Cutting Art

The hot topic at many school districts across the country today is budget cuts. Usually it does not take much time before the subject of eliminating art classes is bought up. The school districts in the city I live in are not a lot different that those in larger cities like New York and are having these same discussions.

I know a lot has been written about the value of the arts and art education and the creative mind. It seems sad that we have now come to the place that visual arts are deemed less important than other disciplines for students.

I have been in public schools where art is the only class where some students become engaged in learning. I recently had a substitute teaching experience in a small elementary school. I was taking over for the visual art teacher. A few rowdy fifth graders entered the art room, noted that the regular art teacher was absent, and began playing and talking loudly. The project we were to work on that day was to create a logo for a small department within the school district. The logo was to be created and completed during class. The students were told that the best entries, which would be decided by the art teacher,and would be entered in a contest. I explained that the winning logo would be placed on stationary, t-shirts and the internet.

Once I got their attention and explained our project for the day the students became involved and at times you could almost hear a pin drop in the room.

If you take away art, there will be nothing left for many students.

I believe it is a sad reflection on our culture that the decision makers would even consider eliminating art in our schools.


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Art and Theft

It seems that not too many days goes by that I don’t read about art work being stolen. It would seem that this is a growing trend. I don't mean the theft but the writing about it in the media. The theft of art work has probably existed since the beginning of art, but today it is mentioned more by the press.

In the past few months, there have been several reports of or news about thefts in the art world.

The following are some of the articles I recently found:

• Thieves make off with massive Russian banner
• Works of Rousseau and Picasso stolen from private villa in France
• Stolen Juan Gris painting recovered
• Gardner Museum heist of 1990 still unsolved

You would think that with so much attention paid to the theft of art that this is a critical issue for the art world today. I agree stealing art is a problem but it is not exactly earth shattering news. It does however capture the attention of readers everywhere. A less exciting topic on art for example, “the security procedures for guarding valuable art” would probably not receive as much attention.

I cannot say for sure what the appeal is except maybe intrigue. It sounds like something right out of a fiction novel. I can hardly wait to read about the next great art theft in the news.

You can find art books, art exhibition catalogs and magazine back issues at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.

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Art and Nature

One of the latest trends today for many large museums is to include an outdoor space to provide gardening as a visual art feature. The purpose of these parks is to provide the individual with a deep connection with their surroundings.

Several museums are choosing to add to art gardens as a very important part of their museum. Sculpture gardens are showing up all over the country. A few museums have purchased historical property and have developed the property surrounding the structure as a garden or park.

Including a garden or the outdoors as part of the museum is not a new concept. One of the older established nature parks is located at the Winterthur country estate near Wilmington, Delaware. The popular informal gardens surround the house and are located on 963 acres of meadows and woodlands.

There will soon be a new arts and garden park. The Indianapolis Museum of Art will celebrate the opening a 100-acre art and nature Park this spring. The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park will contain woodlands, wetlands and will be one of the largest art parks in the United States.

I like this new trend. I love the outdoors and I love art.


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Magazines Self Destruct

I am a long time reader and collector of art books and magazines. In the last few years I have read a lot about the decline of both the newspaper and magazine publication business. As reported, the economic conditions have forced the publication businesses to cut back and in some instances to fold. The magazine business is doing a little better than the disappearing newspapers but I still find this troubling.

Over the years, I have subscribed to several top quality magazines. Recently however there have been some changes made that I believe were not good for the subscriber or the publisher. Magazines are shrinking in size, number of issues as well as making cost- cutting mailing procedures. One particular magazine I have often looked forward to receiving in the mail has discontinued enclosing the magazine in a mailer. If you haven’t experienced this personally you can almost imagine what is happening today. I believe the last 3 out of 6 issues arrived in my mailbox in unacceptable condition due to poor handling by the postal service.

After discussing this on the phone with the circulation department and sending a letter to the editor, I feel that a satisfactory solution is not in the works. I have been told that due to the costs it is no longer possible to insure the magazines arrive to customers in the condition as shipped. I believe this is like saying we don’t care if our publication is not in acceptable condition when you the customer receives it.

I think we can blame the economy for a lot of things that are happening today, but I feel good customer service is not one of them. I believe consumers are still interested in quality art publications. I know I am.


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Claiming Pissarro

I read an article recently about a Pissarro painting that had been stolen but later found and sold during World War II. The painting has changed hands many times since and is now the center of a potential U.S. court case. The painting now resides at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection in Spain.

U. S. resident, Claude Cassirer, is claiming ownership for the 1897 painting, Rue Saint Honore—Afternoon , Rain Effect, that was stolen from his grandmother. Although the painting was stolen by Nazi’s, Cassirer’s grandmother, the original owner, was compensated by Germany. Spain now possesses the painting and does not believe the case belongs in the U.S. courts.

We will probably learn more about this unusual claim as arguments are presented in the months to come.

Camille Pissarro, one of the leaders of the Impressionist movement, would probably be amazed about the case if he were alive today. Pissarro excelled not only in painting but also with various graphic techniques. His work can be found in many public collections.

You can find a great selection of art books, art exhibition catalogs and magazine back issues at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.


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Hooray for Dr. Seuss

A few years ago, I had an opportunity to work in an elementary school library. I always felt a lot of excitement when the month of March approached. Some of you may know that Dr. Seuss (also know as Ted Geisel) is synonymous with reading as far as elementary schools are concerned. As a matter of fact Read Across America Day coincides with Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2.

Each year the National Education Association promotes the nation’s largest reading celebration on Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Most schools plan some type of reading event during the period. In my small school we would decorate the library with everything we could find about Dr. Seuss. I would bring in my collection of stuff dolls, Sam I Am, The Grinch and others along with of my personal collection of Dr. Seuss books. My greatest enjoyment was opening a Dr. Seuss book to read to the young students who sat patiently listening and appeared to be hypnotized.

The dozens of books by Dr. Seuss continue to be popular with both the young and old. The rhyming words as well as the pictures of the unforgettable characters all contributed to the success of the author and cartoonist, Dr. Seuss.

The book, The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss, contains some of the art work of Ted Geisel created for his own pleasure . This book along with other art books, art exhibition catalogs and magazine back issues can be found at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.


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Art Making a Comeback

A newspaper article reported that recent auctions may indicate that art lovers are buying again. A record was set for the amount paid at an auction for art work. Some experts, however, are cautioning that this may not be the end of the global financial decline that has slowed the sales of art work in recent months.

A large auction house reported the sale of one of Giaocometti’s scupltures, “Walking Man I”, for more that $100 million dollars. Reported also was the sale of Gustav Klimt’s landscape “Church in Cassone” for 42.4 million. Art auction houses for the last year or more have been slow to generate estimated prices for many of their items.

Maybe art is making a comeback. Has the economic downturn ended for the art world? We will just have to wait and see.

If you are looking for some post-auction catalogs, check out Nella’s Books and Collectibles. You will also find a nice selection of art books, art catalogs and magazine back issues.

www.nellasbooksandcollectibles.ecrater.com