Since I’ve been thinking a lot about art lately–collecting, appreciating, valuing–I want you (all three of you) to tell me about your relationship with visual art. Do you collect original works? What sort do you admire? Photography, folk art, local artists, masters? Have you studied? Do you view collecting as an objective in your life, or is it something you assume is reserved only for the wealthy?
hi sid … good questions! i haven’t given collecting art much thought in the past, but i’d like to start purchasing art from local artists. i often have a hard time deciding. i do buy art pieces like photographs and prints online, which i see value in because it means something to me and it isn’t a huge investment in the monetary sense. i haven’t studied art history or theory, but certainly have a love for photography and painting.
as for those kids who have amassed high-end art collections … i think i have a problem with it and it starts with “where do they go from there?” i suppose i am from the camp that i should start small and have something to look forward to.
How come you’re thinking about these things, pookie?
For me it’s not about the collecting as much as it’s about surrounding myself with things that please me and remind me of places, things, experiences that hold meaning for me.
But money certainly holds me back. There’s a particular Lucian Freud line drawing I saw in Dublin and would have hanging in my bedroom right now if money were no object.
I view collecting as something reserved for the monied. I’d like to own one of the Winchester bronze sculptures of the guy galloping on the horse. I can’t afford one. Generally I am drawn to sculptures the most. I like Rodan the best. My sister paints and I am among her many fans. I also would be pleased to own and display a Bev Dolittle piece. She’s done alot more than “End of the Trail” which has become rather iconic. Speaking of myself, I enjoy reading a bit more than writting which is valid with my English Lit degree. I dabble but never try to publish is the reading between the lines there. I cannot draw at all but I feel I hold a good degree of creativity and do soem fairly good stained glass things from time to time. I use my autocad drafting software at work to scan, trace and marry images which I then work in glass to achieve my vision. Alot of the success comes from imagining how to cut the right area of the glass to meet the way I wish the piece to flow together. It’d be alot easier if I could just draw what I want by hand. This may be just a hobby though. I struggle with the defintion of art and where it starts and stops. For example I enjoy shooting a recurving bow. Is it art when I do it? Or just a hobby? Admittedly at times it is just hunting. =)
I collect original works. I studied breifly during college, but only cause that was part of my major. I have always had creative inclinations, with photography and painting as former hobbies. I’ve only started within the last three years, and I have one handmade quilt and two other original drawings. I really don’t think it’s only for the rich, but I do believe that is the perception. I put my first piece of art on layaway (it was only $600 but that was a lot at the time I found it)!!!
My Insurance Guy was the one who nudged me into looking…carefully for my first piece. He said “you invest in shoes, handbags, makeup. That’s really money wasted. Why don’t you invest in something that will appreciate?” It made perfect sense. But I countered…”I still live in an apartment.” Insurance Guy said, “perfect time to be thinking of how beautiful your house will be when you do purchase it. And by then, maybe your works will have appreciated some, making you enjoy them even more.”
If you think you would like to start collecting art, just remember, it doesn’t have to be expensive. Every community college, university and high school have art programs. They probably have small art fairs. You can start there.
My only other tidbit of advice is, if you see an item you can’t stop thinking about it, and it’s touched your soul in some way…you should really consider trying to fit it in your budget. You will rarely see the same original item again. This is where regret grows from.
oh girl, i like the idea of getting a jewelry collection. stuff i can wear around with intrinsic value — that you can pass it on to your kids, where the value appreciates with time
i also like the idea of antiques. This summer, I picked up a small, tarnished, silver bowl at a flea market for like, a buck. i put a little elbow grease into it and use it for a really elegant change bowl. it makes a nice sound when i come home in the evenings.
that’s what i learned from antiques roadshow.
if i had a better eye, i’d be looking for these types of objects for wedding presents. i want to give something that will appreciate over time, as a metaphore for the marriage.
M: Many reasons. I was immediately covetous of a particular artist’s paintings; My 30th b-day is coming up, and I wanted to give myself something pretty, and lasting; and honestly, I’m feeling the need to do something grown up lately, while the rest of my life spins out of controlish.
Deb: I really don’t want to start thinking about The Manhattan Child again (and by extension, any children of middle-aged, competitive, well-off, ambitious parents who treat their children like gambits in some sort of popularity contest or something) but I think you are right. Where does it go? I’ve known people who will buy pieces they like and then discuss them with their children, in hopes of cultivating their love of art, but giving kids giant budgets and taking them to auction seems ridiculous. Then again, Steve Wynn. Bought a bajillion dollar original, and fucked it all up. Did he even admire it, or buy it to sell? So if these kids do enjoy the work, great.
Rob: Have someone take a photo of you holding that recurve and it’s art. You hunt with a recurve? Really? How Ted Nugent of you. Cool. Aside–Bowhunting: cool. Bowfishing: for assholes.
Stlye: good points. Lots of people think capital-A-Art hangs in museums and is worth thousands or millions. Interesting that it was your insurance guy who filled you in. I like that someone in charge of your protecting your assets is instructing you on how to grow them. Usually, that’s parents’ job, but when you’ve got leaps in education, income or class status between generations…
Roxy: you know, those would be lovely wedding gifts, antique pieces! I’d never considered that. I just go registry.
i prefer photography and paintings. i bought my first painting at ‘around the coyote’ 9 years ago. it was the last day of the festival and i couldn’t step away from it. i kept coming back to it. so the artist gave me a deal and i walked away in the rain with my painting. i love it and treasure it.
i also like finding the unknown artist at all the community fairs chicago hosts; at the art fair in pilsen this summer there was an arresting pen/ink graffiti piece that i SO wanted to take home. but the price tag wasn’t in the stars at the time. but that’ll change.
my friend T- makes hats and goes to the SAI; they have a great student show every year where you can get on the ground floor of some good artists. i have another artist friend who is usually good at pointing out good stuff from his peers.
but while i like finding the unknown artist, i have very rigorous standards for what i will spend my money on: it had better not be derivative, it must have a strong point of view, be technically proficient and ’speak’ to me. redone daguerrotypes of gauzy children in cemetaries? no thanks. visually strong graffiti version of a coat of arms that you can’t look away from? totally.