Artist Odd Nerdrum sentenced to 2 years in prison

The Norwegian artist Odd Nerdrum has been sentenced to two years in prison after a local court in Oslo found him guilty of aggravated fiscal fraud. The sentence was proclaimed yesterday, following a process against the norwegian for failing to declare around NOK 14 million in taxable income from the sale of paintings between 1998 and 2002. Nerdrum was also ordered to pay court costs of NOK 10,000.

He claimed he had paid taxes to Iceland, to where he moved in 2002, and that part of the NOK 5 million in cash that he placed in a safety deposit box in Austria, was to make face to eventual claims that he might get due to the use of a special mixture of oils and paint in an effort to recreate the style of the old masters, which caused signs of trickling paint. The other NOK 9 million are based on checks and bank account statements acquired by the tax authorities with the help of tax authorities in the US, where Nerdrum has long had a large customer base.

The court took into consideration that Nerdrum suffers from Tourettes Syndrome, but still believed that the artist had a “conscious attitude” towards the income his art generates. On his turn the artist said that he was not good with numbers.

In the words of Irena Jovic, project leader for an exhibition at Tjuvholmen in Oslo organized by near 30 friends and former pupils with the purpose of showing support for the artist and what his work meant to young artists, Odd Nerdrum has allowed many young artists to work with him over the years for no fees.

Odd Nerdrum was born on April 8, 1944 in Helsingborg, Sweden.

This article contains excerpts from Views and News from Norway

Malangatana Auction "A Italiana" Revoked

A Fiat 500 painted by the recently deceased Mozambican artist Malangatana, was being auctioned during a period with the purpose of raising funds to the Malangatana Valente Ngwenya foundation.

The auction ended on July 6 and it seems that only two offers were made, of which only the one of $150,000 offered by the Banco Comercial de Investimentos (BCI) has been made public.

According to Malangatana's son Mutxhini Malangatana, the result was fell short of expectations and the auction of "A Italiana" (The Italian Woman) was revoked on his instructions, justifying that Malangatana's latest masterpiece was expected to fetch the triple of what was offered, a value far superior to the artist's market value.

"A Italiana" is expected to go again into auction, this time lead by an auction house and for a period of at least two years.

Stolen Rembrandt "The Judgement" Recovered

A 17th century 6x11 inches quill pen and black ink drawing by Rembrandt and sign on its back, was recovered by the authorities in a San Fernando Valley church, about 20 miles from the hotel lobby from which it had been stolen. The church's name wasn't released.
In a statement, officials said that an anonymous tip led officers to "the Judgment," in Encino, Calif.
Nobody is in custody, but the investigations continue.

Included in a Linearis Institute sponsored private exhibit at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Marina del Rey, California, "The Judgement" had been stolen over the weekend between 22:20 and 22:35 local time, while one of the curators was momentarily distracted by someone who seemed interested in buying another piece.
It's not certain if that person was involved but the authorities believe that at least two people participated in the theft.
The drawing was being displayed on an easel or wooden stand and was apparently not secured.



Valued at $250,000, "The Judgement" seems to depict a court scene with a man prostrating himself before a judge.
A Linearis Institute employee attested the authenticity of the recovered drawing.

How to Start Your Own Art Collection (without breaking the bank)

Owning art has always been considered a symbol of status, good taste and often seen as something reserved for those with a better than average financial situation.
But it doesn't have to be like that, and through this article we'll point some strategies on how to start your own art collection without breaking the bank.
We are not going to focus on art collecting as an investment, although this aspect should also be taken into account since one doesn't guess the future and may need to sell a work of art or two.

The first thing to take into consideration is to buy something that you like, but don't go on buying the first piece that you see, unless of course it touches you deep in your heart and you really must have, as long as you can afford it.
If you are not a person who goes to galleries, museums, contact with artists and explores art related websites on the internet, then you may need to develop a better perception of art quality.
Someone who is not used to see art may find a certain work of art really good, but when compared to another one, that opinion may change, afterall we tend to compare.

Going to museums, art galleries and searching for art on the internet will broaden your horizons and will give you a better vision of what's going on on the art world.

After spending a couple of months to make sure that we make a good choice, it's time to start searching for that piece that will bring you joy to look at, and not something that you just bought to fill a space on your wall.
First we need to set a budget for our first acquisition. After that it's time to start looking.

You can start by any galleries that you see in your areas and take notes of the pieces that you like most and fit your budget, namely the title of the work, medium, size, year and its author.
The gallery owner or representative should be able to enlight you about the work in question and its author.

Searching the internet, you have several options such as search a style, subject, medium, etc.
You will get hundreds of results and you'll see wonderful works of art and a wide range of prices that you'll need to compare.
When visiting an artist's website, it's important to try to understand for own long he/she has been painting in order to perceive if that artist takes art seriously.
An artist who is represented by one or more galleries is usual a guarantee of dedication to his/her profession and a sign of recognition by the market.

