Tefaf Maastricht Expands

exhibition

Europe’s largest and most prestigious art, antiques and design fair – Tefaf Maastricht – is going to be expanding to New York.  Organized under the auspices of the European Fine Art Foundation, it has until now been based out of the Netherlands.  But now, in conjunction with Artvest Partners, a bi-annual Tefaf Maastricht fair will convene at New York City’s cultural center, the Park Avenue Armory. The first will take place in October of this year and the second in May of next year.  Approximately 80-90 exhibitors from around the world will feature their wares there.

Described in a recent article in The Economist as being “the biggest, most prestigious combined art and antiques fair, where 270 dealers exhibit the best available antiques and works of art,” there is so much on offer for all ranges of art lovers.  It is a unique display of how “the barriers built by 19th century art historians—between fine and decorative art, high art and craft—have fallen down.”  Indeed, it is really “art, decoration and craft all in one.”

A missing painting that has been found was even being displayed there. Rembrandt’s ‘The Fainted Patient’ – one in a series depicting all five senses, this one being smell – was painted when the artist was around 18 years old since it was signed with his early signature of RHF (Rembrandt Harmenz Fecit).  It was discovered in New Jersey when it was brought to auction by a private collector.  Finally it is being displayed, right here at Tefaf.

Another fair that is broadening out of its original location is the Untitled Art Fair. Originally just displayed in Miami, in the beginning of next year, an additional location will be added: that of Pier 70.  It will work on a much smaller, more intimate scale than Miami initially with between 50 and 60 participants as a way of focusing on quality and to identify the level of interest.  According to a statement from Untitled, this “long term platform” is intended to “contribute to and grow alongside of the pioneering community in the Bay Area.” While San Francisco already has Art Silicon Valley and Silicon Valley Contemporary, organizers are hopeful that Untitled will be warmly received in the region.

 

A Mosaic Marathon in San Diego

color-767594_960_720If you’re near San Diego from April 4-8, you should definitely try to make it to the 2016 American Mosaic Summit. This is an amazing four day event that includes 44 workshop sessions spread over three days and four tours.

In addition to everything else, they will have their Evenings with the Pros which is a series of business and professional artist focused discussions. It should help those who are hoping to improve their business skills, take their work to the marketplace, expand their outreach and more.

Their professional development seminars will focus this year on three things: technical mastery, artistic achievement, and career success. They are also going to have Mosaic Tours that will take you to some of the hidden gems in and around San Diego where you can see mosaics come to life.

And, of course, there will be the 2016 Mosaic Marathon where participants will come together to make and dedicate a mosaic.

A Feast for the Eyes with the Harbour View Gallery

easel-516957_960_720If you happen to be in the area, the Harbour View Gallery at Cape Harbour in Cape Coral, Florida is a fantastic place to stop. It’s a co-op gallery that has been exhibiting local art and hosting events for almost ten years. They have six managing member artists who work in the gallery each day and share duties. They also feature the work of other artists from the area. Since opening in the fall of 2007, they have hosted almost 200 local artists with their monthly artists program.

On the first Tuesday of the month, they have a public reception for two of the monthly featured artists from 6-8pm. The one that is scheduled for March 1 will include abstract acrylic paintings by Shirley Blake and clay art by Angela Aradia.

They also have a “Sip and Paint” event each month where two of the Gallery’s managing member artists help guests to pain with acrylic paints while enjoying wines from the Waterside Wine Club.

They have an art fair coming up as well on March 12 called “Art in the Pavilion” where local artists will have items for sale and there will also be a “Studio Clearance Sale” at that time.

This is definitely a place worth checking out and enjoying.

Hearing the Voices of Student Artists

If you happen to live in Phoenix or to be planning a trip, this is an exhibit not to miss. Opening February 6th, the Heard Museum at 2301 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix is having an exhibit called “Confluence: Inter-generational Collaborations.” The exhibit includes works co-created by seven pairs of American Indian artists from the Southwest area. Each pair includes one established mentor artist and one emerging artist between 16 and 20. The exhibit includes diverse mediums from film and painting to fashion design and fiber art. The works are actually being created and completed at the museum.
As described on the Heard website,

“Confluence is the merging of many artistic voices, exploring what it means to be young leaders and culture bearers in Indian Country today. At the present time, as Indian Country is changing and more tribal communities are experiencing a flux in their demographics—with percentages of people under 30 years old at an all-time high—the need for exchange between generations is critical. The collective understanding of “what is an elder” is another changing perspective. Generations are prioritizing the necessity to convene and collaborate with many age groups, to benefit cultural gain and to address issues facing their communities and people using fresh and relevant practices.”

The exhibit will take place from Saturday, February 6 through Sunday, April 17th.

