ALLEN R. HITE TELEVISORS EXHIBIT

During the years between 1891-1925, scientists began to figure out ways to send sound and image through space and through wires. Eventually, this created a new medium in the world. It also spawned new words such as "amplification", "motion picture", "radio", "electron", and "wireless" to enter the vocabulary.
Steve Gompf, the Executive Director of the Television Museum International (the man responsible for the show) says of this medium "The cathode ray tube has become a glass-faced altar." Perhaps that is why each antique "televisor" is placed upon its own pedestal- so that the viewing public can worship and appreciate their idols as individual givers of entertainment.
The exhibit will be on display through November 15, 2008 in the Schneider Hall Galleries on the University of Louisville's Campus. Admission is free.

PAINTING OF DEPRESSION-ERA KENTUCKY

Man and His Daughter, Eileen Doman

In the early 1990s Eileen Doman began to paint. Until this time, the only predilection she had toward the artistic world was doing hair and painting fingernails in a salon. But once she started to paint, Ms. Doman found an outlet. In 1992 her work was shown at the Outsider Art Fair in New York and just two short years later she was given a solo show at Ricco-Maresca Gallery. By 2001 she had been the focus on "Face to Face with Connie Chung" and soon after the Whitney Museum of American Art acquired one of her paintings.

The people depicted in Eileen Doman's works are predominantly family and friends and the images are often taken from old photographs. Her Kentucky connections lie with her grandmother, Ida Bell who was from a rural part of the state. As a result, many of the scenes the artist paints, depict Kentucky during the depression.

Up for auction is the painting shown above measuring 20" X 24" and estimated at $800-$1200. It will be auctioned at Slotin Self-Taught Artist auction in Gainesville, Georgia on November 8 at 7:00 p.m. You may also bid online by clicking here.

THOSE WHO BUY ART AND MAD MAGAZINE

Mad Magazine 1956 cover #30

by Norman Mingo

The New York Times reported this week that Sotheby's and Christie's brought $500 million worth of art work to Russia so that wealthy potential buyers could preview the works. The pieces include those by Kandinsky, Picasso, and Francis Bacon and will be auctioned later this month in London and in early November in New York. This was a smart move by the two giant auction houses who are doing everything they can to keep prices up during the economic crisis.

In other art news, three dozen pages of original Mad Magazine artwork are being offered for sale at Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. The complete sale is expected to fetch between $250,000-$400,000. Bidding will begin on November 14. An October 29 preview will be held at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in New York from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

MATTHEW HARRIS JOUETT - AUCTION

On Saturday, October 18, Cowans Auction of Cincinnati will offer the above pair of portraits by Kentucky artist Matthew Harris Jouett (1788-1827). Both portraits are in period gilt frames and are said to have been purchased twenty years after the paintings were completed. The pair depicts Jouett's own brother, John and his sister-in-law Eliza Beverly Brown Jouett and they have never been outside of the family. They were included in the catalog of the artist's work published in 1939. Because of their very good condition, excellent provenance, and personal ties to the artist, the pair is estimated to sell for $50,000-$70,000. If you would like to bid on the pieces or you if you would just like more information, you can visit Cowan's website here.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Matthew Harris Jouett was born in Mercer County, Kentucky on April 22 1788. Jouett studied at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky before serving in the war of 1812. In 1816, Jouett left for Boston where he studied under the famed artist Gilbert Stuart. He soon returned home to Kentucky and established himself as the first prominent artist of the west. He died in Lexington in 1827.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE ART MARKET

Economic slowdown. What does it mean for the art market?

First, one must understand that the art market is constantly changing. With the fall of communism, the art market was opened up to a group of millionaires that had never before had the opportunity to purchase western works. Particularly affected has been 19th Century American Art.

Recently, Art Market Watch asked Artnet.com to crunch some numbers for the 2008 summer season. The full results can be found here. What the list showed was that prices for high priced artworks are going up. In the first half of 2008, new records were set for almost 1000 artists including Francis Bacon's Triptych from 1976 (seen above) which sold for $86 million. And on June 24, Monet's Le Bassis aux Nymphias from his waterlily series sold at Christies London for $80.5 million.

It is important to note that while prices for expensive works remain high, the number of wealthy Americans buying that art has gone down. This year, due to a weak dollar and because of the economic downturn, Americans are buying less while a group of ultra rich buyers overseas are buying more. According to a story from NPR on Morning Edition (June 25) these buyers are predominantly located in Russia and India. That was the case with the aforementioned Francis Bacon which sold to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

Another way the economy has affected the art market is the way people buy art. Often, art investment groups are lending money to people who want to buy art and then they use the art itself for collateral.

Right now it is impossible to say how the stock market will affect the art market in the coming months but if the trends remain the same, the most prestigious works will continue to sell high.