Florida town turns from crime capital to cultural haven - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Jennifer Bonner and Christian Stayner's plan to convert abandoned houses into small businesses

Florida town turns from crime capital to cultural haven 

The Art Newspaper

By Julia Halperin

Opa-locka hopes to lure artists and galleries from nearby Miami

A former Florida state senator is teaming up with the Miami-Dade County cultural department to lure artists and galleries to a small town 13 miles north of Miami.

Opa-locka, which in 2004 had the highest rate of violent crime in the United States, has received more than $20m in federal funding to promote affordable housing and cultural development. Two recent grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are supporting more than ten public art projects there. The artist Walter Hood is creating a landscape design in order to prevent the streets from flooding, while Jennifer Bonner and Christian Stayner are converting abandoned houses into small businesses to be managed by locals.

“Because we are a nonprofit, we’re looking to do this in a sustainable way,” says Willie Logan, the chief executive of the Opa-locka Community Development Corporation. “We aren’t going to kick artists out to build condominiums once the property values go up.”

Logan’s team has been driving artists from Miami to Opa-locka to show them available spaces—and word is travelling fast. Since purchasing studio space in Opa-locka two months ago, the artist Carlos Betancourt, who formerly had a studio in Wynwood, says he has “received several inquiries about studio space from artists as far away as Williamsburg [Brooklyn]”. 

You can find the whole article here

 

 

The Gallerist review of PAMM - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Not Just for Snowbirds: Forget the Beach—Miami’s Hometown Museum Is Heating Up
BY Andrew Russeth, The Gallerist

From the article;  ...What is particularly heartening about PAMM is that it not only avoids the pratfalls that have plagued many other recent art museums by globetrotting architects—there are no ridiculously angled walls, no awkwardly proportioned spaces, no wasted space, as in Zaha Hadid’s Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati or Daniel Libeskind’s Denver Art Museum or Herzog & de Meuron’s own Walker Art Center expansion—but it is also sensitive to the needs of its users.

Galleries vary in size as they flow gracefully one to the other, from enclosed spaces to those with floor-to-ceiling windows, gleaming with natural light. A wide stairwell that connects the first and second floors comfortably doubles as a screening space for videos, with seats set up along part of it. (Offices are on the third floor.) A tall project room, occupied now by a stunning geometric mobile by Monika Sosnowska that resembles scaffolding whipped up in a tornado, will nicely facilitate gargantuan contemporary installations, but its relatively modest size will give smaller works a fighting chance. This is a museum focused on an intimate and inviting experience of art. It recalls Peter Zumthor’s sublimely meditative Kolumba museum in Cologne, a comparison I owe to designer and gallerist Prem Krishnamurthy. (Even the rather weak retrospective of Chinese superstar artist Ai Weiwei looks good there.)

The museum’s holdings are, however, another matter. Since it has only been buying for less than 20 years, there are few major pieces and few blue-chip trophies (not always such a bad thing), but the inaugural hang of its collection, titled “Americana” and organized by Tobias Ostrander, supplemented by loans, is uniformly excellent, intermingling established American and European artists with far-lesser-known Latin Americans...

You can read the whole article here

PAMM website

I have yet to make it to the new museum, I'm hoping to visit sometime next week.  So far the reviews are good to this much anticipated museum.  I have always been impressed with the museums organization, programs and membership outreach and look forward to participating more in their new digs. GL

Video of the Week - Clyde Butcher - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Clyde Butcher

Florida Trend

In this short video Clyde explains part of his process and the reason he stays with black and white film in the digital age. GL

Florida Trend article found here

Announcing the 2013 winners of the Miami Knight Arts Challenge - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Winning projects bring art to South Florida neighborhoods from Knight Foundation

Announcing the 2013 winners of the Miami Knight Arts Challenge

Published on November 26, 2013 by Dennis Scholl

Tonight, on the New World Center stage, we’re celebrating 49 local artists, the impact they are having on our cultural community and our city, and their big ideas for the South Florida arts.

Each is a winner of the Miami Knight Arts Challenge, receiving combined $2.72 million. We expect you will be seeing and experiencing their projects soon.
Some are using technology in ways that will reshape how we view art. Others are using art as a lens to celebrate everything that is uniquely South Florida – from our history as a swampland to our historic landmarks like the Miami Marine Stadium and Venetian Pool.

Together, they – and the Knight Arts Challenge winners before them – are helping to create an ecosystem that allows artists to stay here in Miami, to build a career and a name for themselves while creating a sense of community that benefits everybody. As a result, they are pushing the arts beyond Wynwood and Downtown, deeper into our neighborhoods and communities, from South Dade to Opa-locka and Miramar.

Everywhere you go in South Florida, we want you to have an encounter with art. The opening of the Perez Art Museum later this week is testament that Miami is on that path. The challenge winners are fueling the art scene by ensuring art surrounds us all.

