Random Thoughts

The art market has decided to price itself more realistically at the December 3rd auction in Paris. It should be pointed out that the real major pieces that one would expect at an auction of this magnitude, in Paris, are strangely absent. I wonder if the predicted estimate of prices at the gavel are a deliberate lowering of expectations, so the art media can then spin the auction a success whatever the low prices might amount to. Perhaps the art that's been left off the block is in strong hands, and what we're seeing is the art held by the weak hands. Perhaps the owners/investors of the best art are waiting for an inevitable upturn in the general art market conditions. Needless to say, if one wants to buy a 2nd rate Picasso for collecting/investing, now might be a good time to buy. If one wants to buy a piece of art because they think it's beautiful and that they love it, anytime is good as long as the pocketbook is full.

- Jeff Watson
(via Dailyspeculations)

Jeff was spot on.

Aakash Nihalani

Aakash Nihalani's artwork is currently on view at 17 Frost gallery space (located at 17 Frost Street between Union Avenue and Lorimer Street in Wiliamsburg) in Williamsburg, New York. A must visit.

Useful links:
www.aakashnihalani.com
www.bosepacia.com
www.flickr.com/photos/28750691@N03

Greenbuild 2008

Greenbuild 2008. This year the 6th annual conference by the U.S. Green Building Council was held in the city of Boston. A great place to connect the dots.

Useful links:
www.greenbuildexpo.org
www.bnim.com

Naples Winter Wine Festival

The Naples Winter Wine Festival features some of the rarest wine varieties in the world, and it is up for auction.

Go to www.napleswinefestival.com for further info.

The Diamond City Of Surat

Binu Alex's third report in CommodityOnline on Gujarat’s diamond city of Surat @ http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Will-Indian-diamond-business-outshine-recession-12820-3-1.html was interesting. At the moment I don't think the Indian diamond business is recession-proof. The attitude and approach of consumers and retailers are key factors, which is hard to predict. The whole world is caught up in negative news. If the diamond consumers and retailers do well in North America, Europe, the Middle East, then it's good news for the Indian diamond business.

Catherine Boyle Viewpoint

Diamonds. Catherine Boyle's opinion piece in TimesOnline @ http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article5176070.ece was interesting. My view: I think Laurence Graff, chairman and founder of Graff Diamonds put into perspective many of the important issues. Top-quality gems are rare and hard to find, and there will always be a demand for these stones, and they are investors best friend, unlike other commodities.

Europeana

Europeana is an ambitious European Union project to digitize items from European museums, libraries, archives and multi-media collections -- online for free. Go to www.europeana.eu for further info.

Iron-age Gold Collar

Maev Kennedy's story about a 2,200-year-old gold collar find @ http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2008/nov/20/heritage-art was interesting.

Useful link:
www.britishmuseum.org

Truly a happy accident.