Trailblazing

The Royal Society, founded in London in 1660, is marking the start of its 350th year by putting 60 of its most memorable research papers online. Check it out.

Useful links:
http://trailblazing.royalsociety.org
http://royalsociety.org

Random Thoughts

We’re seeing a move incrementally back to what the Art Basel brand used to be over 30 years ago: a professional trade fair. We’ll see much less of the fashionista crowd this year who don’t purchase works or contribute in any meaningful way to the art world. Before the slump, the market was unrealistic and overblown. It has stabilised now, but keep in mind that the market is made up of many different strata.

- Todd Levin
www.levinartgroup.com
www.artbaselmiamibeach.com

An interesting viewpoint on art market.

The Age Of Aging

The Age of Aging: How Demographics are Changing the Global Economy and Our World by George Magnus is an insightful book on the economics of aging. A must read.

Useful link:
www.georgemagnus.com

Red Dot Museum

Check out the red dot concept winners at www.red-dot.sg

World Press Photo 2009

World Press Photo winners gallery 2009. www.worldpressphoto.org

A Buddhist Tale

Souren Melikian's opinion piece in the New York Times about the stunningly beautiful Buddhist statues from China was interesting. All great cultures go through metamorphosis, and religion does play a part leaving their own distinctive fingerprints.

Useful links:
www.cernuschi.paris.fr
www.artasie.com
www.royalacademy.org.uk

Bill Cunningham Viewpoint

On the Street / Thanksgiving Week. Beginning of the holiday seasons. The new fashion was brilliant. Tiny bits of fantasy. This is the real thing. Thanks Bill. I enjoyed it.

Random Thoughts

My joke is that it’s a business for the great-grandchildren. If you break through and create a brand, you can make it. But you have to be a serious player.

-Craig Hall
www.hallwines.com
www.robertmondaviwinery.com
www.wineamerica.org
www.newyorkwines.org

Spot on.

Art Market Update

The Economist art review was interesting. Who would have thought a few years ago that China would overtake France for the first time to become the third-biggest art market in the world? Amazing, really. China has got the momentum now. I hope they don't screw up.

Useful links:
www.the-saleroom.com
www.sothebys.com
www.christies.com
http://huachenauctions.com
www.chongyuan.cn
www.polypm.com.cn
www.cguardian.com
www.artseconomics.com

Artballing

I thought Michael Vaughan's artballing technique was interesting. I have never seen anything like this before. Brilliant, really.

It is a very rare thing to be able to follow a career path that you love and the opportunity to combine my two greatest passions - art and cricket - has been a sublime moment in an extraordinary life of highs and low, dreams and sometimes nightmares. Artballing captures the drama, speed and excitement of cricket in one precious, dynamic visual moment that, unlike the perfect six, lasts a lifetime.
- Michael Vaughan

Useful links:
www.michaelvaughan.net
www.castlegalleries.com

StoryCorps

StoryCorps = the art of natural storytelling / priceless moments via raw emotion. I believe these sort of projects help us keep in touch with our roots and history. It's real, it's what life is all about. I loved it.

Useful links:
www.storycorps.org
http://soundportraits.org

Best Business Books 2009

Best Business Books of 2009 by Strategy + Business.

DeRose Vineyards

Tamara Audi's story in the Wall Street Journal about DeRose Vineyards was interesting. Someday I would like to visit this winery to see the fault zone.

Useful links:
www.derosewine.com
www.es.ucsc.edu/personnel/Brodsky
www.usgs.gov

Maria Kalman Viewpoint

The way you interpreted special events like Thanksgiving was simply brilliant and inspiring. Thanks Maira. I look forward to reading more of your posts.

Useful links:
www.mairakalman.com
http://kalman.blogs.nytimes.com

The Modern Jade Story

Alexandra Seno's viewpoint in the Wall Street Journal about jade was interesting and insightful. Today, a string of plain, polished round beads in the much-desired shade of green (imperial jade) can command US$1 million. Spot on. The best colors are rare/old.

Useful links:
http://teufi.com
www.life-of-circle.com
www.qeelin.com

Costume Jewelry Update

Victoria Gomelsky's opinion piece in the New York Times was interesting. Costume jewelry = price diversity. Amazingly fine jewelry and costume jewelry coexist fantastically. Sign of the times, really.

Useful links:
www.gomelsky.net
www.chanel.com

Zimbabwe’s Diamond Mines

Joshua Hammer's report on Zimbabwean diamonds in Fast Company was educational and insightful. Sadly many companies/gem dealers will continue to do business in Zimbabwe.

Useful link:
www.joshuahammer.com

Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell: The Photographs Behind the Art was brilliant.

Useful link:
www.nrm.org

Japan's Micro-Homes

Small is beautiful. It takes a lot to bring about change. It's a state of mind. Living small isn't easy, but people are starting to take notice of the trend. It may not be for everyone, but I love it.

Random Thoughts

They get one letter from me every couple of years. And basically it says, run this business like it's the only business that your family can own for the next 100 years. You can't sell it. But every year don't measure it by the earnings in the quarter that year. Measure it by whether the moat around that business, what gives it competitive advantage over time has widened or narrowed. If you keep doing that for 100 years, it's going to work out very well. Then I tell them basically if the reason for doing something is everybody else is doing it, it's not good enough. If you have to use that as a reason, forget it.

- Warren Buffett
www.berkshirehathaway.com

Spot on. I loved it.