We also had one other surprise – the winner of the Knight Arts Challenge People’s Choice Award.



This fall we asked South Florida to vote via text for their favorite of five small or emerging projects – for a chance at an additional $20,000. Each of the nominees hustled, and rallied their communities for votes. I’m excited to share that the winner is Teo Castellanos, a playwright and author who is working to put another Miami story on the stage.

Continue to the Full List of Winners

Art Around the Web - Time Laspe Graffiti - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Sofles - Limitless

Really well directed and choreographed time laspe video of four graffiti artists having their way with an empty warehouse.  Enjoy!  GL

Fine art helps sell real estate in South Florida - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Developer and art lover Diego Ojeda, vice president of Rilea Group, talks about Rilea's project, 

"The Bond" in the Brickell area on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2013. CARL JUSTE / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Fine art helps sell real estate in South Florida 

By Ina Paiva Cordle  

icordle@MiamiHerald.com

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/24/3777085/fine-art-helps-sell-condos.html#storylink=cpy

Nine iconic, life-size photographs of celebrities by renowned British photographer Terry O’Neill fill the sales office for The Bond on Brickell, a condominium planned for Miami.

Down the street, shoppers eyeing the Related Group’s Paraiso Bay and SLS Brickell projects are greeted by a huge, Philippe Starck-designed outdoor duck sculpture. And inside the sales center, they are treated to colorful artistic eye candy, including a hand-stitched animal-skin wall rug by Argentine-born artist Agustina Woodgate.

Across town in Doral, huge public art installations are in the works to define Codina Partners’ new multi-use development, whose highlights include the city’s first high-rise condos. 

That art — and scores of other paintings, sculptures and installations — aren’t just on temporary display. Once the dust settles on the towering condo projects, they will remain — or reappear, filling lobbies, pool decks and other common areas of pricey properties.

Across South Florida, real estate developers are increasingly attaching extraordinary — and valuable — art to their designs, creating liveable, virtual museums as a way to market high-end condos to wealthy buyers. 

Brokers are catching on, too.

Aligning with star architects, choosing uniquely designed furniture, inviting curators in for talks, have all become part of the gentrification — or art-ification — of South Florida, propelled by the success of Art Basel Miami Beach, which returns for its 12th year Dec. 5-8. 

“Great cities have great art,” said Carlos Rosso, president of the condo division of the Related Group, which has eight condo projects underway in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, all adorned with art, murals, video installations and sculptures. “We think art gives another dimension to life.”

While developers for years have paired exceptional art with luxury real estate in South Florida, the combination lately has been elevated to a whole new level.

And customers are demanding it.

Ultra-wealthy condo buyers want to be ensconced amid art from the moment they drive up, all the way to their front doors, said Mark Zilbert, president and chief executive of Zilbert International Realty, a Miami Beach-based firm that specializes in high-end properties.

“The idea is that the second you arrive at your building, this is the theme: that art is important,” Zilbert said.

Continue reading the Miami Herald Article

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/24/3777085/fine-art-helps-sell-condos.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/24/3777085/fine-art-helps-sell-condos.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/24/3777085/fine-art-helps-sell-condos.html#storylink=cpy

Gov. Scott: Another Record for Florida Tourism - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

 

  

Gov. Scott: Another Record for Florida Tourism  

On November 15, 2013, in News Releases, by Staff 

 

Florida has already welcomed more than 72 million visitors in 2013

Governor Rick Scott today announced that according to preliminary estimates* released by VISIT FLORIDA – the state’s official tourism marketing corporation – 22.9 million visitors came to Florida in the third quarter of 2013 (July-September), an increase of 1.7 percent over the same period in 2012.  These numbers represent the largest third quarter for visitation in the state’s history.

