March 3, 2015 - Auction Central News

VIDEO: Photography auction debut a success for Auctionata

Slim Aarons (1916-2006), American photographer, ‘Poolside Gossip,’ C-print, image dimensions: 25 ¼ x 38 in. Price realized: $6,000. Auctionata image

NEW YORK – Auctionata successfully completed its first photography sale from its New York broadcast studios on Feb. 26.

The auction, which lasted a little over two hours, attracted a global audience of 285 bidders from 26 countries. Total sales reached $96,240, with a total of 32 lots sold.

LiveAuctioneers.com contributed absentee and Internet live bidding.

A buyer from Hong Kong purchased a number of works depicting iconic scenes including Charles Harbutt’s Boys Smoking in a Car, Tom Kelley’s Pose #1 – Marilyn Monroe, Don Hunstein’s Bob Dylan and Suze Rotolo, and Walter Chin’s Lady Godiva. The Adam Fuss 2007 pigment print, Untitled, sold for $9,000 to a bidder from New York.

“I am so thrilled by the success of this sale, the first of its kind from New York. By compiling works representative of the evolutionary nature of photography, we were able to attract a global audience of both established and burgeoning collectors who recognize the power of works by iconic, influential photographers of the 20th century as well as contemporary photographers,” said Aimee Pflieger, specialist and head of sale, photography. “It is truly fitting that as an online auction house, revolutionizing the traditional model, we were able to present artists who similarly revolutionized the medium over the decades.”

Popular lots from Auctionata’s photography sale included:

Lot 53 – Slim Aarons, C-print, Poolside Gossip, USA, 1970: $6,000

Lot 65 – Walter Chin, digital C-print, Lady Godiva, USA, 2000: $6,000

Lot 75 – James Casebere, dye-destruction, Barrel Vaulted Room, 1994: $5,400

Lot 68 – Loretta Lux, Ilfochrome print, Study of a Girl 2, 2002: $4,560

Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.

Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.

Watch video highlights from this auction by clicking here.

[button color=”black” size=”big” alignment=”center” rel=”follow” openin=”samewindow” url=”https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/67287_photography/page1″]Click here to view this catalog at LiveAuctioneers[/button]

Adam Fuss, (b. 1961), American/British photographer, Untitled, pigment print, 2007, dimensions: 40 ½ x 32 ½ in. Price realized: $9,000. Auctionata image

Walter Chin (b. 1955), American photographer, ‘Lady Godiva,’ digital C-print, 2000, image dimensions: 12 ½ x 18 in. Price realized $6,000. Auctionata image

James Casebere, (b. 1953), American contemporary artist and photographer, 'Barrel Vaulted Room,' 1994, dye-destruction, sheet dimensions: 30 x 24 in. Price realized: $5,400 Auctionata image — James Casebere, (b. 1953), American contemporary artist and photographer, ‘Barrel Vaulted Room,’ 1994, dye-destruction, sheet dimensions: 30 x 24 in. Price realized: $5,400 Auctionata image

Loretta Lux, (b. 1969), 'Study of a Girl 2,' 2002, Ilfochrome print, dimensions: 11 3/4 x 11 3/4 in. Price realized $4,560. Auctionata image — Loretta Lux, (b. 1969), ‘Study of a Girl 2,’ 2002, Ilfochrome print, dimensions: 11 3/4 x 11 3/4 in. Price realized $4,560. Auctionata image

Auctioneer Steve Brezzo and Aimee Pflieger, Auctionata's Head of Sale and Photography Specialist. Auctionata image — Auctioneer Steve Brezzo and Aimee Pflieger, Auctionata’s Head of Sale and Photography Specialist. Auctionata image

Ralph Pucci mannequins on parade at Museum of Arts & Design

‘Ralph Pucci in His Gallery,’ 2014. Collection of Ralph Pucci. Photo by Antoine Bootz

NEW YORK – The Museum of Arts and Design is presenting the first exhibition to explore the work of renowned New York-based designer Ralph Pucci, widely regarded for his innovative approach to the familiar form of the mannequin. “Ralph Pucci: The Art of the Mannequin” will be on view at the museum through Aug. 30.

