Pricey Photographs

I recently had an opportunity to view a few auction catalogs featuring photography.  I can’t help but wonder why some of these images are selling at extremely high prices and have maintained their popularity over the years.    Last fall the major auction houses offered hundreds of photographic works for sale.  It appears that the market for this art form is growing.

The prices offered for these exceptional images were amazing.   The prices for most of the photographs ranged from a few thousand dollars to nearly one hundred thousand dollars.  Many of the photographs were created some time ago.  I’m not certain but I have the feeling that some photographer’s works are being sold over and over again. For example, an individual or institution buys a photograph by Kertesz or Atget. At some time in the future puts it is placed back on the market for sale.  I would assume there is some profit from doing this.  The photography market is similar to other works of art like paintings that are highly valued purchased and later sold for profit.

We will probably never completely understand the thinking of art collectors, but I think that if  I were fortunate enought to own a Mapplethorpe gelatin silver print or one by Bruce Weber, I would want to hold on to this extraordinary art for quite some time.

Exploring Art Outdoors

Spring will soon be here and it’s time to get outdoors and discover all things related to art.  Nature does provide us with a great show during the winters and fall months, but I believe the spring and summer was made for artist.  This is the season for artists to go outside and create and be inspired.  It’s also a great time for those of us who are not artists but enjoy viewing and experiencing art as well.  This time of the year I often begin thinking about visiting new art galleries or checking out the latest exhibit at the local museum.  

Several great artists, including Monet, have created masterpieces en plein air (in the open air) while studying landscapes outside.  Monet’s oil on canvas, Terrace at Sainte- Adresse is an excellent example of the artist's relation with the outdoors.   This great scene of the Normandy coast provides the viewer with the bright bold colors of the warm season.   You don’t have to be able to paint like Monet to enjoy the outdoors this time of the year.  Just adventuring out of doors and viewing nature’s work or even the man-made structures that are often overlooked can provide a great experience.

This time of the year I usually feel inspired to take my camera out and start discovering the outside.  If you enjoy being outside and yearn to discover art, now is the perfect time.

Black History and Black Art

It’s February and once again it’s Black History Month.  In my community that means the entertainment pages of our local newspaper are filled with an abundance of programs related to African-Americans.   This month is proclaimed each year as a month to celebrate and commemorate the contributions of African Americans to our nation.  It’s a great month to celebrate history, and I am not surprised that the arts are at the top of the list of events and programs offered during this month.

I began to wonder about how Black History Month originated.  I discovered that the occasion began in 1926.  A historian suggested that the second week in February would be designated as the week to commemorate the accomplishments of African Americans.  This week happened to be the birth dates of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.  Interests grew and in 1976 it expanded into National African-American History Month.

Many museums and libraries are offering special exhibits and programs relating to African American artists.  There are opportunities to view the works of prominent local African-American artists.  This is a great month to celebrate history and art.

Art as An Investment

I recently read that the major auction houses are claiming that last year was a good year for them. Both Christie’s and Sotheby’s are claiming to have sold about 5 billion dollars in art. Investors are finding that art work is a good and safe investment in an uncertain financial market. Contemporary art is being purchased for the most part by young collectors and investors. This is a growing trend that has been noted the last few years.

It is not surprising that some of the artists who were major contributors to this year’s strong market include the pop artists:  Roy Lichtenstein, and Andy Warhol and abstract artists, Mark Rothko.  These artists who had their introduction to stardom in the early ‘60’s are once again drawing lots of attention.  These are the artists that many young investors today can identify with. 

How long art will rank high as a great investment, no one really knows.  It appears that for now if you want to get make a good and safe investment today and you can afford it, you should look to the art world.

 

Art, Love, Peace and Freedom

Yesterday I celebrated another Martin Luther King Day at the art museum. I always look forward each year to volunteering and helping out with the many activities that are presented at the museum that are free to the public.







This year I was assigned to the Art-Making area. This activity involved creating a Community Quilt. The public, old and young, were invited to select a symbol and use that symbol and other decorations to create a piece for the community quilt. Each individual was given a black square of construction paper about 21/2 inches. Additional supplies were available to make a quick and unique piece for the Quilt that was displayed on a large board in the museum. The contributions to the Community Quilt were colorful and a delight to view. Some of the most creative pieces came from the younger group of visitors.






Everyone participating in this activity was also asked to write something on another piece of construction paper to go along with their art work. They were asked to write a few words about their legacy, or about heirlooms, or anything that they felt was important. After about two hours I was able to view the work of many participants. I couldn’t help but notice that the words “Love, Peace, and Freedom” appeared frequently.






It was a good day at the museum and a great way to celebrate MLK Day because many of us were thinking about art, love, peace and freedom.






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Made By The Artist

I just recently read an article discussing two famous artists arguing whether it is correct to take credit for artwork if an assistant contributes. The article was about David Hockney questioning whether Damien’s Hirsts work could be considered his own since he uses a number of assistants to complete his pieces of work.







I believe this is very similar to major writers today who are producing books at record pace. I am not one hundred percent sure, but I suspect many of these bestselling authors are using assistants to help with the mundane part of writing a novel. I believe the main idea or subject belongs to the noted author. The author’s name alone goes on the finished work and he gets credit for producing the work. The assistants may or maynot be mentioned in the credits.






This new concept art today is very large and very tedious. I would not begin to imagine one individual artist solely completing these huge projects. Years ago there were artists who tackled major projects. Take Michelangelo, architect, sculptor, and painter of the Sistine Chapel, for example. I have read that Michelangelo refused to train apprentices and did not allow anyone to watch him work. The concept artists today are not interested in creating one great inspired piece of work. They would most likely, I regret to say, prefer to create as many works of art as possible due to monetary reasons.

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Books to Treasure

This is the time of the year a lot of people are thinking about giving and/or receiving gifts. I was thinking abou a gift that my aunt gave me when I was 6 months old. The gift was a book, A Child’s Book of Prayers, selected by Louise Raymond and illustrated by Masha.  I still have the book today.

Books are probably at the top of most list of gifts that are most treasured by people. This book holds special meaning because I received it when I was very young and impressed by all new things. I still enjoy looking at the beautiful illustrations and reading the versus. This book is in very fragile condition. The colored paper boards are rubbed and worn around the edges. The spine of this book has been repaired in a very unprofessional manner with tape. The pages are separating from the boards at the hinges. I have to be very careful when I turn the pages. Some of the pages are lightly soiled.  The paper used in 1941 when it was published by Random House was not as good as the quality of paper used today in children’s picture books. I love this book.

I truly enjoy giving books as gifts to the young people on holidays and other special occasions. Someone told me recently that they believed most children will not keep a paper book very long because it is too easy to damage or destroy. I am impressed with the new paper books that are produced today for children. They are a lot sturdier than the books produced fifty or sixty years ago. I will continue to give books to young people as gifts and hope that maybe some of them will keep want to keep and read them for a long time. This book, A Child’s Book of Prayers, is a precious part of my childhood and I will treasure this book forever.


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