Governor Scott said, “Today’s announcement of another record quarter for visitation clearly shows ‘It’s Working’ in Florida.  Because every 85 visitors to our state supports one Florida job; a growing tourism industry equates to more jobs for Florida families and a stronger economy.  As we move toward our third consecutive year of record tourism growth, it is clear why the Sunshine State remains the top travel destination across the world. ”
Through the first three quarters of 2013, Florida welcomed 72.6 million visitors – an increase of 3.4 percent over the same period last year.  Visitor spending in Florida for January-August 2013 (last reported month) was $51.8 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 5.8 percent from the same period in 2012.  Direct travel-related employment in Florida for January-August (last reported month) rose 2.8 percent, adding 29,700 jobs since this same time one year ago.  Each of these figures marks a record, making the first three quarters of 2013 the largest nine-month period in the history of Florida’s tourism industry.
“So far this year, we’re up nearly 2.5 million visitors who increased their spending by almost $3 billion, led by a double-digit increase in international visitors,” said Tammy Gustafson, Chair of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors. “This continued momentum is a testament to the strength of VISIT FLORIDA’s marketing efforts, the power of the Sunshine State brand and the dedication of the nearly 1.1 million Floridians who work in the state’s tourism industry.”
An estimated 19.5 million domestic visitors came to Florida during the third quarter of 2013, representing a 0.5 percent increase from the same period in 2012. Florida welcomed 2.9 million overseas visitors in Q3 2013, representing a 10.1 percent increase over Q3 2012, and 516,000 Canadian visitors during the same period, representing a 2.9 percent increase from the previous year.
“Record visitor numbers equate to record visitor spending,” said Will Seccombe, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. “With taxable sales up, occupancy rates up, rental car collections up, bed taxes up and average daily room rates up, Florida’s tourism industry has never been stronger.”
Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association said, “These newly released tourism numbers are encouraging to our more than 10,000 members of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association in our effort to attract over 100 million visitors to the Sunshine State. As Florida’s largest employer, our tourism and hospitality industry is on the front lines each and every day in providing a world class experience to visitors coming to our state for business meetings, conventions, vacations and milestone celebrations. We thank Florida Governor Rick Scott and members of the Florida Legislature for providing a pro-business and pro-family environment which not only attracts national and international tourists, but supports job creation and growth here at home.”
Additional Preliminary Data:

• The  Average Daily Room Rate rose 3.6  percent to $102.69 and the occupancy rate for Florida  hotels increased 1.9 percentage points to 62.7 percent in Q3 2013 compared to Q3 2012.
• Tourism-related employment has lead the state in growth for 41 straight months
• Nearly 13.6 million Florida residents are estimated to have taken a pleasure trip during Q3 2013.
• The share of in-state pleasure trips by residents was 42.3 percent, resulting  in more than 5.7 million pleasure trips in-state – a 6.2 percent increase from the same time last year.
• Traffic  at the state’s five Official Florida Welcome Centers managed by VISIT FLORIDA was up 4.0% in Q3 2013.

To view additional Florida visitor data, go the Research page on VISIT FLORIDA’s media website.

Francie Bishop Good: Not on Allen Street - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

 

 Francie Bishop Good, Grant, before Halloween, October 2010 

Bethlehem, PA, 2010, Pigment print, Courtesy David Castillo Gallery, Miami

Francie Bishop Good: Not on Allen Street

Art and Cultural Center of Hollywood

Nov. 8, 2013 – Jan. 12, 2014

The Center’s main gallery will present a survey of recent photographs by Francie Bishop Good. The artist was born in Bethlehem, PA, and currently lives and works in New York City and South Florida. Her work has been exhibited throughout the U.S., Europe and Latin America. It is included in many public and private collections in the United States and abroad and in numerous publications, including Art in America, ART News, and the Miami Herald. Ms Bishop Good is twice recipient of the South Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowship, and the State of Florida Individual Artist Fellowship. 

Limited edition book available of Francie Bishop Good photographs, designed by Augusto Mendoza; includes an essay by George Slade, and poem by Víctor Rodríguez Núñez.

Art and Cultural Center of Hollywood website
Francie Bishop Good website

Francie is an excellent artist and a huge arts supporter.  She works to support the arts in Broward County through FAB an organization she founded which funds local arts organizations with grants and she continues to donate her talents, time and funds to keep the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art moving forward.  GL 

 

LA Times: George Lucas' planned art museum at the Presidio faces hurdles - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

George Lucas, shown recently at the AMPAS Governors Awards, has hit a bump in his 

quest to build an art museum at the Presidio in San Francisco. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

By David Ng

November 22, 2013, 11:40 a.m.

George Lucas wants to build his new art museum featuring works from his personal collection at the Presidio in San Francisco. But officials at the famous site are pushing back, having asked the "Star Wars" creator and other competing projects to rethink their designs before a decision is made.

On Thursday, the board of directors of the Presidio Trust met to decide on proposals for developing an eight-acre site across from Crissy Field. Among the proposals vying for physical space is Lucas' art museum as well as  a proposed science-themed center and a mixed-use complex from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. 

"In the interest of having the best project possible for the Presidio, we want to provide one more opportunity for teams to adjust their proposals before we make a selection," said the board in an announcement released on Thursday. It said revised proposals are due Jan. 3.

The board didn't specifically mention Lucas' proposed art museum, which would be called the Lucas Cultural Arts Museum. But the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Presidio board Chairwoman Nancy Bechtle recently met with the newspaper's editorial board during which she expressed reservations about the museum's design.

Bechtle described the design for the museum as "too big" and having an "inappropriate configuration," according to the Chronicle. The design has a faux Beaux Arts style and carries an estimated $700-million price tag.

