What are your first thoughts about these items? Art? Recyclab... on Twitpic
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Avoid Legal Pitfalls When Buying Art - From The New York Times
By PAUL SULLIVAN
Published: September 24, 2010
Even in a sluggish economy, art auctions can be frothy places. But as the fall auction season kicks into high gear, the same emotion that gets buyers to bid up works of art may well lead to a different variation of buyer’s remorse.
The problem is in buying art that has unseen strings attached. The cases associated with Nazi-era art looting are well known. But claims associated with outright theft count for only a quarter of the lawsuits brought against owners of art, according to Judith Pearson, president of Aris, a title insurer specializing in art. The bulk of the claims come from more traditional liens and encumbrances.
“There are all kinds of examples — someone didn’t have the authority to sell the art, the I.R.S. has a lien on all assets for not paying taxes, the art was used as collateral for a loan and the loan wasn’t paid off,” she said.
This weekend’s auction of the Neuberger Berman and Lehman Brothers corporate art collections has several art advisers talking. While no one has suggested any impropriety in the sale, which was approved by a bankruptcy court judge, several advisers discussed other auctions that involved claims against the art. A spokeswoman for Sotheby’s, which is handling the Lehman auction, did not return repeated calls.
Joel Lever, a partner at the law firm Kurzman Eisenberg Corbin & Lever, said a client who had bought art from a bankruptcy auction in Japan ended up being challenged by the firm’s corporate creditors. Another client bought a work of art from a respected Zurich dealer only to learn, when he sought to sell it at auction in the United States, that the piece was a forgery.
“It’s important to generally talk about protecting what a buyer should do,” Mr. Lever said. “There is an arrogance of the buyer, often my client, and the seller, a well-known auction house, that exposes them to risks that they would not take with any other asset class.”
Stories of frauds appeal to our romantic imagination, and the authenticity of any work should be verified. But buyers should concern themselves this auction season with three other things first: value, liens and legal protection.
After the last auctions in the spring, the Mei Moses Fine Art Index showed prices for Impressionist, old master and postwar art had rebounded significantly from lows in 2009. The biggest gains were in postwar art, which increased some 30 percent, according to the index.
That would seem to be good news, but several advisers pointed out that buyers can get caught up in the euphoria in a market heading up. “The minute you buy something, you need to know what your exit strategy is,” said Peter May, an independent wealth consultant in Philadelphia.
Mr. May specializes in advising clients on buying art, and he said all buyers expect their art to increase in value. But that is not always the case. Worse, many buyers do not think about how they may eventually sell the art or handle its transfer to their heirs.
Advisers’ more immediate concern, though, is the client who gets caught up in the moment. Auction catalogs are produced months in advance of the actual sale, which should give buyers plenty of time to assess how much they are willing to pay for a piece of art. Yet buyers too often start bidding and end up paying more than they expected to.
“I have many clients who lose all discipline, like they were at the craps table,” Mr. Lever said.
Regardless of how you buy the piece of art or how much you pay, these advisers agreed that it is important to make sure the piece has no liens against it. “Most people think of fraudulent transactions,” Mr. May said. “But you also have normal business issues, or it’s personal property of your balance sheet and you’re about to be sued.”
This is where Ms. Pearson’s company comes in. After searching liens and claims against the piece of art as well as researching its provenance, the company makes a risk assessment and decides on a one-time premium for the piece.
These rates range from 1 to 5 percent of the value, with the higher premiums going to World War II-era art that could be linked to the Nazi looting. “Just because you paid for a painting, it doesn’t mean you own it,” Ms. Pearson said.
The reality, though, is that title insurance is still not broadly accepted. “It hasn’t been purchased on a widespread basis,” said Paul Funk, executive managing director at Frank Crystal & Company, an insurance brokerage. “We’re dealing with very high net worth clients and we’re not hearing from them that this is coverage they want to buy. We’ve heard it come up more with hedge funds buying art and they have investors behind them.”
Mr. Funk said major carriers do not offer endorsements that protect collectors from buying a piece of art that was fraudulently sold to them.
