SAN FRANCISCO EVENT: SYMPOSIUM ON SCIENTIFIC TESTING OF ART AND TEXTILES

Scientific Testing of Art and Textiles - Mini-Symposium

Date: Thursday, 11 February 2010
Time: 09:30 - 12:30
Location: de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr., San Francisco, CA

Scholars from around the globe will speak about some of the major scientific techniques used to analyze works of art and textiles. Their presentations will highlight the advantages and limitations of scientific testing in attempting to answer questions of provenance, dating, authenticity and conservation.

Speakers are expected to include:

Christina Hellmich: Introduction: Curator of Oceanic Art and the Jolika Collection of New Guinea Art, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, will give an introduction.

Dr. Mark Gilberg: Perspectives on Resolving Authenticity and Provenance Issues

Director of the Suzanne D. Booth and David G. Booth Conservation Center at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Dr. Sonia O’Connor: Toy Stories to Textile Stories: The Benefits of X-Ray Vision

Research Fellow in Conservation at the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Greg Hodgins: Radiocarbon Dating Museum Objects

Assistant Research Scientist and Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the National Science Foundation – Arizona Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Laboratory at the University of Arizona, Tucson.

Jürg Rageth: From Visual Guesstimate to Scientific Estimate

Independent Researcher of Oriental Carpets and Textiles based in Riehen, Switzerland.

Dilys Johns: Conservation of pre-European waterlogged organic artifacts and their context in Aotearoa, New Zealand

Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand .

Lesley Bone: Moderator for Q&A: Objects Conservator, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

MOCA (Los Angeles) PICKS ART DEALER JEFFERY DEITCH FOR NEW DIRECTOR

MOCA Says Jeffery Deitch is its new director
Los Angeles Times, January 11, 2010.  By Mike Boehm.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/01/moca-says-jeffrey-deitch-is-its-new-director.html

MOCA co-chairs say Deitch's contract has safeguards against conflicts of interest
Los Angeles Times, January 12, 2010.  By Mike Boehm.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/01/moca-cochairs-say-deitchs-contract-has-safeguards-against-conflicts-of-interest.html

MOCA pick: bold or just biz
Los Angeles Times, January 12, 2010.  By Christopher Knight.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-et-deitch-knight12-2010jan12,0,6991797.story

ART NEWS FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Far East Treasures in San Francisco
An Exhibition of Siamese and Burmese works reflects philanthropist Doris Duke's taste and foresight.
Los Angeles Times, December 13th, 2009.  By Suzanne Muchnic.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-ca-duke13-2009dec13,0,5866116.story

Weaving the Present Into a Tale of Tradition
A survey of Indian baskets from the Southwest Museum comes alive with the first-person perspective of 13 Native American artisans.
Los Angeles Times, January 10, 2010.  By Suzanne Muchnic.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-ca-baskets10-2010jan10,0,4388735.story

The Giants of Ancient Mexico Bound for LACMA
Los Angeles Times, January 10, 2010.  By Christopher Knight.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/01/olmec-lacma.html

Along with about 50 other dealers, I recently exhibited at the Los Angeles Asian & Tribal Arts Show, held annually in November at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The show is produced by the Caskey Lees organization, based in Los Angeles. The show is a mix of classic Asian art and tribal art from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. My report will focus on tribal art.

A short list of the dealers that exhibited: LA Tribal members: John Strusinski of Primary Source, Ron Normandeau of Anthropos Gallery, Philip Garaway, Joshua Dimondstein, Fily Keita and of course, myself, along with Michael Hamson (CA), John Ruddy (NM), Georgia Chrischilles (Belgium), Joe Loux (SF), Craig DeLora (NJ), Neil Becker (NY), Kip McKesson (Tanzania), Casey Waller of Caravanserai (TX), and first time exhibitor Bill Sutterfield (CA). A complete list of the exhibitors can be found on the Caskey Lees website.

There seemed to be more exhibitors displaying tribal art this year, which in my opinion is a good thing. Tribal art is so much more exciting than boring displays of old Ming vases! Ha! In fact nearly all of the extra public display areas showed tribal art, including a collection of rare wood sculptures from the Central Highlands of Vietnam (in the central garden) and an unusual grouping of Nepali farmer’s rakes fashioned from tree branches (in the lobby). Full disclosure: I contributed these items.

Other notable objects were a collection of Dayak shields and Indonesian weapons brought by Bill Sutterfield, a beautiful female Tau-Tau offered by Primary Source, incredible gold jewelry from Georgia Chrischilles, and a massive log drum in Michael Hamson’s booth. As usual Ron Normandeau had a fantastic array of pre-Columbian and Northwest Coast objects and Phil Garaway offered a very rare and subtle Navajo blanket picturing an unfinished Navajo rug on a loom. In my booth I offered a heavy, weathered Dayak statue of a sitting nobleman and an animated Dayak sculpture of a hunting dog, as well as collection of Naga shields and spears. My apologies to the African tribal art dealers for not paying more attention to their material. Unfortunately I can’t report on any specific special object. My bad.

As expected during this economic downturn, most of the dealers were apprehensive about attendance and sales. Even in the best of times, the LA market is tepid and it seems we rarely have serious clients from out of town paying even a courtesy visit, so expectations have never been high at this venue for big sales.