Lucas made waves in September when he told the New York Times that the Presidio Trust board has been antagonistic to his planned museum and that he would take the museum to Chicago if it were to be rejected in San Francisco.

The director has been an avid collector of art by Norman Rockwell and Maxfield Parrish. The official website for the planned museum features design renderings of the building. 

Last year Lucas sold his company, Lucasfilm, to Disney for a little more than $4 billion. Disney is planning a series of "Star Wars" sequels, with the first in the series expected to be released in 2015.

Full Article found here 
You can check out teh Renderings and read about Lucas' vision for the Museum here; Lucas Cultural Arts Museum website

I know the Presidio and the renderings do show a rather imposing museum.  Right now Crissy field is this beautiful undeveloped space used by everyone.  Lucas has been trying for the Presidio land for years now. I guess I expected a project more integrated with the surroundings and more sensitive to those who already enjoy the great views.  GL   

Merton D. Simpson Gallery Present Angels: Chained and Unchained by Purvis Young - posted by Florida Fine Art Gallery

Merton D. Simpson Gallery is pleased to announce the reopening of the gallery since the passing of the gallery's founder, Merton D. Simpson in March of 2013.

The gallery will reopen with a selection of major works by Purvis Young entitled Angels: Chained and Unchained from the collection of Daniel Aubry on November 13, 2013 from 6-8pm.

A selection of African artwork from the Merton D. Simpson Gallery collection will also be on display.

This exhibition is on view from November 7th through January 2, 2014.

Read more about Merton D. Simpson Gallery Present Angels: Chained and Unchained by Purvis Young, 11/7-1/2 - BWWVisual ArtsWorld by www.broadwayworld.com

Merton Simpson Gallery


Merton D. Simpson Gallery is pleased to announce the reopening of the gallery since the passing of the gallery's founder, Merton D. Simpson in March of 2013.
The gallery will reopen with a selection of major works by Purvis Young entitled Angels: Chained and Unchained from the collection of Daniel Aubry on November 13, 2013 from 6-8pm.
A selection of African artwork from the Merton D. Simpson Gallery collection will also be on display.
This exhibition is on view from November 7th through January 2, 2014.

Read more about Merton D. Simpson Gallery Present Angels: Chained and Unchained by Purvis Young, 11/7-1/2 - BWWVisual ArtsWorld by www.broadwayworld.com

Merton D. Simpson Gallery is pleased to announce the reopening of the gallery since the passing of the gallery's founder, Merton D. Simpson in March of 2013.
The gallery will reopen with a selection of major works by Purvis Young entitled Angels: Chained and Unchained from the collection of Daniel Aubry on November 13, 2013 from 6-8pm.
A selection of African artwork from the Merton D. Simpson Gallery collection will also be on display.
This exhibition is on view from November 7th through January 2, 2014.

Read more about Merton D. Simpson Gallery Present Angels: Chained and Unchained by Purvis Young, 11/7-1/2 - BWWVisual ArtsWorld by www.broadwayworld.com

Merton D. Simpson Gallery is pleased to announce the reopening of the gallery since the passing of the gallery's founder, Merton D. Simpson in March of 2013.
The gallery will reopen with a selection of major works by Purvis Young entitled Angels: Chained and Unchained from the collection of Daniel Aubry on November 13, 2013 from 6-8pm.
A selection of African artwork from the Merton D. Simpson Gallery collection will also be on display.
This exhibition is on view from November 7th through January 2, 2014.

Read more about Merton D. Simpson Gallery Present Angels: Chained and Unchained by Purvis Young, 11/7-1/2 - BWWVisual ArtsWorld by www.broadwayworld.com

Happy Thaksgiving - by Florida Fine Art Blog

"Freedom from Want" Norman Rockwell 1943

From the Norman Rockwell Museum website; 

In his January 1941 address to Congress, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt articulated his vision for a postwar world founded on four basic human freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. In the spring of 1942, Norman Rockwell was working on a piece commissioned by the Ordnance Department of the U.S. Army, a painting of a machine gunner in need of ammunition. Posters of the gunner, titled Let’s Give Him Enough and On Time, were distributed to ordnance plants throughout the country to encourage production. But Rockwell wanted to do more for the war effort and decided he would illustrate Roosevelt’s four freedoms. Finding new ideas for paintings never came easily, but this was a greater challenge. “It was so darned high-blown,” Rockwell said, “Somehow I just couldn’t get my mind around it.” While mulling it over, Rockwell, by chance, attended a town meeting where one man rose among his neighbors and voiced an unpopular view. That night Rockwell awoke with the realization that he could paint the freedoms best from the perspective of his own hometown experiences using everyday, simple scenes such as his own town meeting. Rockwell made some rough sketches and, accompanied by fellow Post cover artist Mead Schaeffer, went to Washington to propose his poster idea.

