The Business of Art
Gloria Gales
Art News
June 12, 2011
On April 30th the oldest gallery in Laguna Beach closed its doors for the last time. In 1950, Laguna Studio Gallery opened on Pacific Coast Highway with a focus on original art created by local artists. In 1966, the gallery was renamed Challis Galleries, and in 1984 the gallery was renamed once again, this time to The Esther Wells Collection.
I spoke with gallery director Charlie Ferrazzi about the closing of Esther Wells. She had mixed feelings as one would expect. Having owned art galleries, I know there is something good to be said about being independent. The restrictions of retail hours, the responsibilities of operating costs and everything else that is required to run a business can take a toll on one's lifestyle. Charlie said she would keep the gallery phone number and the website up and running.
The Business of Art
Gloria Gales
Art News
October 12, 2010
Small Art - Big Installation
What Would Van Gogh Say? Millions of sunflower seeds, and not a single sunflower petal, this is art today, and yes, it is beautiful.
Like snowflakes, each sunflower seed seems to look alike, but upon closer inspection, they are unique. Chinese artist, Ai Wiewei, with the help of many artists working under his supervision, created the sunflower seeds in porcelain. Each seed was hand-sculpted and painted.
The porcelain sunflower seeds were then poured into Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London. You can walk on them, touch them, let them run through your fingers, and, am I being too lofty? Become one with the art.
The exhibit runs from October 12, 2010 through May 2, 2011.
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/unileverseries2010/default.shtm
The Business of Art
Gloria Gales
Art News
June 25, 2010
Sawdust Art Festival!
A beautiful three acre piece of land in the Laguna Canyon is the site of the Sawdust Art Festival. The picturesque landscape adds to the character of the festival complete with over two-hundred exhibits by local artists. Exhibitors include painters, sculptors, potters, photographers, glass-blowers, jewelry and clothing designers. Live demonstrations are performed by artists daily. Many of the works of art are available for purchase.
The Sawdust has been a favorite Laguna Beach summer event for over forty years. There are children's art booths, restaurants, and live music. The festival will continue for nine weeks.
The Sawdust Art Festival is located at 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA. 92651
Festival Hours: 10:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. daily
Admission Prices: $7.75 adults, $6.25 seniors,
$3.25 children ages 6 to 12, children 5 and under are admitted free. A season pass is $20.00.
Laguna Beach residents are admitted for free with ID every Thursday evening after 5:00 P.M. and the first Friday of each month all day.
Website: http://www.sawdustartfestival.org
The Business of Art
Gloria Gales
Art News
May 12, 2010
She's a Grand Old Flag, She's a High Flying Flag!
Jasper Johns is Christie's golden boy. The beautiful $28.6 million dollar moment happened just recently. Mr. Johns will be 80 years old in 2 days. This is a record high for a Jasper Johns at auction.
The Business of Art
Gloria Gales
Art News
December 31, 2009
And the Winner Is: Raphael
2009 was not the best year for the art business as contemporary art prices dropped by fifty percent and sales fell seventy-five percent. New galleries as well as long established galleries closed their doors, but it isn't all bad news, many artists and art dealers are now enjoying the delights of working from their home studios, thank God for the internet!
As the year comes to a close we can all hope and pray for a more prosperous year ahead. My Christmas wish for all of the artists this year is that they find their muse and enjoy the gift of creating art.
It is fitting that the highest paid auction price for a work of art in 2009 was Raphael's Head of a Muse, a lovely chalk drawing of a soulful looking young woman. Raphael created the drawing as a study for a Vatican fresco.
The drawing fetched $47.5 million dollars at the Old Masters and 19th Century Art auction at Christie's in London on December 8th. More interesting is that the pre-sale estimate was fifty percent less than the selling price. The sale set a record for a work on paper, and we in the art business all know the reluctance of art collectors to pay high prices for works on paper. We do not know who the new owner of the Muse is, it was purchased anonymously via telephone. As always I can't help but wonder where the beautiful Raphael has landed. Is it displayed and enjoyed whist listening to Mozart and drinking fine wine, or is it tucked away in a vault waiting for the next auction?
Raphael (Raffaello Santi) Self Portrait
Raphael was born in Urbino, Italy in 1483, he died in Rome in 1520.