Other places that you should seek are the art forums, where artists show and talk about their art, their careers and their artistic activities.
Usually you'll be able to see for how long they are members of that forum, but to access more information you'll have to register.
Registering will give you the chance to know the artists better and eventually ask questions to an artist whose work appeals you.
Examples of art forums are Wetcanvas, Artpapa, Beinart and Elfwood.

You can also search for art on online art shops where you can find good art at very good prices, but don't forget to try to perceive how seriously that artist takes art, afterall buying art is also an investment. You should also be aware of scams, that's why I mentioned the importance of checking for how long has an artist been working.

Now that you've done all your research, including searching for links referring the artists' names, and have selected two or three works, it's time to contact the artist or gallery.
Since our objective is to start buy acquiring just one piece, we'll obviously start by the one that we like the most.

As you may have heard and read, there are many scams going on nowadays, so it's important that the artist perceives you as genuinely interested.
You should introduce yourself, how you found out about his/her work and why do you like it.
Then it's time to ask which art materials have been used (ask for brands), since you'll want to buy an artwork to last for generations.
Don't forget to ask if there's a money back guarantee. If there's one you'll be responsible for shipping expenses and making sure that the artwork is returned intact.

After discussing how the work can be acquired and shipping conditions, it's time for payment. If buying in a gallery or in person, things get easier, but buying online is always a bit stressful for both parties.
Paypal or something similar will usually be a preferred method, followed by a bank transfer. If you pay with a check or money order, you'll only get your item after clearance.

Now lets discuss an issue that is somewhat controversial among artists: discount.
Usually an artist will not make a discount, especially gallery represented ones for the obvious reason.
And I'm sure that you would not like to buy an artwork only to find out a couple of months later that the author is making big discounts, thus making your art worth less.

However there are exceptions and many artists are willing to assist you with your purchase if you like their art but can't afford to pay in full.
Manifest your genuine interest and how you like that piece, and ask if you could pay in instalments. This method is often accepted, but note that you'll only get your work after paid in full.
It's a common practice between artists to offer a small discount to previous customers, but not to new ones, although of course this will depend on your conversation.

After waiting a couple of days or weeks (or months if you went for the instalments plan), it's time to place your work of art in a safe place, out of sunlight and not under direct light if it's a painting or drawing, or in a safe place if it's a sculpture or instalation.
It goes without saying that fumes as well as low and high temperatures should be avoided.
The artist should be able to provide you with instructions on how to better preserve your art in good conditions and should any accident happen, contact the artist or an professional restorer or conservator.

Having a private art collection is not only owning a material asset, it's living with culture in your own place and is often a good investment, especially in times of crisis.
Even during the recent years when the stock markets weren't at their best, auction houses have seen several records.

If you have any other suggestions feel free to leave them in your comments.

$20 Million donated by Walmart to sponsor admission for the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Given over a period of five years, the grant of $20 Million donated by Walmart to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, is destined to sponsor the admission to the museum. Prior to the grant, an admission fee of $10 was being considered for adults.

Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke said "While saving people money is how we make people’s lives better every day, we realize that things like listening to your favorite song, seeing a beautiful painting or laying eyes on an amazing sculpture make our lives better, too."
"One of the greatest challenges for museums today is finding ways to remove barriers to community participation, including admission charges,” said Don Bacigalupi, Crystal Bridges executive director."

In order to adress social, economical and cultural barriers that often prevent diverse audiences from participating in the arts, the museum has set a Next Generation Fund.
Promoting environmental sustainability is also one of the priorities of this fund created by community-minded philanthropists.

Founded in 2005 by the Walton Family Foundation and set to open 11-11-11, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has in its mission to actively collect, exhibit, interpretate, and preserve the representative works that illuminate the history, heritage and artistic possibilities of America.
Its collection features American masterworks dating from the Colonial era to contemporary times and will be on view to the public year-round. An ever-changing array of special exhibitions featuring art from museums and collections throughout the region, the nation and abroad, will also be organized.

Designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie and located in Northwest Arkansas, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art comprises series of pavilions nestled around two creek-fed ponds, with house galleries, meeting and classroom spaces, and a large glass-enclosed gathering hall.
A museum store designed by Marlon Blackwell welcomes visitors who wish to take a souvenir from their visit to this excellect cultural place, while a café on a glass-enclosed bridge overlooking the ponds will make the delight of those who wish to take a pause.
Sculpture and walking trails will link the Museum's 120-acre park and gardens to downtown Bentonville, Ark.

The Grant donated be the Walmart Foundation will cover cost of admission for all Museum guests.