The timing was wrong. The Ordnance Department didn’t have the resources for another commission. On his way back to Vermont, Rockwell stopped at Curtis Publishing Company, publisher of The Saturday Evening Post, and showed his sketches to editor Ben Hibbs. Hibbs immediately made plans to use the illustrations in the Post. Rockwell was given permission to interrupt his work for the magazine—typically one cover per month—for three months. But Rockwell “got a bad case of stage fright,” and it was two and a half months before he even began the project. “It was a job that should have been tackled by Michelangelo,” he said in a New Yorker interview three years later.

The paintings were a phenomenal success. After their publication, the Post received 25,000 requests for reprints. In May 1943, representatives from the Post and the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a joint campaign to sell war bonds and stamps. They would send the Four Freedoms paintings along with 1,000 original cartoons and paintings by other illustrators and original manuscripts from The Saturday Evening Post on a national tour.

Traveling to sixteen cities, the exhibition was visited by more than a million people who purchased 133 million dollars in war bonds and stamps. Bonds were sold in denominations of $25, $100, and $1,000, and each person who purchased one received a set of prints of the four paintings. In addition, the Office of War Information printed four million sets of posters of the paintings. Each was printed with the words “Buy War Bonds.” They were distributed in United States schools and institutions, and overseas.

The Four Freedoms are now part of the permanent collection of Norman Rockwell Museum and reside in their own specially designed gallery space, inviting visitors to reflect on their inspiring message.

Norman Rockwell Museum website

I had posted this picture years ago but did not know all the background. What a great story.  Happy Thanksgiving! GL

Glenn's Guide to Art Basel 2013 - by Florida Fine Art Blog

Art Week Miami time again!  It's amazing when I think of growing up with so few cultural venues and exhibitions in my own backyard and now we have the entire global art world descending on South Florida.  What a change.  Are you going this year?  You should.

This is the fourth edition of my Art Basel Guide and also the first year I will be missing everything since it all started with Art Miami back in the early 90’s.  I am unable to be in Miami during Art Week so this year’s guide will be more of a wish list, a guide to where I would have liked to have gone.  

Much more after the fold...

Art Around The Web - Google Art Project - by Florida Fine Art Blog

I have been meaning to post this for some time now.  Google has embarked on a fantastic mission of cataloging the world's museums and all the artwork they contain.  And I don’t mean take a few grainy pictures and post them on a website.  Google Art Project is the most ambitious online art community ever built.   

The museums are laid out using Google street view technology so you can "virtually" walk through the halls of the museum's going from one piece of art to the next.  And the image of each piece is taken with such high resolution that you can zoom in to see great detail.   In fact you can get much closer to the paintings than a guard at the museum would ever let you stand.  Try zooming into one of Van Gogh’s pieces and you can see every hair on every brush stroke. 

The work is cataloged and each piece has a general description, short history of the piece, and a Google map link that tells you where the piece can be found.  Very friendly layout, easy to navigate and you never get tired of zooming into the work.  Another great feature is you can “favorite” works of art and build your own online collection.  Save your collection for future reference, use your saved collection to give a slideshow lecture, share with online friends or just post your collection for all the world to see.   


You can search with several categories including: artist, museum, type of work, date, and country. The search results are displayed in a slideshow format.  This enables you to search across numerous collections to find artworks that fit your parameters of interest.  So for example you can search across all the participating museums for works created in the year 1889 or search for all the art created by Henry Moore or search for all the paintings of a "beach" or "small children" or how about all abstract paintings or all paintings from Spain. The search possibilities are fantastic.

There is a section of “Art Talks” with well-known art historians with subjects like, “Look like an Expert”. 

And Google is just getting started.  Imagine walking around Art Basel from the comfort of your home.  Or broadcasting an artist’s opening for the world to see.  How about a taste generator to alert you to selections of work you may not know but fit your personal taste?  So many possibilities. 

So far there are over 46 museums and over 32,000 artworks online and Google Art is available in 18 languages.  Google continues to announce new partnerships and already has commitments with over 151 new museums.  
Bravo Google!   
Here are some links;
Google Art Project website here
Google Art Project Posts here
Engage Article here
Wikipedia Art Google info here

It’s funny to me, friends and family complain about all the advertising and monitoring that Google does.  I have a completely different take.  I am amazed by all the free tools Google has given me.  My email address and email service, getting directions and checking the traffic on I-95 every morning on Google maps, house shopping with street view, finding the right hotel with the perfect beach on Google earth, searching the web and finding answers to anything, storing my important documents on Google drive, Google docs where I view, create and edit documents, my calendar, my address book, my web browser, Picasa web to store all my family pictures, this blog site, Google translate and now the ability to virtually walk around Museums and see artwork I may never have seen.  And so far I have paid $0 for these tools.  Remember when software cost money?  So what if they do some targeted advertising?  For all those tools I think it’s worth it!  If someone has to take over the world, I’m cool with Google doing it. GL 

NYT - National Gallery Acquires a van Honthorst Masterwork - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

The National Gallery of Art has acquired “The Concert,” a 1623oil by Gerrit van Honthorst, to bolster its Baroque holdings.

