Art Sells

(photos courtesy of art.anazana.com, Phillips de Pury & Co., and nytimes.com)

Yesterday, a Warhol painting sold at Sotheby's for $35.4 million. The day prior, at the smaller, strictly contemporary auction house on the other side of Manhattan, Phillips de Pury & Co., one of Warhol's Elizabeth Taylor pieces sold for $63 million. Considering that the owner of the Coca Cola, which sold for $35.4 million, purchased the piece in the 80's for $143,000, this price is considerable. According to the New York Times, in a summary of the evening auction, waiters at Sotheby's offered bidders and audience members alike old-fashioned bottles of Coca-Cola. Call it product pushing, but Andy his Coca Cola [4] Large Coca Cola had a great night, with said piece grabbing the evening's highest price. Per Bloomberg, Christie's will join the competition for highest grossing Warhol, as his Campbell's Soup Can with Can Opener (Vegetable), goes up for auction tonight. With the high estimate for bidding at $50 million going into the auction, it will be very interesting to see where the price lands. Many of his other pieces beat out their own estimates last night, a very promising sign for the market. In addition, many of Andy's lesser known works, such as the 1984 screenprint The Scream (after Munich), pictured above, went for $242,500 at Phillips de Pury & Co. last night. For a profile of the artist offered on Sotheby's website, click here.

Andy, however, is not the only contemporary artist who is currently impressing the auction market. Lichtenstein was also catching attention and a high price at Sotheby's, with his Ice Cream Soda. In addition, Francis Bacon and Richter brought sky-high prices at the auction house on York Ave. A Rothko brought $22.5 million. Overall, Sotheby's fetched a whopping $222,454,500. No doubt to the delight of their Chairman of Worldwide Contemporary Art and most famous auctioneer, Tobias Meyer.

Just this week, Lindsay Pollock of Art Market Views, quoted art adviser Mary Hoeveler as saying, "The appetite at the very top seems insatiable. You can name your price." While most of us might not quite be "at the very top," positive auction results such as these can only be good news for all of us in the art market.

To London

(photos courtesy of friezeartfair.com)

(photo courtesy of 'The Art Newspaper')

As fall is in full swing and the holidays are fast approaching, we are also in the midst of auction season. In addition, this post comes on the heels of the completion of the Frieze Art Fair in London. With many people finding themselves very anxious about the current state of the art market, this is an appropriate time to be curious.

Sotheby's and Christie's in New York will be holding Contemporary art auctions in early November, which will include powerhouse names such as Bacon and De Kooning, along with the Dennis Hopper collection. The results of these auctions should prove to give us some slight inclination of where the market stands.

More recently, the Frieze Art Fair in London, which takes place every October in Regent's Park, wrapped up on October 17. 60,000 people attended the annual fair while exhibitors from over 150 contemporary galleries worldwide participated. White Cube, Hauser & Wirth and Gladstone were among them. In addition to being possibly the most dynamic and energetic contemporary art fair in existence, Frieze might also lend itself to be indicative of the current state of the art market. As can be read in Lindsay Pollock's recent article for The Art Newspaper regarding stall presentation at the fair, critic Jerry Saltz's reaction was, "There's not a lot of bling, but you can see dealers are trying to make sales." But did the sales come? Per a recent blog post by Pollock, who was also in attendance, "Sales were selectively brisk...I believe many of the exhibitors made money, thought I did hear moans from some quarters that results were just 'comme ci, comme ca'." According to The New York Times, a Damien Hirst installation brought $5.6 billion, which "may be the highest price point of any work ever achieved at Frieze." Is this a sign of an improving market? Tough to say, but at least there are mumblings of positive trends. It should also be considered a good omen that there were so many participants and so many visitors, a sign that galleries are alive and to some degree, well.

(The Anish Kapoor sculpture shown in the photo above, was featured at Gladstone this year.)

In Vino Veritas

(image courtesy of www.filminamerica.com)

(the following image courtesy of www.bayareaonthecheap.com)

What is it about our culture over the last decade that has us gripped so tightly onto wine connoisseurship? Is it a passing trend, (I hope not), or is wine simply in the midst of experiencing its long-overdue moment in the sun? After all, as I'm sure the French can attest, Pinot Noir is as much a part of their vocabulary as any other dietary staple. And in Tuscany, a meal isn't a meal without a carafe, (or two), of Chianti. It feels as if over the last decade our country has finally been exposed to the love of wine. With the release of Sideways in 2004, Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church brought to our attention the delights of a trip through our own wine country. And for those who had not previously been exposed to wine culture in America, the viewer realized that wine is daily life for portions of Northern California. With all of the new publications, iPhone applications and coffee table books dedicated to wine, we can all call ourselves "experts" of some sort.

