It's still a little chilly in Charleston, which means we've got a few more days of Netflixing before outdoor activities resume. To wrap up our blog series on starting an art collection, we thought we'd share our favorite inspiring art documentaries... The Radiant Child documents the life and work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, a Brooklyn-born neo-expressionist. We won't ruin the story. Just watch it. How did Vermeer create photo-realistic work in the 17th century? Tim figured it out. This movie is fascinating, even for non-art lovers. If you think the art world is boring, think again. When you've got an art collection worth $25 million, suddenly everybody wants a piece of the pie. The Art of the Steal is dramatic and shocking. Most artists work in private, which is why this documentary is so moving. Watch one of the most important living artists of our time at work in his studio. Could you handle the lifestyle? If you only watch one, this is it. Some artists struggle to explain why the do what they do. Not Ai Weiwei. Unapologetic social activism meets art in this fascinating documentary. Skyladder may start off slow but the payoff is huge. Cai Guo-Qiang's medium is fireworks. You won't believe what you're seeing. In fact, we guarantee you rewind at least twice.
This month we've been inspiring people to start an art collection, even if you have a small budget. To kick things off, we suggested you download this fantastic movie, then we suggested you set a budget. This week we interviewed one our friends about her teeny, tiny but serious art collection and asked her to give us a tour: Tell us why you started to collect small works of art. I'm an artist so I have a small budget and I live in a small house with a lot of windows. I don't have much room for art so it all works out. If you don't mind sharing, do you have an art budget? Not exactly, but like most people I do have to make my disposable income work hard. Where do you shop for art? I almost exclusively buy local art, or at least from local galleries. Though I have a small budget, I don't shy away from upscale galleries. You'd be surprised what you can find for a great price. As an artist, I make small works myself - either on purpose to reach a broader audience or as studies for larger pieces. Some of the pieces I've collected are actually artists' studies for larger works, or experiments. Visit open studios and you'll find all kinds of great deals on experiments. Those are my favorites. Give us a tour of some of your favorites. This tiny ceramic Siamese cat by Aggie Zed was my first small art acquisition. She's a Charleston native who now lives in Virginia. She's exhibited at The Halsey and has a beautiful coffee table book of her work. He was $40 and I love him. This heron is by James Rivington Payne and I found it at a local gallery that typically has really big price tags. I just go there to enjoy the art. As I understand it, it was study for a larger bronze piece. It was about $80 and it totally made my day. It's still making my day. These pinch pots by Anne John are incredible. Piccolo Spoleto is a great place to find small works. I think they were about $16 - $20 each. I bought this 6" x 6" painting at Art Mecca. I saw it on your blog and I knew I had to have it! It's by Caroline Davila Jewett. a fellow sailor. This crab is by local metal artist Fred Moore. His daughter Coreyanna is also a welder and she's carrying on his legacy. For me, Fred's turtles and crabs are so iconic that no Charleston art collection is complete without one. You need an authentic sweet grass basket, no matter how small, and a Fred Moore crab. This guy was around $40. Ready to get started? Stop by Art Mecca and we'll be happy to give you a tour of our small works.
|
Archives
November 2018
Categories |