National Gallery Acquires a van Honthorst Masterwork 

New York Times

By CAROL VOGEL

Published: November 21, 2013 

Although the National Gallery of Art in Washington has a rich collection of old master paintings, it has none by Caravaggio. “In principle, we’d love to have a Caravaggio,” said Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., the curator of Northern Baroque painting at the museum. “But there are more maybe-a-Caravaggios out there. If something came on the market that really was by him and of the quality we’d want, it would probably be well out of our price range.” 

Instead, Mr. Wheelock set out a few years ago to illustrate the profound influence that Caravaggio had on artists in 17th-century Europe, as his style, characterized by diagonal light and dramatic shadows, traveled north with Dutch and Flemish artists who had visited Rome. 

In 2009, for example, the museum bought “Bagpipe Player,” a 1624 canvas of a man shown in profile with his instrument, by the Dutch master Hendrick ter Brugghen, from a group of old master dealers who had purchased it at a Sotheby’s auction in New York for $10.2 million. 

Now the National Gallery has further enriched its collection by recently acquiring “The Concert,” a monumental 1623 painting (over 4 feet high by nearly 7 feet wide) by the great Dutch painter Gerrit van Honthorst. “We never anticipated that anything of this quality would be available,” said Mr. Wheelock, who first saw “The Concert” in a back room at Adam Williams Fine Art in Manhattan. 

Although neither he nor the dealer Adam Williams would say what the museum paid for the work, experts in the field suggested that the price was around $20 million. 

“It’s not often in your career you can say that something is the best picture ever painted by an artist, but in this case I can,” said Mr. Williams, who said he had jointly purchased the work with Anthony Speelman, a London dealer, after Mr. Speelman saw it in Paris. It had resided in a chateau in Burgundy since the early 19th century, he said.

Continue Reading NYT Article 

 

Pinion Gallery at Hotel Mimo / Art Basel - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Pinion Gallery  The Hotel Mimo is hosting a show of work by a group of International Artists.  Curated and hosted by David McLeish.  December 5 -8 with an Artist Reception  Friday the 6th from 7 - 9:30pm.

The show and hotel is right down the street from the new PAMM museum and is a great stop when in the area.  GL

"Video of the Week" - Lost Wax Casting - by Florida Fine Art Blog

Video of the Week
Lost Wax Casting

Earlier this week I posted an article about the sculpture "La Florida" give as an award for the Florida Artist Hall of Fame.  The bronze sculpture is made using the lost wax casting method. Years ago I was lucky enough to watch this bronze sculpture process at the Foundry of Art Massimo del Chiaroin in Pietrasanta, Italy. Pietrasanta is one of the sculpture capitals of the world and I was there visiting Nilda Comas while she was at her studio working.  The foundry uses the same process and even some of the same materials as in ancient times.  Once I observed the process and the skilled craftsmen I have never looked at sculpture the same way again. GL

Foundry of Art Massimo del Chiaroin website
Nilda Comas Bronze Sculpture

John F. Kennedy Official White House Portrait - by Florida Fine Art Blog

 

John F. Kennedy Official White House Portrait

On this 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination I wanted to highlight this portrait which has always fascinated me.  Painted posthumously in 1970 by Aaron Shikler, a famous American portrait artist.  The painting has a haunting quality and created quite a stir when first released.  The image of a world leader looking down with hands folded broke from the centuries old tradition of a strong forward facing portrait of a man with arms by his side, looking forward with power and confidence.  The eyes of Kennedy are not even seen as if to convey his distance from us and the defeat of his rule.  It's an appropriately shockingly sad image.  One that makes the viewer ask what is wrong with this man, what happened?  Jacqueline Kennedy personally selected Shikler and gave her approval of the finished work.  GL


President John F. Kennedy was a lifelong supporter and advocate of the arts, and frequently steered the public discourse toward what he called "our contribution to the human spirit." Kennedy took the lead in raising funds for the new National Cultural Center...
...Two months after President Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, Congress designated the National Cultural Center (designed by Edward Durell Stone) as a "living memorial" to Kennedy, and authorized $23 million to help build what was now known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. (from the Kennedy Center Website)

Below are quotes from President Kennedy on the Arts;

"Art is the great democrat, calling forth creative genius from every sector of society, disregarding race or religion or wealth or color."

"If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him."

