Friday, February 27, 2009

Fake: Fraud, Lies, and eBay (Part 2)

I finished the book within about 4 hours of starting it.  It was a great, quick, read and it caused me to do some research on my own afterwards.  I first went and looked up the "incident" on google.  Tons of articles came up about it.  This was huge and I can't believe that I missed this when it happened.  Afterwards, I went to play around on Ebay.  Though I understand why people like the site (it's fun, it's risky, it has everything you can ever ask for offered), I am having a difficult time understanding how the author was able to get as addicted to it as he was.  It was like he couldn't quit.  Even after he pled guilty, he went on to create computer software FOR Ebay... there are a million different things he could have made software for and yet, he was single minded beyond the point of being able to recognize it and continued to involve himself in Ebay.  

I started reading another book.  It's a quick read as well and is associated with the social aspect of the art world.  As much as I hate to admit this, it was written by a young woman, for an audience of young women.  It reminds me of that movie "The Devil Wears Prada" (which I was dragged to against my will) only it relates to the art world as opposed to the fashion world.   The book is called "Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him," and is by Danielle Ganek.  So far, though I have only read about 20 pages, it's hilarious.  Everyone check it out (girls and guys both!)!

When I'm done with this one, I'm most likely going to be in search of another quick, easy, entertaining art read... recommendations welcome!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Fake: Fraud, Lies, and eBay

Yesterday evening I was browsing on Google Books in search of a new novel to begin.  I was looking for something light but interesting, that wouldn’t take too much time to get through.  What I came across was Fake: Fraud, Lies, and eBay by Kenneth Walton.  I started reading some of the pages Google posts online and couldn’t seem to stop reading.  It was only around the time that I got to “page 7-8 have been removed from the internet for copyright purposes” (or something along those lines) that I realized that I NEEDED to go out and get a copy of this book.  Until I was able to go obtain a copy I spent a little bit of time researching the store (which is a true story).  It’s about a man who got addicted to selling fine art on eBay during the big dot com boom in the mid-90’s.  Literally, it got to a point where he quit his career as a lawyer (to pursue his eBay career full heartedly), started copying artists signatures onto works that could be by them, and knowingly deceived people into buying works that were not what he portrayed them to be for thousands and thousands of dollars.  It wasn’t until a work went for over $100,000 that the newspapers (and later the FBI) got involved.  AND this story is 100% true! 

So, first thing this morning I hunted down a copy of the book and can’t seem to put it down.  In fact, I’m back to reading.  Another post will come later when I finish reading.  

Friday, February 13, 2009

Art News In Place of Art Texts

I haven't been reading lately.  I guess I haven't really had much time.  Actually, I take that back, I have actually been reading quite a bit but it hasn't been literature on the arts.  It's been articles relating to the art world.  Is it just me or have newspapers and magazines and journals and online publications lately been dedicating more time to writing about the arts?  I've been reading about British statues being removed due to becoming potentially dangerous.  I've been reading about the upcoming Yves Saint Laurent auction held by Christie's in Paris at the end of this month.  I've been reading about the poor showing and sales results of the European Contemporary Art Fair (going on now) called ARCO...  it's hard times for everyone right now.  

I think that people are working hard and trying to have positive attitudes about the gray economic situation but it seems to be poking its ugly head into even the most beautiful parts of life right now.  :: Sigh ::

Friday, February 6, 2009

Art Media

Straying away from things to read about art, I would like to draw attention to a video clip that I came across online the other day. A friend of mine introduced me to the work of an artist/computer genius named Jonathan Harris and the things that he creates are unreal. This video clip is about one of his projects called "We Feel Fine" - it's relatively long (about 20ish minutes) but really provokes a lot of thought. After watching the clip, I looked up the project and can't get enough of it. Essentially this guy invented computer software that compiles all the "I feel" statements from blogs around the world every two hours. Then these statements are displayed for people like me and you to read in an attractive way. My words can't do it justice, I suggest you check it out for yourself. A friend of mine, who isn't into anything relating to the arts, enjoyed it too (although I think it was for completely different reasons than me)... it's one of those things that can reach and affect a wide range of people in totally different ways.

Strange, does this mean that MY "I feel" statements have come up some time or another on this site? I assume so. How cool is that?