However, this year attendance in general was solid, especially on Friday and Saturday and I had the pleasure of meeting with at least a few important buyers that made their way from the Bay Area and Europe to check out the goods. I also met with several enthusiastic new visitors to this show.

Although my own sales were modest, as I’m sure it was for most of the dealers, some did experience big sales, especially on opening night. Michael Hamson sold his log drum, Primary Source sold the Tau-Tau, Bill Sutterfield sold very well, as did Jeff Appleby (CA), to name a few. These sales certainly indicate that serious buyers do attend which gives me hope that this show will survive and perhaps flourish.

It is always hard to gauge the success of a show by the amount of direct sales. For example, my sales rarely amount to much during the show, but in each of the last few years, I met at least one very interesting new client that came through with one or more serious purchases within a few months. Regardless, these shows are really the only way for large groups of potential collectors to view and enjoy high quality authentic examples of tribal art, that they can actually own. It also gives dealers a better opportunity to educate potential collectors and to directly discuss the merits of each piece.

I don’t want to forget to thank the show producers and their team: Bill, Liz, Netanya, Filomena, Steven, Clare, Bob, Agnes, and Treanne for all of their hard work putting this together.

REPORT ON THE LOS ANGELES ASIAN & TRIBAL ARTS SHOW-2009

Along with about 50 other dealers, I recently exhibited at the Los Angeles Asian & Tribal Arts Show, held annually in November at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The show is produced by the Caskey Lees organization, based in Los Angeles. The show is a mix of classic Asian art and tribal art from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. My report will focus on tribal art.

A short list of the dealers that exhibited: LA Tribal members: John Strusinski of Primary Source, Ron Normandeau of Anthropos Gallery, Philip Garaway, Joshua Dimondstein, Fily Keita and of course, myself, along with Michael Hamson (CA), John Ruddy (NM), Georgia Chrischilles (Belgium), Joe Loux (SF), Craig DeLora (NJ), Neil Becker (NY), Kip McKesson (Tanzania), Casey Waller of Caravanserai (TX), and first time exhibitor Bill Sutterfield (CA). A complete list of the exhibitors can be found on the Caskey Lees website.

There seemed to be more exhibitors displaying tribal art this year, which in my opinion is a good thing. Tribal art is so much more exciting than boring displays of old Ming vases! Ha! In fact nearly all of the extra public display areas showed tribal art, including a collection of rare wood sculptures from the Central Highlands of Vietnam (in the central garden) and an unusual grouping of Nepali farmer’s rakes fashioned from tree branches (in the lobby). Full disclosure: I contributed these items.

Other notable objects were a collection of Dayak shields and Indonesian weapons brought by Bill Sutterfield, a beautiful female Tau-Tau offered by Primary Source, incredible gold jewelry from Georgia Chrischilles, and a massive log drum in Michael Hamson’s booth. As usual Ron Normandeau had a fantastic array of pre-Columbian and Northwest Coast objects and Phil Garaway offered a very rare and subtle Navajo blanket picturing an unfinished Navajo rug on a loom. In my booth I offered a heavy, weathered Dayak statue of a sitting nobleman sitting and an animated Dayak sculpture of a hunting dog, as well as collection of Naga shields and spears. My apologies to the African tribal art dealers for not paying more attention to their material. Unfortunately I can’t report on any specific special object. My bad.

As expected during this economic downturn, most of the dealers were apprehensive about attendance and sales. Even in the best of times, the LA market is tepid and it seems we rarely have serious clients from out of town paying even a courtesy visit, so expectations have never been high at this venue for big sales.

However, this year attendance in general was solid, especially on Friday and Saturday and I had the pleasure of meeting with at least a few important buyers that made their way from the Bay Area and Europe to check out the goods. I also met with several enthusiastic new visitors to this show.

Although my own sales were modest, as I’m sure it was for most of the dealers, some did experience big sales, especially on opening night. Michael Hamson sold his log drum, Primary Source sold the Tau-Tau, Bill Sutterfield sold very well, as did Jeff Appleby (CA), to name a few. These sales certainly indicate that serious buyers do attend which gives me hope that this show will survive and perhaps flourish.

It is always hard to gauge the success of a show by the amount of direct sales. For example, my sales rarely amount to much during the show, but in each of the last few years, I met at least one very interesting new client that came through with one or more serious purchases within a few months. Regardless, these shows are really the only way for large groups of potential collectors to view and enjoy high quality authentic examples of tribal art, that they can actually own. It also gives dealers a better opportunity to educate potential collectors and to directly discuss the merits of each piece.

I don’t want to forget to thank the show producers and their team: Bill, Liz, Netanya, Filomena, Steven, Clare, Bob, Agnes, and Treanne for all of their hard work putting this together.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON PAIWAN TRIBES

"Reviving the Way of the Witch"
An indigenous Taiwan tribe aims to preserve its culture by training new mediums.
By Cindy Sui, Los Angeles Times, Nov. 7, 2009.

For the direct link to the article, please go to:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-taiwan-witch7-2009nov07,0,3647247.story

ARTICLE ABOUT ANCIENT ART AND WORLD POLITICS

When Ancient Artifacts Become Political Pawns
By Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, October 24,2009
For direct link to article, please go to:
www.nytimes.com/2009/10/24/arts/design/24abroad.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=when%20ancient%20artifacts%20become%20political%20pawns&st=cse