African-American Art Auction, New York

Swann Auction Galleries in New York has announced the date of the African-American Art auction, Thursday, October 8, 2009. Among the 116 artworks for sale are prints is an etching by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859 - 1937), Gateway in Tangier; photographs by Cornelius M. Battey (1873 - 1927); and sculpture by Augusta Savage and Elizabeth Catlett.

From the Swann Galleries website:

Sale 2189 Lot 7

CORNELIUS M. BATTEY (1873 - 1927)
W. E. B. Du Bois.

Silver print, 1918. 343x260 mm; 13 1/2x10 1/4 inches. With the artist's embossed stamp, "The Photographic Division, C.M. Battey, Instructor, Tuskegee Institute, Alabama," lower left....
Estimate $2,000-3,000

Basquiat's "Self-Portrait" Among Artworks in Billionaire Art Collection

As reported in the July 24, 2009 Forbes.com article: Top Billionaire Art Collectors, Jean-Michel Basquiat's "Self-Portrait," is among the art collection of billionaire, Philip Niarchos. The article reports that Mr. Niarchos's collection is worth at least $2 billion. His collection was acquired from the estate of his father, Stavros Niarchos, a shipping magnate, and is known to include masterpieces by Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso.

19th Century African-American Embroidery Needlework Collected by Winterthur

The Magazine Antiques reports that Winterthur Museum in Delaware has purchased a rare Berlin work picture stitched by an African-American schoolgirl from Philadelphia needlework dealer, Amy Finkel. The piece has been identified as stitched by Olevia Rebecca Parker, a student of the Lombard Street School in Philadelphia, c. 1828. According to the article only a handful of samplers by African-American girl are known to be in existence.

African-American Art Exceeds High Estimates at Auction

A few noted auction results in African-American art that exceeded high estimates.

Ethan Allen Greenwood's Sambo The Beggar Man, 1854, realized a sales price of $ 13, 420 at Rago Arts and Auction Center's recent Estates Sale. This item was featured in an earlier post of our blog. The oil on canvas painting was among the top ten lots sold at both the Discovery and Estate Sales held August 7th and August 8th, respectively.

Romare Bearden (1911-1988) Jamming at the Savoy, sold for $10,000, just above the high estimate, at Christie's Prints and Multiples sale on July 22, 2009. At the same auction, Bearden's Brass Section went unsold.

Sam Gilliam (1938-) Lincoln Center Festival, sold for $ 2,000, several hundred dollars above its high estimate. The screen print in colors (see left) was produced in 2001 and is an artist's proof published by Lincoln Center, New York.

The total sales came to 1, 159,312 USD.

Earlier this year, Minnie Evans (1892-1987) Visionary Image sold for $ 13,750 at Sotheby's sale of The Property of Dr. and Mrs. Henry C. Landon III, January 24, 2009. The pencil and crayon on paper was originally estimated to sell for between 800-1,200 USD. In the same sale, Bearden's Morning of the Rooster: Mecklenburg County, sold for $ 2,812, over three times its high estimate. Total sale for this single owner auction was 1,534,386 USD.

Bust of Minnehaha by Edmonia Lewis sold at Cowan's Winter Fine and Decorative Art sale, February 7, 2009 for $ 52,875, surpassing its high estimate of $ 30,000.

The same auction featured another nineteenth-century artist, Robert Scott Duncanson. His oil on canvas painting, Robbing the Eagle's Nest, sold for $ 105, 750, over twice its high estimate of $ 50,000.

All sales prices include the buyer's premium.

Rago Estates Auction - August 8, 2009

Rago Arts is offering an auction of the contents of the home of Joseph Stanley, a well-known New Hope, Pennsylvania antique dealer, on Saturday, August 8th. The contents of the mansion called "Cinta," include this impressive oil on canvas painting by Ethan Allen Greenwood, "Sambo The Beggar Man," 1854. The pre-sale estimate is $ 2,000 - $ 3,000.

Yinka Shonibare Exhibits in Tri-state Area Museums

Yinka Shonibare, the London-based, Nigerian artist is exhibiting a mid-career survey of work at the Brooklyn Museum, and an installation at The Newark Museum called "Party Time" a commission to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the museum's founding.

The New York Times reviewed Shonibare's work on June 17, 2009. The New York Times web site also features a short film called "Art and Identity" examing Shonibare's work, along with a clip from Art 21, the PBS series on contemporary art.

Debate: Quality Art, Discourse, Education, and Neighborhood

The Chicago Tribune's blog, Art Talk Chicago, recently posted an editorial by photographer Dawoud Bey, examining issues of representation for Chicago's African-American artists.

