Bill Cunningham Viewpoint

On the Street - The Mark of a Gentleman by Bill Cunningham @ http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/11/22/fashion/20081123-street-feature/index.html was brilliant. I liked it.

Interactive Art In London

Gareth Mitchell's story on Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's huge interactive art installation in Trafalgar Square, London @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7740263.stm was interesting. Don't miss it!

Useful link:
www.lozano-hemmer.com

Heard On The Street

Even in the best of times, it's hard to tell the difference between honest error and outright deception, really.

Jun Aoki

Meet the most intellectual architect of Japan @ www.aokijun.com

Useful links:
www.jidpo.or.jp
www.g-mark.org

Art Market Update

The Economist report on the 2008 autumn art-auction season/upcoming Russian art sales + the unpredictable buyers @ http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12666644 was interesting.

Useful links:
www.bonhams.com
www.sothebys.com
www.christies.com

Verneuil Synthetic Corundum

Richard W. Hughes + John I. Koivula rexamines why and how curved growth lines and gas bubbles occur in Verneuil (flame-fusion) synthetic corundum @ http://www.ruby-sapphire.com/verneuil-synthetic-corundum-dangerous-curves.htm

A must read.

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