"Above all, we are coming to understand that the arts incarnate the creativity of a free people. When the creative impulse cannot flourish, when it cannot freely select its methods and objects, when it is deprived of spontaneity, then society severs the root of art."

"To further the appreciation of culture among all the people.  To increase respect for the creative individual, to widen participation by all processes and fulfillment's of art - This is one of the fascinating challenges of these days."

"The life of the artist is, in relation to his work, stern and lonely. He has labored hard, often amid deprivation, to perfect his skill. He has turned aside from quick success in order to strip his vision of everything secondary or cheapening. His working life is marked by intensive application and intense discipline."

"The highest duty of the writer, the composer, the artist is to remain true to himself and let the chips fall where they may."

Beck's Beer Announces Results of 'State of the Arts' Study - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Beck's Beer, the most popular German beer brand in the world and longtime friend of the arts, today announced the results of the inaugural Beck's State of the Arts Study.

The study examines American attitudes toward art and the manner by which it is consumed. The overarching insight is that young adults (aged 21-29) are more likely to bypass the traditional gatekeepers of art – museums and galleries – and to have a more expansive view of art than their older peers. 

The study was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Beck's Beer, from July 29-31, 2013, among 1,916 adults ages 21 and older.

The Beck's State of the Arts Study found that young adults overwhelmingly value art, and are embracing a variety of art forms, ranging from traditional to modern and experiential. But art exposure is increasingly less conventional in the age of social media and perpetual photo sharing. Young adults don't limit their intake to museums and galleries. They are accessing art through new venues and mediums. The study found:

• 82 percent of young, adult Americans (aged 21-29) agree that art is a valuable cultural institution.
• 81 percent of young, adult Americans (aged 21-29) are regularly exposed to art, versus only 60 percent of older Americans aged 30 or older.
• Young, adult Americans appreciate graffiti/street art more than their older peers; 70 percent of 21-29 year-old Americans believe that graffiti and street art should be hanging in art museums and galleries. Less than half of Americans age 30 or older agree.
• For 33 percent of young, adult Americans (aged 21-29), it has been at least one year since their last museum or gallery visit, and a full 19 percent have never visited an art museum or gallery in their lifetime.
• Americans aged 21-29 tend to consume art via the Internet (52 percent through the internet, non-mobile device, 51 percent on their smartphone/tablet), while Americans aged 30 or older are more likely to consume art with a visit to a gallery or museum than via smartphone or tablet.
• 50 percent of Americans aged 21-29 regularly consume art organically, on the street or by walking around, whereas only one-third of older Americans say the same.
• Adult Americans as a whole appear to believe that high-quality art does not need to be expensive. Sixty-eight percent believe they do not need to spend a great deal of money (more than $1,000) on a quality work of art. Sixty-four percent report having spent $100 or less on a work of art.

"Beck's has been participating in the arts for more than 25 years, using our label as a canvas to bring new and unique works of art to beer drinkers," said Chris Curtis, brand manager, Beck's Beer. "Our State of the Arts Study reveals that adult Americans have an extremely healthy appetite for art. Much like how they consume books, music, TV and movies, adult Americans are increasingly bypassing the traditional gatekeepers to experience art."

Other findings from the survey include:

• Many adult Americans still want to see classic works of art, despite prioritizing non-traditional art channels. When those who have not seen at least one of these famous works of art in person were asked to choose which they would most want to see in person, da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" was the winner, selected by 34 percent. The Mona Lisa was followed by:
  • Michelangelo's "David" (27 percent)
  • Monet's "Water Lilies" (15 percent)
  • Banksy's "Balloon Girl" (6 percent)
  • JR's "Inside Out Project" (4 percent)
  • Basquiat's "LNAPRK" (2 percent)
• Among all adult Americans, paintings were the most preferred art medium; 30 percent of adult Americans deem it their favorite. Photography came in second, at 16 percent. Photography was followed by:
  • Sculpture (8 percent)
  • Drawings (5 percent)
  • Graffiti/Street art (3 percent)
  • Video (3 percent)
  • Graphic design (2 percent)
  • Other medium (1 percent)
  • No preferred medium (32 percent)

Beck's Art Labels
Each year for more than 25 years, Beck's has transformed its beer bottles into art canvases for aspiring and established artists alike. This year, beginning in July 2013, Beck's turned over its labels to an eclectic mix of musicians, designers, performance artists and photographers, who each created a piece of original artwork. For more details, please visit Beck's Art Labels media site or Facebook.com/BecksBeer.

About Beck's Beer
Beck's is the most popular German beer brand in the world and a champion of independent thinking. All Beck's beers are brewed according to the German Purity Law of 1516 using only four natural ingredients. 

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States between July 29-31, 2013 among 1,916 adults ages 21and older, by Harris Interactive via its QuickQuery® omnibus product on behalf of Beck's Beer. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For more information on the full findings, contact Dave McNamee at (646) 274-3635 or dmcnamee@hlgrp.com.