Through a commitment to craftsmanship and unique artistic collaborations with the likes of Diane von Furstenberg, Patrick Naggar, Lowell Nesbitt, Andrée Putman, Kenny Scharf, Anna Sui, Isabel and Ruben Toledo, Christy Turlington and Veruschka, Pucci expanded the parameters of this ubiquitous sculptural form, while creating mannequins that reflect major cultural trends of the past three decades.

The exhibition features over 30 of Pucci’s most important mannequins, as well as an in-gallery recreation of the sculpture studio where his longtime collaborator Michael Evert creates the prototypes.

“This groundbreaking exhibition will reveal the fascinating convergence of design, craftsmanship, art and fashion at the heart of Pucci’s mannequins,” says Glenn Adamson, MAD’s director. “Visitors will get a unique behind-the-scenes understanding of the creative process involved in Pucci’s multidisciplinary endeavors.”

As Pucci was building his business in the 1970s, the notion of the “super model” – the living mannequin with a personality – emerged. Pucci captured this catalytic moment in his work, finding inspiration from sources as varied as Greek and Roman statues and the performance costumes of the New York Dolls. Pucci personified the previously anonymous form in new and challenging ways, creating visions of physical beauty that were more specific, empowered and diverse than the fashion industry had previously allowed. More than commercial armatures or sculptural forms, his mannequins became agents of change in our attitudes to the body, to fashion, and to individual identity.

“Pucci has not been afraid to diversify, abstract and satirize the human figure and generally to push ‘the culture envelope’ as he observed in a 2009,” said Lowery Stokes Sims, MAD’s chief curator. “He has also cultivated collaborative relationships with designers, models, artists and illustrators that have had energizing and inspiring results.”

In-Gallery Recreation of Sculpture Studio and Live Sculpting

MAD will reveal the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into the creation of the mannequin by focusing on the collaboration between Pucci and Michael Evert, his master sculptor and longtime collaborator. A recreation of the Pucci Sculpting Studio will feature the idea boards that are used to create mannequin designs, the mannequin forms in various stages of finish, and smaller maquettes revealing the traditional clay sculpting methods Evert uses to create the Pucci mannequins. A time-lapse video will uncover the start to finish cycle of the Pucci mannequin design and fabrication process, from the sculpting of the prototype by Evert to the final product ready for the marketplace.

In residence periodically during the exhibition’s run, Evert will conduct live “sittings” and sculpt models of selected fashion celebrities and members of the general public, offering visitors a first-hand look at his creative process. Various steps of assembly and finishing will be conveyed via photographs by Antoine Bootz.

Isabel and Ruben Toledo-Curated MAD Tiffany Jewelry Gallery

Renowned designers Isabel and Ruben Toledo will reinvent the entire Tiffany Jewelry Gallery as an imaginary moonscape. Inspired by the first mannequin Ruben created for Ralph Pucci, the surrealist jewelry form, “Birdland,” the gallery will contain barren undulating hills and valleys punctuated with half bird/half female mannequin forms and jewelry from MAD’s permanent collection.

Highlights from the Main Gallery exhibition include:

The Olympian Goddess, 1986: Pucci’s first big collaboration, this mannequin premiered at the opening for Barneys downtown women’s store in 1986, as a collaboration with interior designer Andrée Putman. Championing a different look from the standard slender mannequin, The Olympian Goddess was designed as a tall, upright, broad-shouldered, androgynous, imposing, and metallic-toned figure.
Birdland, 1988: Inspired by surrealism and Alexander Calder, this half-bird, half-woman form was created by Pucci’s longtime collaborator Ruben Toledo. It was originally made for jewelry and stood 24 inches tall, but was reimagined by Pucci as a full-size form for handbags and other accessories.
Olympic Gold, 1989: After attending the Olympian Goddess opening party in 1986 with Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, artist Lowell Nesbitt wanted to create a mannequin for Pucci. Three years later, Pucci collaborated with Nesbitt to create a male mannequin for the opening of Dayton Hudson’s Mall of America store. Moved by the controversy surrounding his friend Robert Mapplethorpe, Nesbitt used the collaboration as an opportunity to rethink ideals of male beauty. The muscular mannequin generated blockbuster publicity: In 1990 Olympic Gold made People magazine’s first “50 Most Beautiful People” issue. A configuration of Olympic Gold mannequins will be displayed in the Museum’s Barbara Tober Grand Atrium for the duration of the exhibition.
Ada, 1994: Inspired by her imaginative drawings of eccentric New Yorkers, Pucci collaborated with illustrator and writer Maira Kalman to create the Tango series, which includes three male and three female mannequins, each with Kalman’s signature primary colored hair and faces. At a time when minimalist clothing dominated store showrooms, the fashion industry embraced the light-hearted, whimsical mannequin line.
Swirley, 2000: Kenny Scharf created Swirley and a whole cast of Scharf’s iconic characters for Ralph Pucci —some with one eye, some with three, and others with cone heads—all presented in different colors. The series represents one of Pucci’s most risk-taking collaborations.
Motion², 2013: This line designed by Pucci premiered in 2014 at the Museum of Arts and Design, as part of “NYC Makers: The MAD Biennial.” Influenced by the Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake and the legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, the bright red mannequins act as lively animations of the typically static mannequin form.
Diane von Furstenberg, 2013: Pucci created this mannequin for an exhibition celebrating fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg’s iconic wrap dress. Inspired by ancient Chinese terra-cotta warriors’ simple poses and by the designer’s facial features, the mannequins have since become von Furstenberg’s signature form, used in all her stores.

