Reasons To Collect

I like many others like to collect things. I became a collector without really knowing what I was doing. As a young child, I would find objects that I liked, like rocks and keep them in a very special place in my bedroom. Years later, I would look at this “collection” and decide it wasn’t worth keeping. I now know a little bit more about collecting today. I now collect books and many other things.

I began wondering why most of us collect. I visit auctions regularly and am always surprised to discover that people will collect a variety of things. Many of the items I find at auctions seem unusual for a collection. Collecting is personal. What is important to some individuals, may not be important to others. Although many items appear to be unusual and strange, there are always potential buyers
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Here are a few of the reasons I believe most of us collect:

• We are driven to collect
• We find great pleasure in collecting
• We develop a true sense of ownership that only exist if there is a collection
• We love to surround ourselves with things that are meaningful to us

As my living quarters shrink due to my growing collections, I remind myself that these are the things that make me happy.

If you are interested in good art books, vintage art magazines and local history books, visit my online store, Nella’s Books and Collectibles.



www.nellasbooksandcollectibles.ecrater.com

A New Way of Seeing Art

It was recently announced that there will be new way to view art on the internet. Google has developed a project involving a virtual museum that allows online viewers to see thousands of works of art. Viewing art work via the internet is not new. Many art institutions have had their own websites for some time. What I believe makes this new announcement different is that entire galleries are to be available for view. This new endeavor will also allow the work to be viewed up close.

Most of the art museums involved so far in the new project are European. I think only time will tell if this is a successful venture. I have enjoyed viewing art work and educational videos provided by art museums and galleries on the internet. ArtBabble.org is the revolutionary site devoted exclusively to showing art-based digital videos. Indianapolis Museum of Art launched ArtBabble.org in 2009. The partner list continues to grow and includes some very noteworthy institutions.

A virtual museum? I’m not sure why we need one. I don’t believe there is anything that can replace an actual visit to a museum. What this new project will hopefully accomplish is to inspire art lovers to visit the museums to see the real thing.

Discover the Art of Reading at Nella’s Books and Collectibles. You will find a great selection of art books, art catalogs and magazine back issues.

www.nellasbooksandcollectibles.ecrater.com

Lessons in Black Art

I had an opportunity to visit my local art museum yesterday. The museum celebrated Martin Luther King Day with many special exhibits and activities. Among the activities I enjoyed the most were the film presentations on 2 African American artists.

The two movies were Jacob Lawrence: An Intimate Portrait and Mr. Dial Has Something to Say. The two films were very well done and were just long enough to hold interest. I thought the presentations were like attending a lecture in black history that included African American Art.

Jacob Lawrence has been a favorite of mind for many years. I did find out some new information about Lawrence. I have just recently discovered the unique and captivating work of Thornton Dial. Dial a self-taught African-American artist, began creating art later in life. His work consists of paintings and found-object sculptures and large assemblages. His mixed media assemblages in my opinion are his best work. There will be an exhibition of Thornton Dial’s work next month and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn more about this artist and view some of his work up close.

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


www.nellasbooksandcollectibles.ecrater.com

Great Art Magazines

What makes an art magazine great? I recently read a few comments in the news from individuals that claim what the world needs today is a great art magazine. I happen to like today's art magazines. I subscribe to 2 and read as many as I can get my hands on. I have also had an opportunity to view art magazines that were published over 50 years ago.

The older magazine publishers I believe were focused on presenting the new and different ideas in the world of art. Often there would be articles about artists who were new and not yet discovered. A lot of instruction was also included in a few of the art magazines years ago. I believe what makes an art magazine great is good ideas, good writing and of course spectacular illustrations.

Today’s art magazines are somewhat different than what was published several years ago due to necessity. There are many venues for art today that were not available let’s say during the Second World War. The internet also dictates to some extent was is viable for an art magazine today. Most paper copies of magazines are small and getting smaller. My favorite old magazines are the large ones (9.25 x 12.25 inches) with a full color image on the cover.

You can find a great selection of recent and vintage art magazines at my online book store, Nella’s Books and Collectibles.


www.nellasbooksandcollectibles.ecrater.com

Fashion As Art

I find it interesting to read about the history of fashion and the first designers. Taking a look at the history of fashion design one might begin in the 1840s with the first grand couturiers.

WORTH
Charles Frederick Worth was the first to put his signature on clothes and used his ideas of feminine beauty to influence the beauty of women. Worth was also the first person to apply an artist’s standards to the design and construction of a dress.

POIRET
Paul Poiret, known for his simplistic designs, was one of the first to use bold prints for not only cushions, curtains, wall coverings but articles of clothing. He was also known for the exotic style and he also experimented with Oriental themes.

LAVIN
Lavin is one of the oldest fashion houses in Paris. It is believed that Jeanne Lavin’s sense of color and pattern evolved from an admiration of artists Vuillard, Renoir and Fantin-Latour. Lavin is credited to being the first designer to dress whole families. She designed children’s clothing and hats and opened a men’s division.

The look of fashion changed dramatically in the 60’s. We all wanted to look young and the fashion designers answered the call. After the death of Christian Dior a new couture was established. The pioneer for this new movement was Rudi Gernreich. Gernreich and his peers experimented with materials not usually associated with fashion.

If you would like to read more about fashion as art you can find art books, art catalogs and magazine back issues at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.


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The Arts and Crafts of Jewelry

As my interest in making jewelry evolves, I have recently discovered the metalwork artist, Janet Payne Bowles. Bowles lived during the time the Arts and Crafts Movement in America was just beginning. Born in the late 1800’s, Janet Payne Bowles was influenced by William Morris and became a leading figure of the Arts and Crafts movement in Indianapolis.


Bowles taught a basic metal course at a high school in Indianapolis in 1912. She later taught advanced classes. Her classes were both vocational and educational. The classes were divided into three parts: design, construction (including mechanical processes) and art appreciation. The students started with simple things like rings and stickpins and then advanced to more complex items.

Bowles traveled extensively and received many awards for her work. Her work has been exhibited in several cities. As her skills grew she moved from small pieces of jewelry to large pieces of wrought iron metalwork. Precision and detail was included in each piece that she created. Unfortunately, she did not receive the great financial rewards one would expect from her work. Payne Bowles lived during the time that mass production was on the rise and handmade items were not as popular to the general public.

You can read more about this artist in the book, The Arts & Crafts Metalwork of Janet Payne Bowles. You will find this exhibition catalog along with others at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.



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Discovering Picasso

I just read about a large number of Picasso paintings recently being discovered. I believe they total 271 in all. From what is currently known about the collection, the work seems to be authentic. Of course, the experts will have to examine the work and make the final decision.

This could be a major discovery because a Picasso anything is worth a great deal. This is exciting news for the art world. The discovery provides an opportunity like no other to learn more about Picasso. This will undoubtedly provide a lot of fuel for the art historians and biographers. Many writers love to uncover something new and different about a famous individual--especially one who has been written about so much.

Over the years there have been numerous books written about the artist known as the “King of Modern Art”. I will patiently wait to see what comes of this new discovery. It will be interesting to see if there is more to learn about this great artist whose work is so biographical.

You can find books on Picasso and other artists at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.

www.nellasbooksandcollectibles.ecrater.com