Alleged Con Sells Fake Picasso to Buy a Real De Kooning

A fabricated chalk drawing "La Femme au Chapeau Bleu" (1902) allegedly by Pablo Picasso was seized by the FBI. [Credit: FBI]

LOS ANGELES — An alleged con named Tatiana Khan could serve up to 45 years in federal prison for masterminding an art forgery scheme, according to a criminal complaint filed Jan. 7 by the FBI. Khan, the owner of the Chateau Allegré gallery in West Hollywood, is charged with paying an artist $1,000 to fabricate a 1902 Pablo Picasso pastel drawing entitled La Femme au Chapeau Bleu ("The Woman in the Blue Hat"); she then sold the piece to an unsuspecting art collector for $2 million.

The complaint maintains that Khan convinced an artist that the real Chapeau Bleu had been stolen from one of her clients and she needed a forgery drawn to be used in catching the thief. Khan later sold the fake for $2 million, by purportedly convincing an art collector that she was acting as a broker for the estate of late magazine publisher Malcolm Forbes. The art collector eventually contacted an expert who recognized the drawing as a copy.

The FBI reported that they also seized from Khan a painting by abstract expressionist artist Willem de Kooning, allegedly purchased with $720,000 of the proceeds derived from the sale of the fake Picasso drawing.
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Alleged Con Sells Fake Picasso to Buy a Real De Kooning

Would You Care for Coffee, Tea or Crayolas?

Drawing of flight attendant Jewel  Van Valin done by a Delta passenger.  [Credit: AP/Jewel Van Valin].

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Even with iPods, tabloid magazines and in-flight movies, plane rides can be pretty boring. But if you happen to be on Delta airlines, and your flight attendant is a woman named Jewel Van Valin, you're in for a fun ride.

When Delta began tightening their belts after 9/11, the airline's cost-cutting measures included substituting paper for linens as tray table covers. Passengers weren't exactly thrilled with the downgrades - and that's when Jewel Van Valin came up with a creative idea. She found a box of crayons in her flight bag and put a crayon on each passenger's tray.

"The passengers started laughing and drawing," Van Valin recalled. "It was a way to reconnect after 9/11."

Although some passengers were skeptical at first, and some even warned of their drawing inabilities, everyone eventually got on board with the artistic adventure. Crayola has even supplied Van Valin with complimentary Rainbow Twistables crayons.

Van Valin displays all of the drawings during each flight (creating a sort of mini-exhibit) and collects all of the artwork before the passengers debark. She has saved an estimated 3,500 drawings, many of which are now being shown at the Palm Springs Air Museum. The exhibition, entitled Plane Art - Connecting People is currently on view through January 25.
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[Read More - Museum Shows Drawings Collected by Flight Attendant | The Canadian Press]

Would You Care for Coffee, Tea or Crayolas?

Journey Into the Fantastic World of Jim Henson

Jim Henson among his famous cast of puppets from The Muppet Show

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI — "Prepare to be delighted, impressed and amazed," said Betsy Bradley, Director of the Mississippi Museum of Art at a news-conference on Friday. After a group of children sang the Sesame Street theme song, Bradley proudly announced a new exhibit opening Saturday at the museum - Jim Henson's Fantastic World. "See how [Henson] made the magic that has uplifted and thrilled us for so many years," Bradley said to the crowd.

A native of Mississippi, Jim Henson developed an astounding imagination by exploring and finding inspiration from the creatures inhabiting the wilderness near his childhood home. Although he died in 1990, Henson's legacy lives on through the numerous memorable characters he invented, from The Muppets like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy to  Sesame Street's Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. His work is enjoyed in dozens of languages in more than 100 countries, by children and adults of all ages.

Jim Henson's Fantastic World will include 100 original artworks, including drawings, cartoons and storyboards that illustrate Henson’s talent as a storyteller and visionary. Among the variety of exhibition objects are puppets and television and movie props, photographs of Henson and his collaborators at work and original video productions, including excerpts from Henson’s early career and experimental films. After Mississippi, the exhibit will travel to 12 other sites across the United States.