“Ralph Pucci: The Art of the Mannequin” is organized by Barbara Paris Gifford, curatorial assistant and project manager in consultation with MAD Chief Curator Lowery Stokes Sims.

‘Diane Von Furstenberg,’ 2013. Pucci Mannequins, fiberglass, collection of Ralph Pucci. Photo by Antoine Bootz

‘Birdland,’ 1988. Ruben Toledo, designer; Pucci Mannequins, fabricator; fiberglass, collection of Ralph Pucci. Photo by Antoine Bootz

‘Olympic Gold,’ 1989. Lowell Nesbitt, designer; Pucci Mannequins, fabricator; fiberglass, collection of Ralph Pucci. Photo by Antoine Bootz

‘Sculptor Michael Evert in His Studio’ with mannequin mold. From left: Model, Diane Von Furstenberg, Model 1, Model 2, 2014, collection of Ralph Pucci

‘The Olympian Goddess,’ 1986. Andree Putman, designer; Pucci Mannequins, fabricator; fiberglass, collection of Ralph Pucci. Photo by Antoine Bootz

15th century Florence Cathedral sculptures on view in NYC

Donatello's 'St. John the Evangelist.' Image by Richardfabi. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

NEW YORK (AP) – More than two dozen early 15th-century sculptures created for Florence Cathedral are making an unprecedented appearance in New York City.

The Museum of Biblical Art on Manhattan’s Upper West Side is the sole worldwide venue for the exhibition “Sculpture in the Age of Donatello.”

Most have never been seen outside Italy.

The trove is on loan during renovations at the cathedral’s Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.

It includes Donatello’s Saint John the Evangelist, which was carved for the cathedral facade.

Other works include the Florentine Renaissance master’s life-size marble Lo Zuccone. The work depicting the prophet Habakkuk was made for the cathedral’s bell tower.

The 23 works also include Brunelleschi’s wood models for the cathedral’s soaring dome.

The exhibition runs through June 14.

AP-WF-03-02-15 1701GMT

Marble statue of Habacuc, better known as 'Zuccone' ( — Marble statue of Habacuc, better known as ‘Zuccone’ (

Gallery Report: March 2015

ATLANTA – On the 1st of each month, ACN columnist Ken Hall gathers top auction highlights from around the United States and beyond. Here’s what made headlines since last month’s report:

Rosewood center table, $86,637, Neal Auction

An American Rococo carved and laminated rosewood center table attributed to John H. Belter, circa 1850-1860, sold for $86,637 at a Winter Estates Auction held Jan. 31-Feb.1 by Neal Auction Co. in New Orleans. Also, a beautifully carved late Qing Dynasty jadeite censer garnered $57,360; a 1941 oil painting by Clarence Millet (New Orleans, 1897-1959), titled The Bayou at Lafitte, rose to $53,860; and a pair of late Regency gilt bronze figural lamps by Messenger & Sons were a hit for $25,095. Prices include a 22 percent buyer’s premium.

