Art Taxman (El Hombre de Impuestos)

Can a President remake society by Presidential decree?

"I think the president is going to do what he wants to do, because he will have all the power to decide on all things," Krakower says. "I think we're headed toward totalitarianism."

No, no guys... it's not our president that this CNN article is referring to, but that nutjob in Venezuela: Hugo The Chavez!

Though Chavez insists he will respect private property, he plans a new "luxury" tax on everything from second homes to art collections, and the rich will undoubtedly feel the pinch.

Just in case we ever decide to tax art collections in this country, I'm curious how the Venezuelan strong man will decide how much an art collection is worth at the time(s) that it is taxed.

Starting place would be for Chavez to get a full membership in artprice.com

See Bailey's take on the subject here.

Studio Gallery in DC seeking members

Next jurying of new member portfolios for DC's Studio Gallery is mid-February.

The Studio Gallery is currently jurying new member artists for its expanded gallery space in Dupont Circle. A thriving cooperative gallery for over 40 years, the new space offers constant membership exposure and a frequent show schedule. The gallery requires active participation of its members.

Submissions must include samples of recent work and a CD or slide portfolio. For details contact Carol Rubin at 301-996-7162 or email to c.rubin@verizon.net.

Job for Curator in China

Deadline: February 20, 2007

The Ullens Center for the Arts, in Beijing (the city formerly known as Peking) is seeking a Curator and also a Head of Events.

The Ullens Center for the Arts is developing a most comprehensive contemporary art institution in Beijing with exhibitions, screenings, performances, lectures and seminars, an art library and educational program. They are currently recruiting for the following two positions: Curator and Head of Events.

To apply please email a cover letter, resume, and two reference letters by February 20, 2007 to Colin Chinnery: colin.chinnery@ullens-center.org

Cheap Frida

New Frida Kahlo painting found!!!

Well...

As far as I know, the last Frida Kahlo oil that sold at auction sold for 5.6 million dollars.

However, apparently you can buy this one without a provenance on Ebay for an estimated $9,500.00. It's Ebay item number 190078828890, and as of the posting of this post, someone is bidding for this "vintage" Frida painting circa 1930. (Update: It sold for $5,700).



Personally, I didn't know that Frida had green eyes, and apparently neither did the person who painted this portrait and certainly Frida herself. And oh yeah, under her "signature" the words "Mexico" have also been "signed in."

Just in case, I guess.

Below is "another" portrait that Kahlo painted in 1929-1930... you make the decision that this is a work by the same artist at this same period.



Sigh... And oh yeah... here are some of the other art finds that this "dealer" is offering; none of them has a provenance, of course!

Knowledge is the best weapon.

PS - Here's another newly discovered "Kahlo painting."

Dark Tower

Tomorrow night one of the most anticipated events in the world of comicbookdom will take place: The midnight release of Stephen King's Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #1 comic book.

I recommend the purchase of a dozen or so of them, then wrap them in plastic and stash them away and forget about them. Nearly 150 retailers across the country will open at midnight on Tuesday (effectively 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, February 7, 2007) so that geeks who can't wait Stephen King fans can get their hands on the debut issue of the comic.

Oh yeah, had you picked up the Dark Tower series back when they were first published in book form in the 80s, you'd be sitting on around $20,000 worth of books right now.

And look in your attic, a first edition of The Stand goes as high as $25,000 and Carrie and The Shining routinely break $5,000 each.

Around the Greater DC area you can pick them up at Big Planet Comics located at 4908 Fairmont Avenue, in Bethesda, MD, tel: 301-654-6856. Other nationwide locations here.

I wonder why?

One of the few good things about moving is when you find things that you had forgotten that you had stashed away.

And a nice surprise was the re-discovery of this small (7 inches x 5.5 inches) portrait of one of my professors. It's a portrait that I created back when I was a student at the University of Washington School of Art.

He is/was of one of the most influential and courageous American artists who's never been given a show at the National Gallery of Art (although the Phillips Collection did step up to the challenge of a major Washington, DC area art museum actually focusing on a great artist who just also happened to be an African-American, and put up a great exhibition).

Jacob Lawrence.

Gallery 101

Georgetown's Department of Art Music & Theater and Gallery 101 are located off the main campus in the Walsh Building (at 1221 36th St. N.W. in Wash. D.C.) They are a small (approx. 400sq Ft. or the same size as my first gallery) space off the main lobby of Walsh and the gallery shows 4-5 exhibits in all media per academic year.

Information on current and upcoming shows can be found at this website. From that site you can find a link at the top to the gallery's page or just go directly to it here.