That is why, the advisers said, you should take your time in negotiating sale contracts and doing due diligence ahead of an auction. “It behooves you to get a third party to inspect and value the authenticity of the art,” Mr. Lever said. “It’s expensive and difficult to do but you should be doing that if you want to protect your claim.”
The advisers also recommended having a contract in place that says what reparations will be paid if the work is found out to be a forgery or to have been fraudulently conveyed. This is what Mr. Lever did on behalf of the client whose art turned out to be a forgery. Because the dealer, widely respected in the Zurich art world, did not want his reputation besmirched, he agreed to settle the claim out of court.
“We ended up settling, and rather quickly,” he said. If he had let his client rush into the transaction, he said, the result might have been quite different.
Published: September 24, 2010
Even in a sluggish economy, art auctions can be frothy places. But as the fall auction season kicks into high gear, the same emotion that gets buyers to bid up works of art may well lead to a different variation of buyer’s remorse.
The problem is in buying art that has unseen strings attached. The cases associated with Nazi-era art looting are well known. But claims associated with outright theft count for only a quarter of the lawsuits brought against owners of art, according to Judith Pearson, president of Aris, a title insurer specializing in art. The bulk of the claims come from more traditional liens and encumbrances.
“There are all kinds of examples — someone didn’t have the authority to sell the art, the I.R.S. has a lien on all assets for not paying taxes, the art was used as collateral for a loan and the loan wasn’t paid off,” she said.
This weekend’s auction of the Neuberger Berman and Lehman Brothers corporate art collections has several art advisers talking. While no one has suggested any impropriety in the sale, which was approved by a bankruptcy court judge, several advisers discussed other auctions that involved claims against the art. A spokeswoman for Sotheby’s, which is handling the Lehman auction, did not return repeated calls.
Joel Lever, a partner at the law firm Kurzman Eisenberg Corbin & Lever, said a client who had bought art from a bankruptcy auction in Japan ended up being challenged by the firm’s corporate creditors. Another client bought a work of art from a respected Zurich dealer only to learn, when he sought to sell it at auction in the United States, that the piece was a forgery.
“It’s important to generally talk about protecting what a buyer should do,” Mr. Lever said. “There is an arrogance of the buyer, often my client, and the seller, a well-known auction house, that exposes them to risks that they would not take with any other asset class.”
Stories of frauds appeal to our romantic imagination, and the authenticity of any work should be verified. But buyers should concern themselves this auction season with three other things first: value, liens and legal protection.
After the last auctions in the spring, the Mei Moses Fine Art Index showed prices for Impressionist, old master and postwar art had rebounded significantly from lows in 2009. The biggest gains were in postwar art, which increased some 30 percent, according to the index.
That would seem to be good news, but several advisers pointed out that buyers can get caught up in the euphoria in a market heading up. “The minute you buy something, you need to know what your exit strategy is,” said Peter May, an independent wealth consultant in Philadelphia.
Mr. May specializes in advising clients on buying art, and he said all buyers expect their art to increase in value. But that is not always the case. Worse, many buyers do not think about how they may eventually sell the art or handle its transfer to their heirs.
Advisers’ more immediate concern, though, is the client who gets caught up in the moment. Auction catalogs are produced months in advance of the actual sale, which should give buyers plenty of time to assess how much they are willing to pay for a piece of art. Yet buyers too often start bidding and end up paying more than they expected to.
“I have many clients who lose all discipline, like they were at the craps table,” Mr. Lever said.
Regardless of how you buy the piece of art or how much you pay, these advisers agreed that it is important to make sure the piece has no liens against it. “Most people think of fraudulent transactions,” Mr. May said. “But you also have normal business issues, or it’s personal property of your balance sheet and you’re about to be sued.”
This is where Ms. Pearson’s company comes in. After searching liens and claims against the piece of art as well as researching its provenance, the company makes a risk assessment and decides on a one-time premium for the piece.
These rates range from 1 to 5 percent of the value, with the higher premiums going to World War II-era art that could be linked to the Nazi looting. “Just because you paid for a painting, it doesn’t mean you own it,” Ms. Pearson said.