1490 edition, Aesop’s Fables, $24,780, Michaan’s Auctions

A circa 1490 edition of the book Aesop’s Fables, one of the first of 25 editions, sold for $24,780 at a Fine Art, Decorative Arts, Asian Art & Jewelry Auction held Feb. 7 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, Calif. Also, a mid-15th century astronomical medical calendar hammered for $10,030; a pair of jewelry coral suites fetched $4,720 and $3,835; a Pomo Degikup coiled basket brought $4,130; and an ornate Asian rosewood chair with intricate mother-of-pearl decoration went to a determined bidder for $1,652. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.

Ten letters, British Royals, $4,320, L.A. Auction House

A trove of 10 personal letters written between 1948 and 1950 by British Royals, mostly from Queen Elizabeth II to Sharman Douglas (Princess Margaret’s close personal friend) and Douglas’ mother, Mrs. Lewis Douglas, sold for $4,320 at a Winter Fine & Decorative Arts Sale held Jan. 15 by Los Angeles Auction House in Santa Monica, Calif. Also, a Madoura ceramic chouette, or wood owl, vase by Pablo Picasso fetched $16,800; and an 1894 color lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec made $10,200. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Elvis Presley memorabilia, $5,000, Ahlers & Ogletree

A framed collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia and autographs, including a Presley-signed copy of the sheet music for I Got Stung! (recorded in Nashville in 1958), plus photos of Elvis singing on stage and playing the piano, sold for $5,000 at a Winter Estates Auction held Feb. 8 by Ahlers & Ogletree in Atlanta. Also, a mid-to-late 1950s Coca-Cola 10-cent vending machine by Vendo, restored, bright red, fetched $3,000; and a baseball signed by hall-of-famer Ty Cobb and dated “12/16/59” made $2,250. Prices are hammer, exclusive of a buyer’s premium.

Queen Anne tray-top table, $299,000, Cottone Auctions

An 18th century Queen Anne tray-top tea table sold for $299,000 at an auction held Feb. 21-22 by Cottone Auctions in Geneseo, N.Y. The lovely mahogany table, with scalloped skirt and pad feet, is believed to have been made by Peter Scott, a cabinetmaker in Williamsburg, Va. It was originally thought to have been produced in England. Also, a gyratory kinetic sculpture by George Warren Rickey (American, 1907-2002), one of three signed by Rickey in 1987, stainless steel, 8 feet 9 inches tall, realized $115,000. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Ming Dynasty Quanyin, $189,600, James D. Julia

A bronze figure of a Quanyin from the Ming Dynasty period sold for $189,600 at an Antiques & Fine Art Auction held Feb. 4-6 by James D. Julia Inc. in Fairfield, Maine. Also, a set of 25 carved and painted shore birds by master decoy carver A. Elmer Crowell soared to $82,950; a natural jadeite emerald green pendant with a carved depiction of a Quanyin went for $54,150; and a trove of original sheet music, broadsides and photographs relating to the piano virtuoso “Blind Tom” Wiggins topped out at $29,625. Prices include an 18.5 percent buyer’s premium.

1891 Coca-Cola calendar, $150,000, Morphy Auctions

An 1891 Coca-Cola calendar in near-mint condition, one of only two known and the only one of its particular type, sold for $150,000 at an Antique Advertising & Fine & Decorative Arts Auction held Dec. 5-7 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa. Also, a 1902 Coca-Cola poster emblazoned with “Drink Carbonated Coca-Cola in Bottles” climbed to $40,800; an R.W. Martin Brothers stoneware Wally Bird tobacco jar, 1890, with blue eyes, made $37,200; and an 1898 Manhattan Electrical Supply telephone hit $18,000. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Winchester 1866 rifle, $25,875, Rock Island

An Ulrich-engraved, factory documented Winchester 1866 rifle sold for $25,875 at a Regional Firearms Auction held Feb. 19-22 by Rock Island Auction Co. in Rock Island, Ill. Also, a lot consisting of Nazi-style daggers, accoutrements and artifacts sailed past its estimate of $1,000-$1,600 to realize $8,625; a U.S. Ordnance semiautomatic copy of the Vickers machine gun, with tripod and accessories, fetched $7,475; and a W.J. Jeffrey & Co. custom bolt-action safari rifle, chambered in .404 Jeffrey, hit $6,900. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Florentine marble frieze, $66,000, Fairfield Auction

