Fine art collecting being widely regarded as a pursuit of the privileged, one can appreciate the trepidation of the everyman regarding the auction and gallery scene.
These almost sacrosanct environments, of hushed tones, thin goatees and Ermenegildo Zegna, moderated by the arcane ruminations of the art press, can do more to intimidate than engage. Simply stated, they are not a lot of fun.
The art fair, on the other hand, with its aisles of booths, complementary plastic cups of cheap wine, and most of all its short run and demystifying price tags, plays a welcome role as a sort of outreach program. For a few days, elitism is all but banished, replaced by an inclusive, "art for all" atmosphere.