"It's such a treat to get to know Jim Henson through his doodles and drawings, his puppets and his fantastic performances," said Karen Falk, curator of the exhibition and archivist at The Jim Henson Company.

Jim Henson's Fantastic World (December 19, 2009 - March 14, 2010) | Mississippi Museum of Art

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Journey Into the Fantastic World of Jim Henson

Two Old Masters Set Auction Records in London

LONDON — An auction Tuesday night in London earned the largest recorded total at a sale of its kind. Artists Raphael and Rembrandt were the stars of the Christie's Old Masters and 19th Century Sale, which fetched an impressive $112.4 million.

Raphael's drawing Head of a Muse sold for double its pre-sale estimate, earning a winning bid of $47.5 million. That figure established a record, making the work the most valuable drawing ever sold at auction and the second highest price ever paid for an Old Master painting or drawing. The 16th century work was done as a study for one of the artist's frescoes in the Vatican.

Rembrandt's painting Portrait of a Man, Half-Length, with his Arms Akimbo also fetched a record price for the artist and was the fifth highest price paid at auction for an Old Master painting or drawing, selling for $33.2 million. The 17th century piece was previously part of a private collection, and until Tuesday, had not been seen in public for forty years.

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[Images: Left - Raphael, "Head of a Muse" (1508-11). | Right - Rembrandt, "Portrait of a Man with Arms Akimbo" (1658).]

Two Old Masters Set Auction Records in London

Can't Afford a Michael Jackson Painting? Buy His Opus

Just when Michael Jackson mania seemed to quiet down a bit, the King of Pop is back in the news this week; the sale of his portrait at Art Basel Miami Beach and the release of the ginormous Official Michael Jackson Opus are making headlines.

Over the weekend, artist Kehinde Wiley's 11.5 foot by 10.1 foot portrait of Michael Jackson, entitled Equestrian Portrait of King Philip II, sold to a German collector at ABMB for an impressive $175,000. Although Jackson never saw the final painting, depicting him on horseback, dressed in regal garb and attended by two cherubs, Wiley, who initially thought voicemails from the late pop star were a prank, said she felt a responsibility to complete the piece commissioned by Jackson in 2008.

If you're not willing to fork over the really big bucks, $249 will buy you a copy of the monumental 404-page The Official Michael Jackson Opus: The Ultimate Celebration of an Icon, featuring hundreds of rare, previously unpublished photos and images of exclusive drawings and paintings depicting the pop star. The Opus also includes personal essays by celebrities like Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Shaquille O’Neal, Paula Abdul, Sugar Ray Leonard, Spike Lee, Jane Fonda and many others. Released this week, the mammoth tome weighs a whopping 26.5 pounds.

One of the book's images getting a lot of attention is artist David Nordahl's painting, simply entitled Michael. The painting shows a scantily-clad Jackson surrounded by a group of nude cherubs. Nordahl painted hundreds of works for Jackson, who spent millions building up his private art collection.

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[Images: Top - Kehinde Wiley, "Equestrian Portrait of King Philip II." | Bottom - David Nordahl, "Michael."]

Can't Afford a Michael Jackson Painting? Buy His Opus

Police Seize Stash of Masterpieces Hidden by Disgraced Parma Dairy Owner

ROME —  The Italian police have recovered 19 masterpieces hidden in attics and basements of three apartments in the city of Parma. Valued at more than $149 million, the art stash belonged to Calisto Tanzi, the disgraced founder of the recently-collapsed dairy company, Parmalat Finanziaria SpA.

