June 29, 2011
Filed under: Art Sales — Alan @ 9:07 am
This week Lord Archer is selling part of his art collection as well as some remarkable memorabilia that has been donated by celebrities all to raise money for charity. He may not be the favorite of everyone but Lord Archer has led a somewhat of an extraordinary life and he has many extraordinarily people he calls friends.
In the House of Commons he has served five years while in the House of Lords he served 19 years and two of those were at Her Majesty’s pleasure. He has amassed book sales of over 250 million, lots of lolly and an art collection than most museums or galleries would do anything for.
Tonight at Christie’s, the world’s most famous auctioneer of fine art, the Granchester author will auction off some things from the rich and famous as he hosts the auction of the items they have donated to him for charity. Over 150 of the his collection he has bought through the years will feature in the second auction this as well with charitable giving on hand, including a donation for the building in Cambridge of a new children’s hospital.
Lord Archer has been doing the first type of auction for years and years. He is as well an accomplished auctioneer and each year he runs over 30 sales all aimed at raising money for charitable causes. However the second auction he says was prompted by the fact he is now older than 70 and has realized its time to put aside certain tendencies and accept he is mortal.
He has asked his family – wife Mary and two sons James and William, to pick out what they would like to see stay with the family and he has also told Oxford’s Asmolena and Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum they also can have six each of what they would most want.
He is then to sell off other works of art at the behest of his wife the chairwoman of the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust which runs Rosie and Addenbrooke’s and donating the proceeds towards the project to build a new children’s hospital.
June 22, 2011
Filed under: Art News — Alan @ 7:15 am
The discovery of a long lost painting by the artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio is a thrilling event for both historians and art lovers. It was found in a private collection in Britain, almost obscured by old varnish and repainting, but when it was restored the artist’s genius was apparent to experts in the field.
To anyone familiar with Caravaggio’s work, the oil on canvas depiction of St. Augustine absorbed in his books and manuscripts is an unmistakable example of his extraordinary skill in bringing a combination of beauty and realism to all of his paintings. Caravaggio was a legend even in his own time, and the impact of his vision and technique was immense. He was probably the inspiration to more of the artists who succeeded him than any other painter in history.
An innovator in all respects, Caravaggio never made sketches but painted directly on canvas with live models as his reference (and occasionally a corpse.) His use of light and shadow, known as chiaroscuro, set a standard that has been the envy of artists from his time in the 16th -17th centuries to this day. The painting of St. Augustine has been dated to approximately 1600, when the artist would have been 28 years old.
Caravaggio’s amazing talent was accompanied by a tumultuous lifestyle; he was often in flight from one society or another because of the very realism that made him so unique in his day and age, and so remarkable in his achievements. The ‘new’ painting will be included in next month’s publication ‘Caravaggio and His Followers in Rome’ from the Yale University Press and the National Gallery of Canada.
June 19, 2011
Filed under: Art crime — Alan @ 11:24 am
There were irreplaceable art works that were either destroyed or stolen when the mob ransacked the British Embassy in Libya. Worth more than £130,000 the paintings were taken when Gaddafi supporters torched and vandalized the building a World War II memorial on May1. The raid revenged the apparent killing of his son and three grandchildren by a NATO missile attack.
The news comes as NATO has resumed its bombing campaign rumors surfaced from Tripoli that Gaddafi’s support was dwindling each day in the capital. Among the looted works was an 18th century oil painting called Harrier Killing, a Bittern estimated to be £60,000 by Philip Reinagle. A landscape styled like Italian painter Salvatore Rosa was worth £35,000 and one entitled Mountainous Landscape with Travellers is also missing.
The total cost of the attack will be much higher than just the paintings but cannot be determined until British authorities have returned to Tripoli. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office would neither confirm nor deny if intelligence material was in the embassy during the raid. William Hague Foreign Secretary expelled Omar Jelban the Libyan ambassador in London after the attack on the building in Tripoli which had stood empty for weeks.
An increased sense of complete chaos could be felt in Tripoli as petrol prices escalated and food shortages were being predicted and is said to be the force behind people not being worried about talking out. One businessman said that 95% of the people want Gaddafi to leave not just because of his politics but because many just want to return to normal lives.
A shop owner said that most want him gone and more are willing to talk about it now since he is under pressure and they do not feel threatened. But you still must remain guarded because if you are caught who knows what they would do to you.
June 7, 2011
Filed under: Art events — Alan @ 9:24 pm
For the first time at the Venice Biennale International Art Fair there will be an exhibition from the North East being showcased. The city is loaded with visitors but every other year in June it is completely overrun with artists, contemporary art curators and collectors that descend from all over the world.