A Florentine marble frieze depicting the Madonna and Child sold for $66,000 at an auction held Nov. 16 by Fairfield Auction in Monroe, Conn. Also, a bronze by Franz von Stuck titled Monna Vanna rose to $43,200; a 3.4-carat diamond solitaire ring sold for $30,000; another ring, with a 2.5-carat diamond center stone, finished at $14,400; a still life painting by Nikolaus Gyzis went within estimate for $13,200; and a Buccellati sterling silver shell-form centerpiece realized $10,200. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Pierre Mignard portrait, $81,250, Doyle New York

A portrait by Pierre Mignard (French, 1612-1695) of Louis Francois Marie Le Tellier (1668-1701), appointed secretary of war by King Louis XIV in 1691, sold for $81,250 at a sale of Important English & Continental Furniture and Decorations & Old Master Paintings held Jan. 28 by Doyle New York in New York City. Also, an Empire gilt-metal mounted giltwood gueridon with white marble top soared to $62,500; and an 18th century English School portrait of Queen Carolina Wilhelmina, Princess of Wales, rose to $43,750. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

Toulouse-Lautrec litho, $60,000, Auctionata

An 1893 lithograph by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec titled Jane Avril sold for $60,000 at a Modern Masters Auction held Jan. 22 by Auctionata in New York City. Also, a lithograph by Pierre-Auguste Renoir titled Enfants Jouant a la balle fetched $36,000; an oil on paper by Alexander Archipenko titled Two Figures (circa 1919-1922) realized $24,000; a color lithograph after Marc Chagall from 1949 titled Les Coquelicots brought $24,000; and a watercolor by Paulemile Pissarro titled Le Viaduc hit $1,200. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Elephant weather vane, $17,000, Locati Auctions

An early 20th century elephant-form copper weather vane sold for $17,000 in an online auction held Dec. 1-15 by Locati Auctions in Maple Glen, Pa. Also, a diamond engagement ring sold for $17,500; a 1960 Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone hit $4,200; an artwork depiction of a reclining nude surrounded by animals, after Leonard T. Foujita (Japanese/French, 1886-1968) brought $3,200; and an oil on panel of a horse by Frances Mabel Hollams (British, 1877-1963) fetched $3,300. Prices are hammer, exclusive of a buyer’s premium.

1942 DiMaggio jersey, $169,400, Goldin Auctions

A jersey worn during the 1942 baseball season by New York Yankees great Joe DiMaggio sold for $169,400 at a Winter Auction held Feb. 7 by Goldin Auctions in West Berlin, N.J. Also, a 1920 autographed Chicago White Sox baseball featuring six players banned in the Black Sox scandal – including “Shoeless” Joe Jackson – was a hit for $81,070; a 1952 Topps baseball card set, near-complete and graded, made $72,600; and Al Pacino’s 1973 Golden Globe award for the movie Serpico gaveled for $62,920. Prices include a 21 percent buyer’s premium.

1632 Shakespeare folio, $114,000, PBA Galleries

A 1632 second folio edition of William Shakespeare sold for $114,000 at a sale of Rare Books & Manuscripts held Feb. 8 by PBA Galleries in San Francisco, Calif. Also, a rare inscribed presentation of James Lind’s 1753 work, A Treatise of the Scurvy, in which he suggested that sailors who had scurvy could be cured by adding fruits and vegetables to their diets, went for $66,000; and a 10-line fragment of an ink manuscript by Sir Isaac Newton on Christ’s capacity to open “the sealed book” of Revelations hit $24,000. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Cromwellian table, $5,462, Carlsen Gallery

A Cromwellian plank-top table with carved apron sold for $5,462 at an auction held Feb. 8 by Carlsen Gallery in Freehold, N.Y. Also, an oil on canvas painting titled Portrait of Maria Von Dongen changed hands for $12,650; an oil on canvas titled Cliffs and Surf (’96), signed W.T. Richards, climbed to $11,500; a diamond solitaire of around 4.1 carats, set in platinum, hit $5,175; a signed Webb cameo vase, 6 ¼ inches tall, made $4,888; and a 19th century gilded copper running horse weather vane went for $4,600. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