The Mayfair Antiques & Fine Art Fair

Today is the final day of The Mayfair Antiques & Fine Art Fair that takes place each year in London at the London Marriot Hotel Grosvenor Square. It started on Thursday, January 7th and concluded today, on the 10th. Organized by the Antiques Dealers Fair Limited, the fair attracts collectors, interior designs and those who love antiques. It includes over 40 exhibitors, most of whom are members of the British Antique Dealers’ Association and LAPADA The Association of Arts & Antiques Dealers.

As described by the Blouin Art Info site:

“For this fourth edition, the fair will offer an impressive selection of vintage jewelry, including a 4.14-carat emerald cut diamond ring, the iconic Hermès bracelet Chaîne d’Ancre, available at the fair in a gold version that the brand no longer makes, both by Anthea AG Antiques, and a rare French silver pendant depicting a WW1 scene, made in 1915 and offered at the fair by T Robert.”

Come and take a look, or book your tickets now for next year’s show!

 

Company Launches New Antiques Website

The company Rush Antiques and Rush Appraisals just launched a new e-commerce website.

for world-wide sales of their 18th-20th century antiques of French, English, Chinese and American origins. The owners, Jere and Leona Rush, have a special inventory. As Jere Rush explains,

“Our products have been personally evaluated in our travels to ensure each piece’s quality matches the high integrity by which we operate our business. We encourage you to visit our site frequently as our online inventory builds and changes.”

Some of the items in their inventory include Chinese Export Rose Medallion, Detroit Pewabic Pottery, Roseville, and Staffordshire, Rookwood, Tiffany and much more.

Honors for Michigan Antique Festival and Lori Oberlin

Lori Oberlin, the owner of the Michigan Antique Festival recently received a letter of recognition signed by Rep. Gary Glenn, Sen. Jim Stamas and Gov. Rick Snyder. This festival brings antique dealers, visitors and vendors from around the country to Midland, Michigan every year. The festival is the biggest antique show in the state and will soon start its fifth decade of operations. They estimate that about 75,000 people visit the five annual statewide events.

As the letter said in part, “Since its inception, the Michigan Antique Festival has been an annual tradition observed not only by those in Midland, but throughout our entire state. This dynamic and vibrant tradition draws thousands of visitors annually, making the Michigan Antique Festival a truly unique Pure Michigan experience.”

As Oberlin told the Daily News, “This was quite an honor for us,”

The Michigan Antique Festival will be in Davisburg October 3-4 at the Springfield Oaks County Park.

 

Two Toronto Fairs Not to Miss

If you are in Toronto, then you’ll want to catch the 16th annual Art Toronto Fair. This fair is billed as Canada’s longest-running and most-established international art fair and it will be happening this week from October 23-26. The opening for the public is on Friday and it will last until Monday afternoon. It’s being presented in tandem with the Feature Contemporary Art Fair which takes place Thursday through Sunday afternoon (October 22-25).

Last year’s attendance for the Art Toronto Fair reached 20,000. This year, they are renting about 16,000 square meters of space at the Metro Convention Centre. They will have over 113 exhibitors including 91 galleries and an eight-member dealer advisory committee. They hope to surpass the $19 million in sales that they had last year. The Feature, which had more than 3000 visitors last year and sales of more than $1 million, will be at the Canadian Opera Company building ten minutes east of AT. They have their 29 featured galleries in two locations, with 18 on the main floor and 11 in another upstairs space.

Antiques in the Most Unlikely of Places

Sometimes you’ll find antique dealers in the most unlikely of places – and the most unlikely of people. Barry Huckeby is a Northwood University math instructor in Tittabawassee Township, Michigan. He’s also the assistance men’s basketball coach. He also loves antiques, and he has opened the Freeland Antique Mall.

As Huckeby said, “I’m a third generation antique collector and dealer. So, I’ve been around it all my life.”

He hasn’t just opened the mall for himself. As of September, 2015, he had 83 dealers at the mall from approximately eight different Michigan counties. The antique mall now includes vintage jewelry, home décor, collectibles, toys and so much more.

As Huckeby said, “Really anything that you can imagine. I’m even surprised sometimes. You never know what you’re gonna find.”

Now, to draw in even more business, a field adjacent to the space was the venue to the Fall Harvest Flea Market that took place this weekend on Saturday, October 10th.

 

Janet Joplin Porsche to be Auctioned Off

Here is an antique to admire and even covet. Janis Joplin was famous for many things – and one of them was her 1965 Porsche 356C 1600 cabriolet. Now, in December, her Porsche is going to be a star attraction at RM Sotheby’s Driven by Distruption sale in New York City.

The Porsche has been sitting at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland for 20 years and the family has now decided to put it up for auction. As Laura Joplin, Janet’s sister and biographer said,

“Janis drove the car everywhere, all around San Francisco and down to Los Angeles when she was recording there. Wherever Janis went in the car, her fans recognized it. When she parked it and returned, there was always at least one [fan] note under the wipers.”

They expect that the car will bring in at least $400,000.