The reality, though, is that title insurance is still not broadly accepted. “It hasn’t been purchased on a widespread basis,” said Paul Funk, executive managing director at Frank Crystal & Company, an insurance brokerage. “We’re dealing with very high net worth clients and we’re not hearing from them that this is coverage they want to buy. We’ve heard it come up more with hedge funds buying art and they have investors behind them.”
Mr. Funk said major carriers do not offer endorsements that protect collectors from buying a piece of art that was fraudulently sold to them.
That is why, the advisers said, you should take your time in negotiating sale contracts and doing due diligence ahead of an auction. “It behooves you to get a third party to inspect and value the authenticity of the art,” Mr. Lever said. “It’s expensive and difficult to do but you should be doing that if you want to protect your claim.”
The advisers also recommended having a contract in place that says what reparations will be paid if the work is found out to be a forgery or to have been fraudulently conveyed. This is what Mr. Lever did on behalf of the client whose art turned out to be a forgery. Because the dealer, widely respected in the Zurich art world, did not want his reputation besmirched, he agreed to settle the claim out of court.
“We ended up settling, and rather quickly,” he said. If he had let his client rush into the transaction, he said, the result might have been quite different.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Will Work for Art
Tuesday, September 28, 2010 7 PM
Ida K. Lang Recital Hall at Hunter College, North Building, 695 Park Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY
How do artists find ways to support their careers? Inspired by Charles Burchfield’s experience working as a wallpaper designer while simultaneously trying to maintain and further his art career, this roundtable conversation explores the challenges and successes that contemporary artists have faced balancing their art and the jobs that support it. From fashion photography to an Alaskan cannery, artists Marilyn Minter, Matthew Brannon, and Amy Sillman will discuss the varied experiences they pursued in addition to their artistic practices. Moderated by Katy Siegel.
Please note: This program will take place at Ida K. Lang Recital Hall at Hunter College, North Building, 695 Park Avenue, 4th Floor (East 68th St. between Park and Lexington Avenues).
Online reservations have reached capacity, but we encourage you to come to Lang Hall on the night of the event for seating possibilities.
Artists interested in submitting art for our corporate art rental and art leasing program please send your inquiry to: lisa@artrentandlease.com - we will be reviewing new work for inclusion in January 2011.
Ida K. Lang Recital Hall at Hunter College, North Building, 695 Park Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY
How do artists find ways to support their careers? Inspired by Charles Burchfield’s experience working as a wallpaper designer while simultaneously trying to maintain and further his art career, this roundtable conversation explores the challenges and successes that contemporary artists have faced balancing their art and the jobs that support it. From fashion photography to an Alaskan cannery, artists Marilyn Minter, Matthew Brannon, and Amy Sillman will discuss the varied experiences they pursued in addition to their artistic practices. Moderated by Katy Siegel.
Please note: This program will take place at Ida K. Lang Recital Hall at Hunter College, North Building, 695 Park Avenue, 4th Floor (East 68th St. between Park and Lexington Avenues).
Online reservations have reached capacity, but we encourage you to come to Lang Hall on the night of the event for seating possibilities.
Artists interested in submitting art for our corporate art rental and art leasing program please send your inquiry to: lisa@artrentandlease.com - we will be reviewing new work for inclusion in January 2011.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Lots of Pictures, Little Space
David Kassel, a professional art installer, helped Rachel Hudgins transform the entryway of her apartment into a salon-style gallery.
By JULIE SCELFO
Published: September 22, 2010
WHEN Rachel Hudgins decided to turn a longtime hobby of photographing friends’ children into a career, she left Los Angeles and her job in the film industry and moved East, to be closer to the photography world in New York City.
She knew that trading her 2,000-square-foot Hollywood home for an apartment would mean paring down her belongings, and she had no problem with that. Getting rid of furnishings and objects she no longer loved was easy: “What was me at one point was not me today,” said Ms. Hudgins, 44, who moved into an 800-square-foot rental in Jersey City, for which she pays $1,800 a month, in 2008.
But Ms. Hudgins, who helped produce several of Richard Gere’s films, had also spent countless hours helping him with his fine-art photography collection, and had assembled a collection of her own in the process. And she had no intention of parting with it — the question was how to make it work in her new space.