JFK and Jackie photos, $32,500, RR Auction

A photographic proof booklet containing 27 previously unreleased images of John and Jacqueline Kennedy, taken by Washington Post heiress Katharine Graham at Bunny Mellon’s Cape Cod beach shack in August 1961, sold for $32,500 at an auction held Feb. 19 by RR Auction in Boston, Mass. Also, an Albert Einstein letter in which he discusses God, creation and his theory of relativity brought $75,000; and an autograph collection of nearly every president from Washington to George W. Bush hit $40,625. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

Ali-Liston boxing gloves, $956,000, Heritage Auctions

The boxing gloves worn by both Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston in their infamous second battle, held in Lewiston, Maine, also known as “The Phantom Punch Fight,” sold for $956,000 at a Platinum Night Sports Auction held Feb. 21 by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions in New York City. Also, the bat that Babe Ruth used to hit his 58th and 59th home runs of the 1921 season was a smash for $717,000; and Sandy Koufax’s game-worn Brooklyn rookie jersey from 1955, the first year the Dodgers won the World Series, hit $573,600. Prices include a 19.5 percent buyer’s premium.

Saul Steinberg collage, $20,000, Swann Auction

A pen and ink drawing with collage by Saul Steinberg, titled Equivalent of 8 and first appearing in the Nov. 17, 1962 issue of The New Yorker magazine, sold for $20,000 at a sale of Illustration Art held Jan. 22 by Swann Auction Galleries in New York City. Also, two pen and ink drawings by Aubrey Beardsley, titled Young Tough and A Miser, brought $13,750 and $11,875, respectively; and a mixed media with acrylic, wash and watercolor on board from Susan Beatrice Pearce titled Dreamland (1913) made $13,125. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

Ned Burgess bluebill, $21,850, Guyette & Deeter

A rare bluebill by Ned Burgess sold for $21,850 at the third annual Decoy Auction held Feb. 14 by Guyette & Deeter, St. Michaels, Md., in conjunction with this year’s Southern Wildlife Exposition in Charleston, S.C. Also, a decorative pair of bluewing teal by the Ward Brothers went for $18,400; a white wing scooter by Jim Schmiedlin fetched $11,500; a rare widgeon by A. Elmer Crowell made $11,500; a mallard by the Ward Brothers rose to $10,925; and a plover by Leffert Squire gaveled for $9,200. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Father-daughter artists stage exhibition at Maryland Hall

Lisa Egeli, 'New Blanket, Fresh Snow on a Still Morning,' oil on linen. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com archive and the Salmagundi Club, New York.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) – Like father like … daughter?

Peter Egeli, 80, is a well-regarded painter and portrait artist. A son of famed portraitist Bjorn Egeli, a native of Norway, he grew up in a family where every one of his siblings picked up the paintbrush en route to becoming acclaimed artists.

His son, Stuart Egeli, took another path. A 1992 Naval Academy graduate, he had a 24-year career in the Navy.

His daughter Lisa, 48, has now followed in his paint-spattered footsteps, becoming a third-generation member of the Egeli artistic legacy.

She, too, is a portrait and landscape artist. Her portraits hang in institutions and in public and private collections. Her portfolio includes meticulously detailed portraits of gorillas and chimpanzees painted in their natural settings.

On March 2 through April 11, the father-and-daughter duo are exhibiting their landscapes, maritime scenes and wildlife studies in the Chaney Gallery at Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis. Their showcase is called “Nature/ Nurture: The Paintings of Father and Daughter.”

This is the first time they have exhibited together since family members staged a show in Baltimore in 1985.

In the showcase will be about 50 of their works both large and small. Primarily oil paintings, the Egelis are incorporating several pastel sketches and watercolor paintings into the display.

Some were painted while the pair were outside, standing either side-by-side or back-to-back. Several were created near the house of her father and mother Elizabeth Stuart “Stu” Egeli in the St. Mary’s County town of Drayden.

Peter and Stu have been married 51 years. Carrying on the family tradition, Stu is an artist, too.

“My approach to art comes down through my dad,” said Lisa, who resides in Churchton with her wife, Jacqueline Savitz.