About Colour Perception: do you see colour the same way that I see ? (Part 1/4)

The question if we all see the colours the same way, without counting with the known exceptions such as colour blindness and other conditions, has always been an intriguing subject.

Colour plays an important role in our lives, it can even influence our mood.
Artists often have to recurr to certain 'tricks' to find the right colour since our sight is easily deceived and not always a colour is what it looks in first place.

In this series of four videos, experts use different methods to analize colour perception and present their conclusions.
You'll be able to understand how colour affects us and how we perceive colour dependently of where we live, of our culture, and personal characteristics.

The opening of Alcarte 2011 was a success

The opening of Alcarte 2011, that took place yesterday at City Hall Municipal Gallery inside the Town Hall building of Alcochete, was attended by a numerous public who showed a genuine interest and curiosity about the exhibited works.



A total of 76 artworks occupying two stores of the building, including painting, photography, mixed-media and stained-glass, are a testimony of art's dynamism among the portuguese artists.

The Mayor of Acochete, Luís Miguel Franco, made the honours.

Alcarte 2011 can be visited until 2nd of September.

One of the participating artists has created another video of the opening.

Alcarte 2011 - Colective Exhibition

The colective painting and photography exhibition Alcarte 2011, will be inaugurated on August 6th, 18h30, in the town hall of Alcochete.

The artworks can be seen until September 2nd (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm).
During the Festas do Barrete Verde e das Salinas (local festivities), the "Alcarte 2011" can be visited during the following schedule:

Between 6pm and 00h00 on the 12th,16th,17th and 18th of August.
Between 3pm and 00h00 on the 13th, 14th and 15th of August.

National Portrait Gallery presents Late Shift Extra: ReAnimate

This August 5th (18h00-22h00) the National Portrait Gallery, in partnership with F T I Consulting, invites you to Late Shift Extra: ReAnimate, a sensory stimulation exploring the body, movement and the senses: inspired by the Road to 2012 exhibition.

Artistic collaborations, panel discussions, book reading and signing, artist led drop-in drawing sessions with all materials provided, and interventions of live music, sound art, film screenings throughout the night, created by Goldsmiths students , performance, and philosophy take over the Gallery animating spaces, portraits and you.

Feel, touch, smell the Bespoke ReAnimate perfume, created especially for the night, listen and respond - the Gallery will be a giant creative and imaginative playground for the senses.

Special exhibition tour of Road to 2012 Sessions are free but a ticket is required and is available from the Information Desk in the Main Hall on Friday 5 August from 18.00 on a first come, first served basis.

The Late Shift Extra: ReAnimate is curated by Martyn Ware, Illustrious and Karen Pearson, Folded Wing.

Call for artists: XVII Galeria Aberta, Beja 2011

The registration for the XVII Galeria Aberta is now open to all artists working in any medium.

Artists are welcome to submit a recently completed work, bi or tridemensional, including installations and other forms of art representation such as hybrids or mixed media, as long as fit for visualization by all audiences.
The artwork must be ready for presentation and the artist must be available if needed for eventual assembly.
Each artist can only participate with one piece.

The registration form should be submited before the deadline to escudeiros.galeriamunicipal@cm-beja.pt, with an image file of your work in 300 dpi and 10,5x15cm format.

Works must be signed and identified in the back with the author's name, the title of the work, its dimensions, technique and year of completion.
Artists must send the artwork accompanied by the registration form together with a 300 dpi and 10,5x15cm format image file in digital support.

Entrants must use reusable packing when feasible and send the artwork to Museu Jorge Vieira - Rua do Touro, 33 - 7800-689 Beja, Portugal (Tue-Sat 10h00-12h30 14h00-18h00; Sun 14h00-18h00).
Other places that will accept works will eventually be announced.
Pieces with more than 1,5sqm (canvases, drawings,photos) and over 1m³ (sculptures) must be delivered and picked-up by the artist or representative.

Deadline for delivery is 10 October 2011 (previously 16 September 2011, but was extended). The bookstore Círculo das Letras, in Lisbon, is accepting the works.

Three prizes will be awarded and respective artworks acquired:
1600€ and an individual exhibition
800€ and an individual exhbition
400€ and an individual exhibition

Honourable mentions will also be attributed to selected works.

All artworks must stay during the exhbition and be picked-up until 20 days after its end, after which may revert to the City Hall of Beja.

The XVII Galeria Aberta is an art exhibition/contest promoted by the City Hall of Beja in partnership with the Escudeiros Gallery (Galeria dos Escudeiros).
It has in its main purpose to encourage the artistic and cultural development of the region and its inhabitants.

The exhbition will take place between the 12th November and 30th December 2011 at Galeria dos Escudeiros, Castelo-Casa do Governador and Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Beja.

For more information call: (351) 284 311 920.