This month's issue of Food and Wine aptly points out that wine has begun to saturate many aspects of our culture, from art and film, to design and beauty products, in Purple Reign: The Art of Wine. Upon reading it, Spill, a film about the artist Dennis Adams on an unusual trip through Bordeaux, promptly went straight to the top of my Netflix queue.

Is it any wonder then that wine should be the feature of a new exhibition at The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art? I am lucky to have two friends who are tying the knot in Napa Valley come this October, and will be making the trek out west. (More on that to follow.) Unfortunately, this exhibit does not open until November 20 so I might have to find another excuse to get out there... But I find it very exciting that the purple tones of wine are being explored through new venues. If you have the chance, Peter Wegner's wine-hued mural, In [ ] Veritas, certainly sounds worth the trip. I for one, am delighted that so much attention is being given to this subject, and especially to our own stateside vineyards who certainly deserve it.

Paris, Je t'aime.

(photo courtesy of New York Magazine)

(photo courtesy of NWFLAA)

(The Musée d'Orsay, Paris)

No longer is it necessary to travel across the Atlantic to get a taste of one of my favorite European cities. At least not for a brief window this fall season, as we look forward to an exhibition coming a bit nearer to us than the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. Opening this October at the Frist Center in Nashville, The Birth of Impressionism promises to bring one of the many highlights of Paris to us. Embarking upon a mere four hour excursion, and a scenic one at that, seems more than worthwhile to get a glimpse of what will be on view starting October 15th. From Manet to Degas, the exhibit will feature an extensive look at mid to late 19th century artists who were seminal figures in the foundation of later movements such as Modernism. There will be over 100 pieces on view, mostly on loan from the d'Orsay, which makes for more the perfect excuse to make the trek.

While each viewer will no doubt have their favorite piece, one that stands out to me personally is a Whistler piece entitled, Arrangement in Gray and Black, No. 1: Portrait of the Painter's Mother, commonly known as Whistler's Mother. As most who have taken art history courses can attest, this is a heavily studied piece in any American art class, and a haunting image of the artist's mother. It is one of many pieces that I would love to see in person, after spending much time memorizing slides of the image.

In another recent tribute to the city of lights, Gossip Girl, a guilty pleasure of mine, premiered this week with an episode dedicated to showcasing Paris as the female leads romped around the city. Blair Waldorf even made a (daily) stop at the d'Orsay, to gaze longingly at a favorite Manet for hours on end. For more commentary and ridicule regarding this week's episode, I highly recommend a stop over at New York Magazine.

While a trip to Paris may not be on the calendar any time soon, I think a quick weekend in Nashville will make me feel as if I had spent a lovely afternoon at a museum overlooking the Seine, almost.

Returning to the City (a.k.a. I still love NY)

(#1 on our things to do list...)

photo courtesy of The High Line

(#3 on our places to eat list...)

photo courtesy of Bubby's Pie Co.

photo courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

(#4 on our things to see list...)

photo courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

As most of you know, New York City is by far one of my favorite places to get away. Thankfully, one of my gallery artists, Sarah Hinckley, has kindly allowed me to stay in her chic South Street Seaport loft while she is vacationing in Oregon as long as I promise to check the mail and water the plants. Done and done. Now that I don't have to pay for my lodging, that means more money to spend visiting museums, shopping, and dining in one of the best cities in the world, and I absolutely cannot wait.

One of my favorite parts about taking a trip is the armchair tourism that ensues in the planning process. I have been searching online for New York's best new restaurants and not-to-miss shows for the past few days and it almost feels like I am already there...almost. My assistant just returned from a month long summer study program through Sotheby’s in New York, so I am enlisting her help in compiling these ideas. So, here is my short list of places to eat and shows to take in while I am there. Any additional suggestions would be more than welcome!

Where I am eating:

(1) Bread - Best fontina panini and tomato bisque ever tasted. Spring Street (near Mott), and perfectly on the way to New Museum on Bowery.

(2) Locanda Verde - Italian taverna in TriBeCa. 377 Greenwich Street (near N. Moore).

(3) Bubby’s - The best brunch spot in the city! 120 Hudson Street in Tribeca.