Comparing their style to that of an uncle, Cedric Egeli, who has a large studio on his Edgewater estate, Lisa said, “Our focus is on tonalism, instead of color.” She noted her father and uncle both served in the military. Her father was a Marine; Cedric went into the Army. Afterward, Cedric went to Cape Cod School of Art, studying under the influential Henry Hensche, while Peter honed his craft at the Corcoran School of Art and at Maryland Institute, under Jacques Maroger. Lisa, a graduate of the Academy of Art in Chicago, has studied in other fine arts programs in the U.S. and abroad.

It was Lisa’s idea to hold an exhibit with her father.

“It’s fun to have a chance to show with him,” said Lisa, who often requests critiques from her father. “He can critique something without changing it into what he would have done. It’s very helpful to me.”

Peter and Stu Egeli entered Lisa Egeli’s Churchton studio as she was talking. Peter glanced over at a large landscape Lisa had just completed. He broke into a broad smile.

“This is a fantastic painting!” Peter said. “Lisa is one of the premier landscape painters in the country.”

She pulled a painting off the wall of her studio and brought it over to her father. He’d been outside, unloading paintings he plans to put in the show. Peter was holding a framed painting of a solitary egret.

Lisa held up her painting. It, too depicted an egret – only this one was gazing at its twin reflection on the water.

The two agreed the Egeli egrets would look nice hanging side-by-side.

The opening reception for the show is 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., March 5. The two host a gallery talk from 5:30 to 7 p.m., March 11.

For information, visit http://www.marylandhall.org

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Information from: The Capital, http://www.capitalgazette.com/

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Reading the Streets: Jim Rennert’s ‘Think Big’

Jim Rennert, ‘Think Big,’ Union Square Park, New York City. Photo by Ilana Novick.

NEW YORK – A stone-faced businessman stands at the southeast corner of Union Square Park, staring up at the sky, looking for … inspiration? Relief? Solace? A reminder of what heat is and how we will one day feel it again? Jim Rennert’s Think Big is a 12-foot-tall sculptural Rorschach test for viewers’ emotional state.

Perhaps if you’re feeling inspired and productive, you’ll agree with the Parks Department, that the man reminds us “that if we ‘think big’ we can attain anything.” Maybe you’re struggling with a deadline and believe the statue is secretly asking the sky, “why me?” The man could be rejoicing in the power of the American Dream, or bemoaning his place in a corporate machine.

I was on the side of weariness, until I dug a little deeper into the sculpture’s history. Before its current residency in Union Square, a partnership between the Union Square Partnership Business Improvement District and the Parks Department, Think Big started at 2 inches tall, which even I have to admit gets a point for positive thinking in this debate.

Come decide for yourself through May 4.

Bass family collection opens at Kimbell Art Museum

Van Gogh's 'Street in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer,' 1888. Image courtesy of wikiart.org

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – The public is getting a look at art from the private collection of some late Texas philanthropists.

The exhibit called “The Collection of Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass” opened Sunday at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth.

Museum officials say the Fort Worth couple’s collection of late 19th- and 20th-century art began on a 1961 trip to Europe. The Basses eventually acquired pieces by van Gogh, Picasso, Monet and Renoir.

The exhibit runs through May 24. From this collection of Impressionist to post–World War II art, 37 works of painting and sculpture will be on view, including an impressive pair of paintings by Van Gogh – Street in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, 1888, and Enclosed Field with Ploughman, 1889 – and a major still life by Picasso, Fruit Bowl, Bottle, and Guitar, 1923.

Perry Bass was the nephew and heir of Fort Worth oil tycoon Sid Richardson. Perry Bass died in 2006. His wife died in 2013.

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Online:

https://www.kimbellart.org/

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With time on their hands inmates learn lost art of clockmaking

Outstanding 19th century nautical shelf clock by Guilmet of Paris. It has a gilt, silvered and enameled case resting on a black stone base. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com archive and Kamelot Auction House.

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) – Thinking about going to clockmaker school? You might have trouble getting in.

Turns out the only full-scale clock school in the country is inside Pendleton’s prison. That was the surprising discovery made about a year ago by the wife of California clockmaker Henri Klein. Viviane Klein decided to give away her deceased husband’s massive cache of clocks, tools and books to a school dedicated to clock making and wanted advice on which one. She called the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors in Pennsylvania and learned something startling.

“They told me there were no schools left,” she said. “The only school they knew about was in a penitentiary in Pendleton. They got me in touch with Gary.”Continue reading

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