With the help of Tanzi’s relatives, the former billionaire was able to hide away an impressive trove of paintings by some of the world's most famous artists. On Saturday, police seized a pencil on paper portrait of a ballerina by Degas, two van Goghs, including a depiction of a trunk of a willow tree and a still life, a watercolor by Cezanne and a pencil-work by Modigliani. There was also a self-portrait by Italian rock star Ligabue and other masterpieces by Picasso, Monet and Manet.

Tanzi, who is currently on trial for fraud linked to Italy’s biggest bankruptcy, had previously lied to authorities by telling them he had no other assets. Police said that Tanzi was preparing to sell at least one painting. “We had some suspicions about a few individuals,” said Gerardo Laguardia, the Parma chief prosecutor. “We were able to tap their phones. We were lucky. We realized that there were negotiations to sell one of the paintings, the Monet.”

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Read More - Italy Police Seize Secret Stash of Masterpieces | AP

[Photo: Italian tax police officers hold a Giuseppe De Nittis painting, one of 19 masterpieces seized in Parma on Dec. 5, 2009. Courtesy AP Photo/Marco Vasini ]

Police Seize Stash of Masterpieces Hidden by Disgraced Parma Dairy Owner

Tim Burton's Surreal Debut at the MoMA

NEW YORK, NY — Beetlejuice... Beetlejuice... Beetlejuice! A major retrospective opening to the public on Sunday will give fans of blockbuster movies like Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas a unique opportunity to step into the surreal world of Tim Burton. The Museum of Modern Art has compiled over 700 examples of sketchbooks, concept art, drawings, paintings, photographs, and a selection of amateur films for a new exhibit simply entitled, Tim Burton.

On Tuesday night, actress Helena Bonham Carter (Burton's wife), actor Johnny Depp (aka The Mad Hatter in Burton's upcoming film Alice in Wonderland), composer Danny Elfman and actor Danny DeVito were among the many stars at the MoMA for a gala-preview of the new exhibit. Guests walked through a giant monster's mouth with sharp teeth and a long red carpet tongue to enter the main galleries where the master of macabre's artwork is on display.
 

Although widely-recognized as a successful Hollywood director, many don't realize Tim Burton's talent as an artist, illustrator, photographer, and writer. "I wasn't a very verbal teenager and I communicated a lot to other people and myself with little drawings. It was always a form of communication and exploration for me,'' Burton said about his artwork.

In the following behind-the-scenes video, montages of artwork from the exhibit are displayed as Burton discusses his artistic career:

And here is a 30-second, really cute promo released by the MoMA to promote the Tim Burton exhibit:

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Tim Burton (November 22, 2009 - April 26, 2010)

Museum of Modern Art, New York | Website
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Tim Burton's Surreal Debut at the MoMA

Artissima 16 Brings Contemporary Art to Torino

TORINO, ITALY — The international contemporary art fair, Artissima, begins Friday in Torino. Now in its sixteenth year, the dynamic event will bring together an exciting network of emerging artists, gallery owners and curators from around the globe. Fair director Andrea Bellini describes Artissima as "an authentic intellectual adventure, a place where personal encounters, tastes and choices are still important: a type of approach to contemporary art that is dedicated to true collectors and art lovers."

Artissima 16 will be held in and around the Lingotto Building, formerly home a huge Fiat factory complete with a rooftop test track. The fair is divided into sections offering paintings, drawings, sculptures, installations, videos, photographs and performances.

Inside the fair:

• MAIN SECTION - the most important Italian and international galleries
• NEW ENTRIES - young galleries taking part in Artissima for the first time
• PRESENT FUTURE - devoted to emerging talent
• CONSTELLATIONS - large-format museum-type works
• LISTEN TO THE WRITER - guided tours for the general public
• ARTISSIMA CINEMA - the world of the visual arts, theater, music, dance, poetry, cinema and video art
• THE STORE - a celebration of art objects, and a critical reflection on the market

Outside the fair:

• BLINDING THE EARS - action, behavior, instant theater
• ARTISSIMA VOLUME - the links, inspiration and influences between the visual arts and music
• ARTISSIMA FUMETTO - from the world of comics: the latest, most up-to-date forms of expression

"Once again, art will take us on innovative and unforeseen journeys, helping us to believe in the power of change and of the imagination," said director Bellini.

