August 2006 marks the fifth anniversary of Platt Fine Art. The gallery continues to develop in numerous ways. This includes the addition of new art fairs to its schedule; establishing close-knit associations with artist's estates; publishing important catalogues and brochures; representing contemporary painters and printmakers; co-managing the Chicago Fine Print Fair; and holding a number gallery exhibitions by important Modernists, Social Realists, and Regionalists, from the 1930s and 40s.

Additionally, Platt Fine Art handles the estates of many aritsts from the 1930s and 1940s who were influenced by the famed Regionalist Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975). This includes the work of painter and master lithographer Roger Medearis (1920-2001); the Kansas Regionalist William Dickerson (1904-1972); and Indiana-born Edwin Fulwider (1913-2003), a painter and printmaker of industrial and railroad scenes. Our 2006 gallery show, held in collaboration with Fulwider's estate, was the first survey of the aritist's work since his death in 2003.

Other estates of note currently represented by Platt Fine Art include the Adirondack Modernist Harold Weston (1894-1972); the New York City wood engraver Bernard Brussel-Smith (1914-1989); the Chicago printmaker Letterio Calapai (1902-1993); Philadelphia Social Realist painter and printmaker Harry Brodsky (1908-1997); and Washington, D.C. artist Prentiss Taylor (1907-1991), whose collaboration on a number publications with the famed Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes put him on the historical map for good.

The gallery is also dedicated to its growing representation of contemporary artists who carry on the tradition of fine printmaking. These include Karen Whitman's whimsical linocuts of New York City; the bold and colorful industrial views of Sidney Hurwitz; the mezzotint work of Robert Kipniss; and the realistic, rural Kansas paintings and prints by Phil Epp.

We continue to travel extensively with our busy art fair schedule, including such noted venues as Works On Paper, held at the 7th Regiment Armory in New York City; the Minneapolis Institute of Arts Antiques Show, an event now entering its twenty-third year; the Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville; the Washington, D.C. International Fine Print Fair; and the Seattle Fine Print Fair.

Since 2004, Platt Fine Art has co-managed the Chicago Fine Print Fair at the Wyndham Hotel. This national event attracts eighteen dealers from across the United States, and pulls in a local and regional audience of collectors, museum curators and the general public. For the past two years, the show has benefited the Depaul University Art Museum in Chicago, with a preview night that raises acquisition funds for the institution's diverse and growing collection. The Art Institute of Chicago's Print and Drawing Club are also very active with the fair, and have toured the event each year since its inception. In addition, funding by the IFPDA has allowed for guest speakers to give informative talks on the history of printmaking.

Plans for 2007 include an expansion of the event to 30 dealers and a change of venue. Stay tuned for upcoming news regarding the fair.

Mr. Alan Quentin Platt of Platt Fine Art, received his B.A. in Philosophy from Boston University in 1988, an M.A. in Liberal Studies from Northwestern University in 1995, and a Certificate in Arts Administration from New York University in 1996. He has worked in the business for over 16 years, getting his start at the famed Goodspeed's Book Shop in Boston, Massachusetts. He currently serves on the Dealer Advisory Board of the Chicago Antiques Fair, now run in conjunction with Art Chicago, and held at the Merchandise Mart. He has been an elected member of the International Fine Print Dealers Association since 2002.