ArtTrak Tribal Art

Ugly Christmas Sweaters

Ugly Christmas sweaters have become big business and like much of the holiday season these symbols of bad taste have lost much of their meaning. Anyone can make an ugly sweater. The meaning of truth is found in how many people can honestly try to make a great sweater and instead create something horrific. These well meaning holiday warriors are the true heroes of Christmas. For your entertainment I have looked at may ugly sweaters that MAY fit the true meaning of Christmas. This has not been an easy task which has driven me to wine. I have ended this group with a nice snow scene to calm your sensibilities.

Christmas Around the World

Last year we shared photos of how Christmas was being celebrated around the world. We had such a positive response,we have repeated and expanded it again this year.

Outside the White House 2014

420 Pound Ginger Bread House, White House 2014

White House 2014

Christmas London 2014

Christmas San Francisco, 2014

Christmas Alaska, 2014

Christmas, Fashion Mall, Las Vegas

Christmas, Strasbourg 2014

Christmas, Hong Kong 2014

Christmas, Graben Vienna, 2014

Christmas Paris 2014

Christmas Rockefeller Center New York

Christmas Glendale Galleria, California

Christmas, Hong Kong, A Selfie

My Word Christmas 2014

In the past month I have been in New Orleans, Tucson, Chicago, and St. Louis, so we welcome the holidays and a chance to catch a breather. 2015 looks to be even busier with continued unpredictability in the market place. In our next newsletter we shall evaluate the recent auctions in New York and Paris. Sothebys continues to do an amazing job in marketing African and Oceanic art. Many of us have mixed feelings about whether their success is a good thing or a warning sign of things to come. It certainly appears that new less knowledgeable buyers from other areas have greatly impacted rising prices, which then significantly influence future expectations of collectors, dealers, and yes even the auction houses. We can only hope that we are not watching an elaborate game of musical chairs. The Myron Kunin sale at Sothebys certainly exceeded expectations grossing $41,617,500.

For 2015 we will certainly be covering changes from Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Government on repatriation issues. Again we strongly recommend following the newsletter available at http://committeeforculturalpolicy.org/ for up to date information on many of the issues impacting the art world.

On an optimistic note if you are a passionately collector but can't afford the top of the food chain, I believe there will be great bargains available in the coming year. Many financial experts are predicting a market correction in 2015 which will undoubtedly have an adverse impact on the art market. This will create opportunities.

Unfortunately there are only a few weeks left in the runs of the Polynesian show in St. Louis and the Indian show in Kansas City. The latter will move on to the Met in the early spring but this is the last venue for Mike Gunn's show. At the very least get the catalogs for both of these which have objects that will not be in the States again for a very long time.

Remembering Old and New friends

For some time rescue dogs have been a big part of Barbara and my life. As many of you know you do sacrifice the occasional piece of furniture or art. Somehow around the holidays it seems like a reasonable price to pay. We remember most of them here. Unfortunately, Annie and Jessie are gone but Izzy and Chakka will no doubt be around for quite some time. One of our holiday traditions is including our four-legged friends in the Christmas cards. This year we decided to pay special respects to those no longer with us.