Consisting of about 80 countries that show artists in their own pavilions, the Venice Biennale of Art also showcases hundreds of events and fringe exhibitions. The main areas are close to the Doge’s palace in the Public Gardens where no one should be shocked to see two men, both bald headed dressed in pink frocks and with a pink parasol in hand or a woman acting as a DJ dressed in a burka or even a man running on a caterpillar powered upside down tank tracks.
Roman Abramovic’s huge yacht is the one near the gardens and close by is a smaller one, even though still quite large, and is Anita Zabludowicz\s the Gateshead born collector. The first pavilion in the North East is called Interloqui and is based in a palace quite close to the Grand Canal.
The main gallery is full of Villa Joe, Paul Noble’s wool tapestry that was in Newcastle at Laing Art Gallery until just recently. Ceramics from its collections by Edmund de Waal and Neil Brownsword are being shown from Mima in Middlesdrough.
The National Glass Centre in Sunderland which started the whole idea and was able to secure funding from the Arts Council to make sure it came to fruition has Rose English’s Storyboard and Claire Fontaine’s Dignita Before Bread. The Interloqu, at the North East Pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Art is open from November 26 at the Caterina Tognon cotemporary art gallery in Venice at the Palazzon de Ponte.
June 6, 2011
Filed under: Art News — Alan @ 9:18 pm
In Berwick-upon-Tweed a new youth hostel and art gallery has officially opened following the completion of the Dewar’s Lane Granary Grade II £5m refurbishment. In addition to the 55 bed hostel and the exhibition space the property, which is six stories has meeting and conference rooms, a bistro and a seating area in an outdoor courtyard.
The BPT, the Berwick Preservation Trust was in charge of the restoration with One North East and Sea Change, the now defunct government programme, provided the funding. Also helping in the funding were the Youth Hotel Association (YHA), the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Northumberland County Council and the former Berwick Borough Council.
The new look property was designed by Bain Swan Architects and DI Burchell, Allan Cumming, Wren and Bell, CDM, Richard Amos and Northern Structure all working together on the scheme. Jamie Andrew, BPT chair said the building went from a former derelict space to the modern age, whilst no forgetting it cultural heritage. The bistro and hostel will be operated by the YHA and the new facility will managed by the Granary Gallery.
June 3, 2011
Filed under: Art News — Alan @ 3:57 pm
Royal William art
Ambitious plans are afoot to transform a large section of the Royal William yard in Plymouth into an accessible art education and exhibition area. These plans now have the go-ahead thanks to a funding grant from the Art Council England. The city’s arts community is understandably delighted, in particular the PVAC which spearheaded the bid.
Just short of £100,000 has been awarded to the project to fully redevelop the Slaughterhouse building, which also ensures its viability to be used as one of the 5 venues across the city that will host the British Art Show 7, when it comes to Plymouth later in the years for the first time. It has previously been in London, Glasgow and Nottingham
The Grade 1 listed Slaughterhouse dates back to 1831, and has been standing derelict for nearly 20 years. Developers Urban Splash along with the PVAC will enhance the building for use as exhibition space, as part of the long-term plan for full redevelopment of the Prince William yard. Work is expected to be completed by August, so here is time for the exhibition to be put into place.
The space will be managed by Plymouth Arts Centre while BAS7 is on display – as part of its new strategy to curate exhibitions in alternative venues and build on its reputation as a promoter of contemporary art in the City.
The go-ahead for the project is a major coup for Plymouth and represents one of a legacy of economic benefits set to be generated by BAS7, which will take place from 17th September to 4th December, featuring the work of 39 of the most cutting edge and influential artists on the contemporary British scene.
Chair of PVAC, Professor David Coslett, Dean of Arts at the University of Plymouth, described the award as a significant contribution to the cultural life of the city and a confidence boost for Plymouth. “As with the America’s Cup, the British Art Show will enhance Plymouth’s reputation as a place which can deliver high calibre national and international events. The British Art Show will have a resounding impact on Plymouth as a whole. It will give local people, school pupils and visitors the chance to experience a jaw-dropping collection of the most exciting artwork in Britain. The transformation of the Slaughterhouse building is a sign of the huge organisation and planning going into the arrival of the show on September 17th.
Our partners – especially Plymouth City Council and Arts Council England – have given tremendous support. In order to be a host city we have had to demonstrate to the Hayward Gallery London, which organises the show, that we had the capacity and quality of exhibition space that would meet their demanding criteria. To achieve this, we’re effectively turning a charming but redundant urban building into a world-class venue. It’s a fantastic opportunity to do something unique and creative and we’re delighted with the Arts Council award.”