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Artissima 16 (Nov. 6 - 8, 2009) @ Lingotto Fiere | Website

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Artissima 16 Brings Contemporary Art to Torino

American Feminist Artist Nancy Spero (1926-2009)

"I have come to the conclusion that the art world has to join us, women artists, not we join it. When women are in leadership roles and gain rewards and recognition, then perhaps 'we' (women and men) can all work together in art world actions." ~Nancy Spero

NEW YORK — Figurative artist Nancy Spero died of respiratory complications on Sunday. She was 83. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Spero and her husband of 53 years, painter Leon Golub, lived together in New York City until his death in 2004. The couple met while studying at the Art Institute of Chicago.

An active feminist, Spero's focus was primarily the representation of women from various cultures throughout history. Her works combine drawing, painting, collage and printmaking techniques to reflect her strong ideals. The artist has exhibited at prominent institutions such as New York's Whitney Museum and the Museum of Modern Art, and a retrospective of her work is scheduled at the Centre Pompidou in Paris next year.

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[Read more - Nancy Spero, Artist of Feminism, Is Dead at 83 - Obituary | New York Times]

American Feminist Artist Nancy Spero (1926-2009)

Defining a Masterpiece at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Superb art objects from Paris' famed Louvre Museum are now on view at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA). The Louvre and the Masterpiece explores how the definition of a “masterpiece,” as well as taste and connoisseurship, have changed over time. “We are thrilled to present such a magnificent group of works from the Louvre’s collections to Minnesota for the first time,” noted Kaywin Feldman, the MIA's Director and President.

The Louvre and the Masterpiece features sixty-two works of art drawn from all eight of the Louvre’s collection areas, spanning 4,000 years. Paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, and drawings are divided into three major themes: the changing historical and cultural definitions of a masterpiece; authenticity and connoisseurship; and the evolution of taste and scholarship.

"We have an idea that one is good, one's better and one's the best," said Feldman of the exhibit's theme. "We encourage visitors to examine and decide."

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The Louvre and the Masterpiece (Oct. 18, 2009 - Jan. 10, 2010)
Minneapolis Institute of Arts | Website

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Defining a Masterpiece at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Michelangelo's Travelogue Includes a Tour of Seattle

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON -- Twelve exceptional drawings by Renaissance master Michelangelo have journeyed to the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) on loan from the Casa Buonarroti in Florence, home of the largest repository of the artist's drawings in the world. The exhibit Michelangelo Public and Private focuses on the Old Master's preliminary work for the Sistine Ceiling and the Last Judgment, and features original drawings, portraits of the artist, personal documents and decorative items.

Museum visitors will gain insight into Michelangelo's working process - a notion that would not exactly thrill  the artist. It is said that Michelangelo burned most of his drawings and preparatory works, “so that no one should see the labors he endured and the ways he tested his genius, and lest he should appear less than perfect," according to Renaissance biographer Giorgio Vasari.       

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Michelangelo Public and Private: Drawings for the Sistine Chapel and Other Treasures from the Casa Buonarroti (October 15, 2009–January 31, 2010)
Seattle Art Museum | Website

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Companion Features to the Exhibit

Hidden around town are one dozen 18-inch-tall statues that SAM calls "Little Davids," replicas of Michelangelo's David sculpture (1504) housed in the Accademia. Those lucky enough to spot a "Little David" in his traveling crate are encouraged to take photos of themselves with the statue (ala the "Roaming Gnome") and upload them to Little David's Travelogue.

The SAM also released the following video featuring Curatorial Advisor on the exhibition and Deans Professor of the Humanities at Syracuse University, Dr. Gary Radke, providing a fascinating lecture on  Michelangelo Public and Private. 

