hyde or die

Taschen is coming out with a coffee table version of Sumo by Helmut Newton and I can now be filed under the happiest girl in all the world.

Only made 10,000 copies of the original one were printed(that was so large it needed it’s own Phillipe Starck designed stand). With poster size pages and weighing probably close to what it costs it became an instant collectors items for book lovers and art lovers alike.  Previous to it’s conception, the only books ever printed in this size were bibles and atlases.  I have only seen one in my life and it was at an antique photography shop in New Orleans and it couldn’t have been in poorer shape.  I can’t imagine these things are easy to transport but I mean come on.  1 in 10,000!?! Take care of it!

I guess that means there’s really only (at most) 9,999 copies in good condition.

UPDATE: Make that 9,998.

June 04, 2009, 1:41pm  

Mark Bradford Mithra 2008

This was at the New Orleans Biennial, Prospect1, this past year.  Prospect1 looks like it is going to have a second in 2010 thanks to some patrons who rallied to cover the $1.1 million debt incurred due to unforseen costs. 

Good news.

March 25, 2009, 3:52pm  

George Rodrigue Waiting for the Cajuns to Arrive 2009

You know what I love about art auctions? You never really know how things are going to go.  Take Sotheby’s Contemporary Art auction in New York this morning.  They had some good pieces, nothing big, nothing too important and everything went for 5 –figures or less.  Some drawings, small paintings, Basquiats, Richard Tuttle, Keith Haring, and the like all going for pretty consistent mid-estimate prices.  Then out of left field comes a George Rodrigue painting (not the image above, that is a screen print) estimated for $30-60,000 goes for $170,500.  Where did that come from?  Maybe it’s because he isn’t painting anymore, maybe it’s just a great piece*, or maybe it’s just some New Orleans loving. Well, wherever it came from, I’m feeling pretty good about it. 

*Which it is.  

March 10, 2009, 2:24pm  

I am loving Banksy’s new pieces in New Orleans.

August 29, 2008, 9:02am