Blake Gopnick: "Famous Art Stars? What a Card" The Globe & Mail. Saturday May 16, 1998

Famous art stars? What a card!

The art trade, it is commonly thought, is a quiet business of backroom deals. But a recent scene witnessed at Toronto's Cold City Gallery gave the lie to that old myth.

"I'll give you my Micah Lexier for your General Idea," said the leading Calgary dealer, in town for a while to check out the market. "No way," said the Toronto gallery director, tossing her long mane in refusal. "It's signed. "You'll have to sweeten the deal. How about a Fastwurms, too." Butting in, the leggy avant garde printmaker tried to get a piece of the action. "You don't want them. Too old. I'll give you two hot rookies: Sadko Hadzihasanovic and Sally Mackay for your Lexier - they're on their way up." A handshake, and the trade was sealed. The young art critic tried his hand at deal making: "Who wants my Jubal Brown?" No takers. Total value of the day's purchases? About $16.

No, the bottom hasn't fallen out of the art market. The works being traded were all tiny - 6cm by 9cm - and weren't really quite by the artists whose names they bore. They were by Mitch Robertson, the young Toronto artist who is creator and disseminator of Famous™ Artstars trading cards, available now at gallery near you.

For $3 (manufacturer's suggested retail price; street price may vary) you get a pack of six, some good cards guaranteed - 30 of Toronto's hottest names are in the mix. Play 'em, trade 'em, toss 'em, save 'em - you can't go wrong. And who knows, some day they may be big-ticket collectibles: A Bobby Orr rookie card is worth thousands; Louise Noguchi could be next (Note that values can go down as well as up).

Every card comes with up to the minute artist stats on the back (age, height, weight, exhibition history, artist's statement) and a fuIl colour work of art on the front. And a lucky few will open their packs to find a card that bears the authentic signature of the artist featured - they won't be trading those in a hurry.

The only thing missing from the deal? No powdery pink bubblegum to throw away, and to carry collectors back to the innocence of youth. Maybe in the next release.

- Blake Gopnik