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Michelangelo's Travelogue Includes a Tour of Seattle

19K Portrait Is a Leonardo da Vinci Worth Millions, Fingerprints Show

In 1998, Christie's art auction house sold a $19,000 drawing to New York dealer Kate Ganz. Catalogued simply as “German, early 19th century,” Young Girl in Profile in Renaissance Dress, (a 13x9" portrait, in chalk, pen and ink on vellum, mounted on an oak board), was purchased by Canadian-born Peter Silverman in 2007. Silverman decided to do some sleuthing into the provenance of his newly-collected, unattributed work of art. His curiosity just may have paid off.

LONDON /TimesOnline/ -- The ghost of a fingerprint in the top left corner of an obscure portrait appears to have confirmed one of the most extraordinary art discoveries. A growing number of leading art experts agree that it is almost certainly by Leonardo da Vinci and worth about £100 million.

Carbon dating and infra-red analysis of the artist’s technique are consistent with such a conclusion, but the most compelling evidence is that fragment of a fingerprint. Peter Paul Biro, a Montreal-based forensic art expert, found it while examining images captured by the revolutionary multispectral camera from the Lumière Technology company.

The fingerprint corresponds to the tip of the index or middle finger, and is “highly comparable” to one on Leonardo’s St. Jerome in the Vatican. Importantly, St. Jerome is an early work from a time when Leonardo was not known to have employed assistants, making it likely that it is his fingerprint.

Martin Kemp, Emeritus Professor of History of Art at the University of Oxford, is convinced and recently completed a book about the find (as yet unpublished). He said that his first reaction was that “it sounded too good to be true — after 40 years in the business, I thought I’d seen it all”. But gradually, “all the bits fell into place.”

If it is by Leonardo, it would be the only known work by the artist on vellum although Professor Kemp points out that Leonardo asked the French court painter Jean Perréal about the technique of using coloured chalks on vellum in 1494.

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[Read More -  Unrecognized Leonardo da Vinci Portrait Revealed By His Fingerprint | TimesOnline]

19K Portrait Is a Leonardo da Vinci Worth Millions, Fingerprints Show

Van Gogh Letters Exhibit a Method Behind the Madness

"There are so many people, especially  among our pals, who imagine that words are nothing. On the contrary, don’t you think, it’s as interesting and as difficult to say a thing well as to paint a thing."

~Vincent van Gogh to Emile Bernard (April 19, 1888)

The Dutch Post-Impressionist painter, Vincent van Gogh, was largely unknown during his lifetime but is well-regarded today as one of history's greatest painters and contributors to the foundations of modern art. As famous for works like The Starry Night, as for his suffering from mental illness (i.e. that legendary ear-cutting incident), a new exhibition of the artist's letters demonstrates the method behind the madness.

AMSTERDAM /Van Gogh Museum/ -- Vincent van Gogh's letters take center stage in the exhibition Van Gogh's letters: The artist speaks. More than 120 original letters are on show alongside the works that Van Gogh was writing about. These important documents have seldom or never been shown to the public due to their extreme fragility and sensitivity to light.

The combination of more than 300 works from the museum's own rich collection, including paintings, drawings, letters and letter sketches, offers a penetrating and comprehensive insight into Van Gogh as letter writer and as artist.

Van Gogh's correspondence has a special bearing on his art because of the sketches of his own work that he included in his letters. These sketches served no artistic purpose but were made with the sole intention of showing Theo and his other correspondents what the paintings or drawings he was working on or had completed actually looked like. Visitors are able to view a large number of letter sketches and enjoy the unique opportunity of being able to compare them with the paintings and drawings on which they are based.

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Van Gogh's Letters: The Artist Speaks (Oct. 9, 2009 - Jan. 3, 2010) 
Van Gogh Museum | Website
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Van Gogh Letters Exhibit a Method Behind the Madness