(4) The Spotted Pig - Fantastic/cozy pub in the West Village. W. 11th and Greenwich Street.

(5) Le Bilboquet - My all time favorite French bistro, will be heading there solo with a great book and an appetite. 63rd and Madison.

What I am seeing:

(1) Matisse: Radical Invention and Bruce Nauman--MoMA

(2) Haunted: Contemporary Photography/Video/Performance March 26-September 6--Guggenheim Museum

(3) Christian Marclay: Festival July 1-September 26--The WHITNEY

(4) Doug + Mike Starn on the Roof: Big Bambú: You Can’t, You Don’t, and You Won’t Stop April 27-October 31--The Metropolitan*

(5) Rivane Neuenschwander: A Day Like Any Other and Brion Gysin: Dream Machine--New Museum

(6) Otto Dix--Neue Galerie

What else am I doing?

(1) Walking the High Line, which runs above Gansevoort Street in Meatpacking to 20th Street between 10th and 11th avenues on the West Side.

(2) Going to PS1 Contemporary Art Center in Brooklyn/Long Island City.

(3) Galleries of Chelsea: Mary Boone, Gagosian, Pace Gallery, Ed Winkleman.

(4) Shopping in SoHo...

*Number four on our “must see” list above is actually a “must do.” On the roof of the Met, the Starn twins have created an environment of interlocking bamboo that is unlike anything you have ever seen. Extending vertically, and covering the majority of the outdoor “exhibition” space, these innovative brothers have created something truly magnificent. (Not to mention, it is fifteen degrees cooler walking through the bamboo alleyways than it is below on the streets of Manhattan.) As you can see in the pictures above, the view of the skyline and of Central Park is not too shabby either. Morphing and growing on a daily basis, the installation allows for visitors to interact with the bamboo structure. Guided tours are provided, but beware that you must buy a separate ticket from your museum entrance donation, and you are then provided with a timed tour (weather permitting). As the installation unfolds in front of your eyes, you quickly appreciate how hard their team is working to create it. Absolutely a must do.

Making summer 'funner'

We stumbled across this adorable and inspiring list of ten ways to break away from the sometimes humdrum pattern of summer and experience something new, enriching or liberating (thanks to Atlanta's own South of Market Blog!). Here are a few suggestions about how you may fulfill some of these activities around Atlanta:

1. Come see us during the Westside Art Walk this Saturday, July 17th, from 11-5!

2. Trips to lakes and beaches are definitely fun, but are also time consuming. If all else fails, splash around barefoot (#6) in a rain puddle.

4. In the city, it's difficult to find space for gardening, and that is where Artichoke Bliss, a community garden off of Edgewood Avenue, comes in. More information and updates are available on their Facebook page (linked above).

5. WonderRoot offers many interesting opportunities. We think the songwriting workshop taking place July 26th at 6pm sounds like a great time.

7. Or maybe give a gift. We love these interesting gift ideas from The Peak of Chic blog's recent post.

10. Revisit literary classics, such as Catcher in the Rye and Walden; or, Life in the Woods, or pick up something touching and more contemporary, like Randy Pausch's Last Lecture, which has enjoyed 94 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List.

The best things...

Quote by John Ruskin

I recently ran across this image when perusing one of my artists' Facebook pages a few weeks ago and since then, I have not been able to stop applying it to my daily life. The affect the poetic image had on me is two-fold. Not only have I recently learned more about graffiti, stenciling, and wheat pasting than I ever thought I would need to know (thank you Exit Through the Gift Shop), but I have also been spending a lot of time trying to re-focus my attention of what is truly important. Life is fleeting and I have realized sometimes the most important things in my life are those that are often the most undervalued. Some of my favorite examples are: the color the sky turns when the sun is setting, a really good cup of coffee with a close friend, a two hour phone conversation with someone I haven't seen in 6 months, and a long drive without any necessary destination. If I was asked today to share my favorite things from the last few months, these are some of the things I would mention.

Fortunately for me, when others are asked the same thing, I would wager that some of them would mention visiting a museum or gallery they love or even spending time with one of their favorite paintings. I feel so blessed to be able to offer that respite to passersby and gallery-goers daily. If not every day, at least once a week, I have someone actually thank me for doing what I do and that feels so good. So I just wanted to say thank you in return.

Thank all of you for the support over the last 2 years and for allowing me to do something that I love. One of "the best things in life" is knowing that there are people out there who appreciate art and that I get to share my passion for art with them. I am truly so appreciative.