The Harsh Realities of Being A Professional Artist or What Does Race, Gender or Neighborhood Have to Do With It?

Local News On African-American Art

I think its important to keep abreast of local art news. Here are two articles that peaked my interest. Each piece covers a local art event/issue which reflect national concerns or scholarly debate: qualifying the African-American art canon, and how a community (and a nation) can help support local black-owned art galleries.

Post your comments and reflections.

Art: Del. show is a didactic sampler

Bayard Gallery, devoted to African-American art, will reopen in new location months after announcing closing

Gordon Parks Foundation Hosts "Celebrating Fashion" Awards Gala

blackgivesback, a blog dedicated to philanthrophy in the Black community, highlights the Gordon Parks Foundation's "Celebrating Fashion" Awards Gala.

Paul Jones African-American Art Collection

A short film featuring the African-American art collection of Paul Jones, recently shown at the Bryant Center and Stillman College.

Credit: Tommy Stevenson, an associate editor at The Tuscaloosa News in Alabama.

Changing of the Guard: The White House Art Collection

As the President suits up for the battle ahead on the nomination of the first Hispanic woman to the Supreme Court of the United States of America, so too is there a changing of the guard in the art represented on the walls of the White House. This Wall Street Journal article reports on the revamping of the White House art collection. Providing insight on the curators, advisors, and collectors who are part of the larger frame, we witness the history of the selection process which has roots in nineteenth-century visual conventions, connoisseurship, and controversy.

Montclair Art Museum to Sell Artworks from Permanent Collection

In the April 15th Wall Street Journal article written by James Panero, Another Art Museum Puts Its Collection on the Block, the Montclair Art Museum reveals plans to deaccession fifty works from the permanent collection.

Among the works for sale will be a Jackson Pollack, works from the Hudson River School and American impressionists. According to Christie's auction house, the sale will yield between $2.9 million and $4.3 million for the museum, which will use the funds for future acquisitions.

Park West Gallery sued by customers

This is an important notice to customers who purchased Park West Gallery pieces. Please read the Art Newspaper article for details.

Artist of "Obama Hope" Arrested for Tagging

Shepard Fairey, the artist whose poster "Hope" features an image of President Barack Obama, originally produced as a photograph, has been arrested in Boston for tagging property with graffiti, as reported in the Los Angeles Times. Mr. Fairey is currently in dispute with the Associated Press on copyright use violations for the Obama "Hope" poster.

Art Podcasts on Authentic Art

I came across this valuable podcast resource, Authentic Art Visions: The Artcasts. The online broadcasts feature commentary by some of our nation's most influential art critics, market observers and practioners (appraisers), art historians, curators, artists, and gallerists. Authentic Art Visions: The Artcasts is a worthy find. You can also subscribe via iTunes. Enjoy.

Brandeis University Rose Art Museum Closing

As the Facebook community of Save the Rose Art Museum advances past 7,000 members, the President of Brandeis University, Jehuda Reinharz, admits a misstep in announcing the museum's closing: Brandeis President Issues an Apology.

Quilts for Obama

A collection of quilts celebrating the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, are on view at The Historical Society of Washington, DC. Quilts for Obama is guest curated by photographer and quilter, Roland Freeman, and features the quilts of Freeman, Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, and many others. The exhibition ends on January 31, 2009.


Photo ©2009 Chas E. Martin
Quilt ©2008 Carolyn L. Mazloomi
36"x36", Cotton, heat transfer,
appliqué, netting, machine quilted

Dr. David Driskell to speak at Art in the Atrium (Morristown, New Jersey)

Artistic Vistas is the 2009 edition of the Morristown, New Jersey-based Art in the Atrium African-American Fine Art show. Active since 1992, the coordinators of Art in the Atrium showcase the work of emerging and established artists.

This year's featured speaker is Dr. David C. Driskell, professor emeritus of the University of Maryland (College Park). Dr. Driskell is a featured artist in the show and will hold a discussion about his work. He will also make a formal presentation of his work, Woman in Interior, to the Morris Museum.

The opening reception is Friday, January 30 and the exhibition is available for viewing through March 20, 2009. Atrium Gallery, 2nd. Floor thru 5th Floor, Administration and Records Bldg
12 Court Street, Morristown, NJ 07960 973.540.0615, ataartist@hotmail.com.

"Obama Hope" Acquired by National Portrait Gallery

As reported in the New York Times the "Obama Hope" image by artist, Shepard Fairey, has been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery (Washington, DC). The image will be on display on Inauguration day, Tuesday, January 20, 2009.