SOURCE Beck's Beer

'Unique contribution' to FAU campus - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Felecia Chizuko Carlisle's "Ee-glee's gate" was created specifically for the Schmidt Center Gallery 

Public Space at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. (Photo by Jonathan D. Marcus)

'Unique contribution' to FAU campus

By Jonathan D. Marcus

A provocative new art installation in Boca Raton creatively blends a bold, architecturally inspired design with the subtleties of light and shadow.
Miami-based artist Felecia Chizuko Carlisle's "Ee-glee's gate" occupies a portion of the Schmidt Center Gallery Public Space at Florida Atlantic University's Performing Arts Building.

The work is the first offering of the "southXeast: Contemporary Southeastern Art" show. The complete exhibit will be displayed at the school's University Galleries early next year.

"It's definitely a unique contribution," said Rod Faulds, University Galleries' director and "southXeast" co-curator. "Like any art, you might not get it the first time you see it. You need to immerse yourself in it."

The piece has dozens of white-painted wooden slabs that span between two corridor walls like a suspended castle or cathedral. This frame, which was inspired by the architectural and mathematical concepts of Gothic cathedrals, contains four projectors that each cast images of 16 tracings on both walls. The images make use of light and shadow, which transition into different geometric patterns over time.

"I just want the people who use this space on a regular basis to have a different experience of it," Carlisle said. 

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Spotlight On: “La Florida,” The Florida Artists Hall of Fame sculpture - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

“La Florida,” the Florida Artists Hall of Fame sculpture by Enzo Torcoletti. Photo courtesy of 

Florida Division of Cultural Affairs

Today The Florida Council on Arts and Culture will be voting on inductees into the Florida Artist Hall of Fame for 2014.  The Hall of Fame is the highest honor given to an artists in Florida.  We as a council review applications and then meet to discuss and vote on inductees.  Our recommendations are sent to the Secretary of State for review and then for final approval by the Governor.  The article below has some background on the award and on the statue/sculpture given to each artist inducted. I have also included a few pictures of the induction ceremony which takes place every spring in Tallahassee during "Heritage Days". GL

From CultureBuildsFlorida.Org

Posted on March 19, 2013

by Tim Storhoff

Induction into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed upon creative individuals by the state of Florida. When three artists are inducted into the Hall of Fame on March 20, they will have a plaque in their honor added to the Florida Artists Hall of Fame Wall on the Plaza Level in the rotunda of the Capitol Building and receive a sculpture of La Florida by Florida sculptor Enzo Torcoletti.

The state legislature established the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 1986 and sought someone to produce the award that would be given to inductees. The following year, Mr. Torcoletti was contacted about the project and began working on potential designs for the sculpture.

 Secretary Ken Detzner, Chairman Lochrie, Frank Thomas and Chairman Billie 2013

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Civil War painting going up for auction in NYC - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

"Sunday Morning in the Camp of the Seventh Regiment near Washington, D.C., in May 1861" by Sanford Robinson Gifford

Miami Herald

A painting by Sanford Robinson Gifford made while he served in the Union Army could bring as much as $5 million at auction.

"Sunday Morning in the Camp of the Seventh Regiment near Washington, D.C., in May 1861" could set a new auction record for the Hudson River School artist on Dec. 5, Christie's auction house said. The presale estimate is $3 million to $5 million.

The seller is The Union League Club in New York City, which acquired it directly from the artist in 1871. It is one of four major paintings Gifford made of the Civil War as a Union soldier. 

The current auction record for a Gifford work is $2.1 million, set at Christie's in 2005 for his "Fire Island Beach."

"Sunday Morning in the Camp of the Seventh Regiment" hung in the Oval Office of the White House when it was on loan there from 1976 to 1989.

The oil painting, measuring 16 inches by 30 inches, has been exhibited at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Corcoran Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Gifford served three tours of duty in the Union Army as a member of the 8th Company of the 7th Regiment, the New York State National Guard. The regiment was among the first President Abraham Lincoln called to defend the Capitol.

The painting depicts soldiers gathered on a grassy field on the outskirts of Washington as a clergyman preaches from a podium draped with the American flag. The Capitol, the Potomac River and the unfinished Washington Monument are visible in the background.

The Union League Club is selling the work to raise funds for improvements to its landmark Park Avenue clubhouse. It was founded in 1863 to help preserve the Union. The club's contributions include helping erect the Statue of Liberty and the Lincoln Monument in Union Square. Members have included prominent civic, state and national leaders. Today it is a social club that focuses on public affairs.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/19/3764560/civil-war-painting-going-up-for.html#storylink=cpy

 

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/19/3764560/civil-war-painting-going-up-for.html#storylink=cpy