Random Thoughts

Retiring is like the end of the world, especially in this business. You need self-fulfilment. Why retire? An athlete retires at 35, 40 at the most; an actor doesn't have to retire till he's 80 or whatever. A lot of people, when they retire, it's over, they're gone – men quicker than women.

- Robert Duvall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Duvall

Spot on.

Dave McClure Viewpoint

Interesting thoughts.

Useful links:
http://davemcclure.com
http://500hats.typepad.com

Global Coffee BBC

The BBC World Service/ABC Radio National programme on Vietnam’s meteoric rise in the global coffee business was interesting and insightful. I didn't know that Vietnam’s coffee farmers were responsible for a quarter of all the instant coffee drunk around the world. Many thanks.

Useful links:
www.highlandscoffee.com.vn
www.trungnguyen.com.vn
www.dakmancoffee.com
www.coffeehabitat.com

Gomp/Arts BBC

What makes an artwork worth £65m? I have been asking the same question since the life-size bronze sculpture by Alberto Giacometti was sold at auction in the UK for the world-record price of £65,001,250. I guess, at the end of the day, art is obviously in the eye of the beholder, and people who can afford to do so can spend their money as they please. But Melanie Clore's, (Deputy Chairman, Sothebys) answer (condition, rarity, reputation of the artist, competition, and confidence) was also interesting. Art business is a peculiar business, but it's a business. Many thank to Will Gompertz for sharing your thoughts.

Useful link:
www.sothebys.com

The Last Airbender

M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender is based on the wildly popular anime/manga series. I hope he does a good job with this movie. Stay tuned.

Useful links:
www.thelastairbendermovie.com
www.mnightshyamalan.com

Knowing The Value Of The Diamond Ring

The AP story on knowing the value of the diamond/ring was a brilliant piece. Many thanks.

I have a box of 10 diamonds from D through M. When they're sitting face up, nine out of 10 people can't see the difference.
- Antoinette Matlins
www.antoinettematlins.com

Useful links:
www.tiffany.com
www.gia.edu
www.bluenile.com
www.diamonds.com
www.ice.com
www.theweddingreport.com

Random Thoughts

People are bored with Impressionists and want to see new things. Most of the pop culture of the young Westerners is rooted outside of Western culture. Bjork, for example, will talk about African, Inuit, Arabic music, not about Mozart or the Rolling Stones. The interest of the young generation is in manga, African textiles, Polynesian tattooing, Japanese food.

- Stéphane Martin
www.quaibranly.fr

So true!

The Most Precious Metals

Analysts believe prices could go higher in 2010. Stay tuned. Many thanks to Steve Levine.

Useful links:
www.world-bureau.com
www.matthey.com
www.gold.org

Kinetica Art Fair 2010

Kinetica Art Fair takes place from 4 - 7 February 2010 at the Ambika P3 space in London. www.kinetica-artfair.com

PSFK

Good ideas report. www.psfk.com

The Orphans' Home Cycle

The Orphans' Home Cycle is about us. Don't miss.

Useful link:
www.signaturetheatre.org

The Topia Inn

Definitely an artsy place. I would like to visit Topia Inn someday. Many thanks to Sara Rimer.

Useful link:
http://topiainn.com

Opera + Artists

Barbara Pollack's viewpoints in the ARTnews about the role of visual artists in opera was interesting. Many thanks to Barbara.

Useful links:
www.metoperafamily.org
www.moma.org
www.glyndebourne.com
www.teatrwielki.pl
www.handspringpuppet.co.za
www.lamonnaie.be
www.kunstenfestivaldesarts.be
www.operadeparis.fr
www.teatrosancarlo.it
www.teatro-real.es
www.teatrosanmartin.com.ar

Van Doesburg + The International Avant-Garde

Van Doesburg and the International Avant-Garde. Tate Modern, 4 February–16 May, 2010. Don't miss.

Useful link:
www.tate.org.uk

Top Wedding Trends 2010

The Knot Report. www.theknot.com

Chaim Even Zohar Viewpoint

I think Chaim Even Zohar has a valid point here. The WDC isn’t perfect. The Kimberley Process (KP) has major flaws. Martin Rapaport should have been more considerate. I think the Zimbabwe situation is a serious matter. I hope the industry will come up with a meaningful and effective solution.

Useful links:
www.diamondintelligence.com
www.diamonds.net
www.kimberleyprocess.com
www.worlddiamondcouncil.com

Olaf Breuning

Kelly Devine Thomas's viewpoints in ARTnews about Olaf Breuning and his multimedia works was interesting. He has a great sense of humor. His artworks are wild and interesting. Many thanks Kelly.

Useful links:
www.olafbreuning.com
www.binz39.ch
www.whitneybiennial.com
www.armoryonpark.org
www.newartdealers.org

To Bead True Blue 2010

To Bead True Blue + The Tucson Bead Show workshops and demos will be held daily January 31 – February 8, 2010. Check it out.

Useful links:
www.tobeadtrueblue.com
www.thetucsonbeadshow.com

Random Thoughts

Indian entrepreneurs, however, are like Indian housewives. Whether it is the price of one onion or the price of a company, they are going to hold out for the best possible deal, even if to the outsider it seems like a waste of time.

- Eric Bellman

Sometimes I think it's true.

BMW Art Car Collection

It has been reported that Jeff Koons will be designing the next installment in BMW's long-running Art Car series. Brilliant choice. Stay tuned.

Useful links:
www.jeffkoons.com
www.bmw.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Art_Car