That Sculpture That Can Never Really Be Yours

It looks like a simple black cube, but this sculpture by artist Caleb Larsen perpetually sells itself - every seven days. [Credit: Caleb Larsen]

TULUM, MEXICO – Artist Caleb Larsen doesn't need an art dealer. He's created the ultimate self-sufficient work of art - it literally sells itself. A Tool To Deceive And Slaughter looks like just a simple black cube. However,when plugged into the internet, it can put itself up for auction on eBay. 

According to the legal contract accompanying the sculpture:

A. Artist has created a work of art titled “A Tool to Deceive and Slaughter (2009)” (“the Artwork”) which consists of a black box that places itself for sale on the auction website “eBay” (the “Auction Venue”) every seven (7) days. The Artwork consists of the combination of the black box or cube, the electronics contained therein, and the concept that such a physical object “sells itself” every week.

B. Collector understands and agrees to the underlying concept and function of the Artwork and that the sale of the Artwork by Artist is dependent and conditioned upon Purchaser's agreement and adherence to the below terms. Such terms are fundamental and crucial to the on-going viability and artistic integrity of the Artwork.

Every ten minutes, the sculpture checks to see if it's for sale on the auction site. If not, it automatically re-lists itself for sale. But if someone has bought the cube, the current owner must send it to the new owner, who then has to connect it online and allow it to sell itself to a new person, thus continuing the cycle.

The contract continues:

1. Collector agrees that the Artwork will remain connected to a live Internet connection at all times, with disconnections allowed only for the transportation of the work from one venue to another.

2. Upon purchasing the Artwork, Collector may establish a new value for the Artwork. The new value may not exceed current market expectations for the Artwork based on the current value of work by the Artist. This value may be reassessed quarterly.

Most recently, the black box sold for $6,350 to a buyer in Mountain View, California. Larsen says he uses the sculpture as a way to point out how “the world is a ridiculous place.”

The perpetual auction can be followed at atooltodeceiveandslaughter.com

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That Sculpture That Can Never Really Be Yours

Before You "Buy It Now" - A Warning to eBay Art Collectors

Art dealer Michael Zabrin pleaded guilty on Tuesday to selling fake contemporary artworks on eBay.

CHICAGO — You can buy and sell just about anything on eBay, but scammers like art dealer Michael Zabrin reinforce and remind us all of the warning, caveat emptor.

Zabrin was among a group of seven charged with trading fake artwork in March 2008. According to a plea agreement filed Tuesday, Zabrin, a 57-year-old art dealer from Chicago, admitted to swindling at least 250 art collectors out of more than $1 million using his companies Fineartmasters and ZFineartmasters to sell counterfeit art prints over eBay. He pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and could receive up to 13 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 at the sentencing scheduled for March 23.

According to the Associated Press, when Zabrin needed more prints to sell, he would contact his sources in Spain and Italy. When he ran out of fake Pablo Picassos he would say, "I need some P's." When he needed bogus works by Roy Lichtenstein, he would say: "I need some L's." He has admitted to selling fakes by contemporary masters Picasso, Lichtenstein, Chagall, Miro and Dali.

Zabrin paid between $1,000 and $1,500 for each art print, which he then "resold at no less than three times his cost" to unsuspecting eBay buyers. Some customers who realized they'd been scammed returned the fakes, but Zabrin acknowledged that he simply waited a few months and just resold them to someone else.

Authenticity is perhaps the most crucial aspect of art collecting; this latest eBay fraud case only reinforces the importance of performing due diligence before you click "Buy It Now".

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Before You "Buy It Now" - A Warning to eBay Art Collectors

Celebrity Paintings Translate to T-Shirts for a Cause

LOS ANGELES — With paintbrushes in hand, High School Musical star Corbin Bleu, socialite family The Hiltons (sisters Paris and Nicky with mom Kathy), singer Colbie Caillat, Disney actress Demi Lovato and The Hills reality star Audrina Patridge, all applied their creativity to canvas for a good cause. Each celebrity created a painting which has been incorporated into a unique line of t-shirts and tank tops. The fashions will be sold by Forever 21 for $12.80, with proceeds benefiting the Starlight Children's Foundation. Starting December 21, each star's original painting will also be up for sale at Starlight's eBay store.

“I was honored and excited to participate with the Forever 21/Starlight project with my daughters Paris and Nicky," said Kathy Hilton. "It was fun to do together, while at the same time doing something to help others. It's a very good cause, so I hope everyone will enjoy the t-shirts."

The Starlight Children's Foundation helps seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities.

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[Image: Paris, Nicky and Kathy Hilton's original artwork for a line of t-shirts to be sold by Forever 21, with proceeds benefitting the Starlight Children's Foundation.]

Celebrity Paintings Translate to T-Shirts for a Cause