Bruce Taylor work for Yesterday & Today Clorox bottle is 38" tall |
Kirsten Abrahamson historical work for Yesterday & Today |
"Gloria" the 21st century update on the Goyaesque sculpture done by Kirsten for her graduating show. |
Pieced Together Man #5 |
I really have to tell you about Sally Michener's Pieced Together Men of which this is #5. Pieced together man #1 was in last year's Matter of Clay III exhibition. It was snapped up very quickly by two very astute London collectors. While lolling about with a red dot it was seen by another London collector on his first visit to the gallery. He enquired about the price and said he would like to know when the next piece came in. I knew there were two more so I called Sally and she agreed to send another.
Pieced Together Man #2 |
So Sally agrees to send on #2. I give the interested collector a call to tell him it is in transit and if he comes in on the Friday he will be probably the first to see it. This was on a Tuesday. On Wednesday I was talking with a client in Vancouver who asked me if anything exciting was coming in. I tell him about #2 and he asks for an image. So given the Internet age I send it off to him and he gets to see it while we are talking. "Nice" says he. "Is it sold?" "Not yet but there is a chap interested." "I'll take it!" says he and so when it arrives we don't even open the crate and it is air shipped BACK to Vancouver. So he missed out again. No problem as Pieced Together Woman was on her way. It arrived a couple of weeks later on a Friday and Brian unpacked it. It was equally spectacular. This time a new collector happened to see it. He had earlier bemoaned the fact that being a late baby boomer he had missed out on The Group of Seven, Painters Eleven and waterfront property. I told him to pay attention to art level ceramics. He saw the head and loved it. He and his wife had just bought a Walter Dexter vase. He was sitting debating about getting the head. "Jonathon, I feel under the gun to make a decision." "Don't worry about it. Come back next week and if it is here it is meant to be." "it won't be here next week. I'll take it!"
Pieced Together Man #3 |
Well yet again the original collector missed out. When he next came in i was a bit embarrassed. "Listen, next time I won't even show anyone else." "Not to worry - Next one to come in - I'll take it!" and he did!
Pieced Together Man #4 |
To say that Sally's work has been popular would be an understatement. The truth of the matter is I honestly believe clay is about to get its place in the sun. The number of new collectors getting interested in collecting is growing steadily and they are willing to step out of the traditional collecting mode and are embracing the edgy. It is an exciting time to be selling ceramics and an exciting time to be collecting.
Okay folks that is enough for now. More on Yesterday and Today tomorrow!
Jonathon