Arts Council England’s Director for the South West, Phil Gibby says:
“Our funding will enable the development of a space at Royal William Yard, a vital component of the network of venues which make it possible for Plymouth to host the British Art Show. The Show will bring the best of cutting edge contemporary art to Plymouth, attracting thousands of visitors and benefiting the people of Plymouth and further afield.”
Will Hoare, from Gillespie Yunnie Architects says: “Our design for the building will use the existing fabric as a backdrop for the art work and will create a series of spaces for the different works, along with improved access, lighting, heating and a reception area. We have worked closely with PVAC and a team from the Hayward to ensure the design meets their requirements, whilst also ensuring that our proposals are appropriate for the Grade I Listed building and at the same time creating an exciting space to view this highly regarded exhibition of contemporary British art.”
Nathan Cornish, Urban Splash Director says: “We are thrilled to have the British Art Show at Royal William Yard. As the show only happens every five years, Plymouth has done really well to secure it. We’ve earmarked Slaughterhouse as the venue for the event and are looking forward to hearing which of the 39 artists’ work will be shown at the Yard. Whichever come here it’s guaranteed to be fresh, contemporary and undoubtedly provocative. ”
www.plymouthbas7.org
Filed under: Art events — Alan @ 3:21 pm
Facebook Store Designer Limited Editions
An exciting new online art exhibition will be taking place on Facebook. The Geraldine Mattis 84 exhibition will feature 84 prints and designs, 84 stunning works of art, 84 limited editions and will run for 84 days. This new concept in displaying art will be using iconic pieces from the design portfolio of Geraldine Mattis, which currently contains over 350 original works of art.
The work of Geraldine Mattis is highly sought after, and she has done commissions for the likes of the Deutsch and Guggenheim in Berlin. She founded her company in 2008 and is understandably excited about this unique exhibition. She said that it was a great honour to introduce a new exhibition online at her Facebook store. It is being organised just as you would in a gallery, info, invitations, refreshments and hopefully sales.
The art lovers don’t even have to leave their homes; they can just log onto the Internet at their leisure. They can also access the exhibition in libraries, Internet cafes or on the move via their mobile phones.
Also, she goes on to comment on:
“Having art reproductions and signed limited editions gives everybody an opportunity to invest in a luxury item that adds value.”
The price is £84.00 on Satin A1 paper unframed.
The first 100 customers to order a limited edition poster will receive 10% off
www.facebook.com/pages/Geraldine-Mattis-Design/1758323624706…
www.geraldinemattisdesign.com
June 2, 2011
Filed under: Art events — Alan @ 12:45 pm
With a preview of the British Art Show 7, the Glasgow tramway venue is a buzz. Suddenly the chatter lowers to an excited murmur as a plain metal bench has burst in flames in the centre of the exhibition and a young naked male is silently observing. The presence of an attendant from the gallery clutching a protective blanket and the exhibition fence are the only indications this is art and not an over enthusiastic art lover.
This is a work by Roger Hiorns, one of two of his and who has an interest in the transformation of material as well as ideas that has also led to him injecting cows’ brains that are liquefied into a crack in the walls of the Tramway. It is easy to view it as emperor’s new clothes with animal waste, naked men and earth and bricks, is it really art. But these are the types of questions the British Art Show should inspire.
Alasdair Gray is the elder one in the group whether he agrees or not and his bold drawings full of colour, framed and hung along the walls of the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art. Seeing those, no one could ever accuse his of not having the ability to draw.
The sculptures of Sarah Lucas’ lint from a tumble drier inside stockings are strange but there shapes of flesh on plinths bring to mind a tradition of art from Henry Moore to Lucien Freud. And while the works just might seem ephemeral – often made of mud and sand instead of paint and canvas, the creators expect them to last through the next exhibition giving instructions how to recreate it and often doing it themselves.
There are nine Scots in the show this year with the London based curators expressing that Scotland is a force in the contemporary art scene. A far cry from 1990 when the British Art Show last made it to Glasgow and despite the culture in the capital city scene, not a Scottish artist was included. The change in 21 years is that artists can stay and do not have to leave for London as they did before.
This week Lord Archer is selling part of his art collection as well as some remarkable memorabilia that has been donated by celebrities all to raise money for charity. He may not be the favorite of everyone but Lord Archer has led a somewhat of an extraordinary life and he has many extraordinarily people he calls friends.
