by letting new collectors learn from experienced ones. First up in this occasional series is a lecture on the many benefits and pitfalls of putting money into art by Thomas Delavan, a successful New York art investor; he will look at work by current artists, giving some pointers on bankable qualities to watch out for. Although the art market can be extremely volatile, he probably would agree that, if you enjoy the process of "meeting artists, dealers and other collectors" and "trying to understand the message that the artists are trying to convey," investing in art won't feel like work at all.

"Emerging Art as an Investment" with Thomas Delavan, Tue., Nov. 18, 6 p.m., $25, More Gallery, 1630 Walnut St., second floor, 215-546-7775.

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