Her idea was to display it on the walls of her stairwell, which functions as an entry hall. But the prospect of sorting through a collection of some 60 photographs and a dozen paintings, and then figuring out how to arrange them, was daunting.
“It was just going to be huge,” she said. “It could go so wrong. I have such an eclectic mix of stuff — flea market pictures, fine art photographs and old mirrors. If I put it up in the wrong way or don’t group it well, it would be a mess.”
To get help figuring out “what stays, what goes and how to arrange it all,” Ms. Hudgins responded to a notice in The New York Times (that is no longer running) offering to assist people with small decorating budgets by matching them with professional designers. David Kassel, the owner of ILevel, an art installation and design consultancy in Manhattan whose clients include museums and photography dealers, volunteered his time (although Ms. Hudgins did pay for his staff members’ services).
See the rest of the story at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/garden/23cheap.html?scp=2&sq=&st=nyt
For help with paintings, photographs and sculpture for your home or office, contact us for a free consultation! We can rent art for short-term projects, lease art, and sell direct to clients or through our gallery at International Market Square in Minneapolis at the Design Center! Visit our web site at: http://www.artrentandlease.com/ or call us at (888) 440-9260 x710.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
From the NY Times: Christie's to Sell Shorenstein Collection
The San Francisco real estate mogul Walter H. Shorenstein and his wife, Phyllis, were of a generation whose tastes veered toward pretty Impressionist paintings. Mr. Shorenstein, who died in June at 95, was well known as a Democratic Party fund-raiser, and his wife, who died in 1994, was a passionate advocate of Asian art, not only as a collector but also as a founder of the city’s Asian Art Museum, which opened in Golden Gate Park in 1966.
Starting in November, their family will be selling more than 170 paintings and decorative objects from the couple’s estate at Christie’s in New York and Hong Kong. The collection is expected to bring more than $24 million.
“The combination of Impressionist paintings and Asian art is an unusual one,” said Conor Jordan, head of Christie’s Impressionist and modern art department in New York, who explained that the couple bought most of their paintings from blue-chip galleries in New York and Paris.
Among the best of them is Caillebotte’s “Seine à Argenteuil,” a sun-drenched scene of racing boats on the Seine from 1882. Estimated at $5 million to $7 million, it will go on the block Nov. 3 in Christie’s Impressionist and modern art auction. So will a portrait of three of Pissarro’s children in the family garden, a canvas that he painted in 1892 and that is expected to fetch $3 million to $4 million. There is also an early landscape by Seurat from 1882 that is expected to bring $1.8 million to $2.5 million and will be sold alongside four drawings and one painting from another seller. While Mr. Jordan would not say where they are coming from, experts familiar with the works say they belong to the Paris collector André Bromberg.
“Seraut died when he was only 31,” Mr. Jordan said. “So when good things by the artist come up, they are eagerly pursued.”
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Amazing Grass Sculptures
Exhibiting at the Invisible Dog Gallery in Brooklyn, these beautiful sculptures made of soil and wheat seeds with a structure of recycled metal are the creative work of mixed media artist Mathilde Roussel-Giraudy
“The natural world, ingested as food becomes a component of human being,” Roussel-Giraudy says. “Through these anthropomorphic and organic sculptures made of soil and wheat grass seeds, I strive to show that food, it’s origin, it’s transport, has an impact on us beyond it’s taste. The power inside it affects every organ of our body. Observing nature and being aware of what and how we eat makes us more sensitive to food cycles in the world – of abundance, of famine – and allows us to be physically, intellectually and spiritually connected to a global reality.”
For more information visit:
blog.gessato.com/2010/09/21/grass-sculptures
Friday, September 24, 2010
Low Cost Solutions to Facility & Building Managers
While artwork may not be as critically important as managing energy efficiency, roof leaks or overflow parking, it is important to your building's "feel" and how others percieve your space.
An art rental can solve the problem of empty walls, a lackluster lobby or outdated frames inexpensively, quickly and efficiently. Our consultants are located throughout the US and work with companies to provide artwork that fits the corporate culture and style, for just a few dollars per day and.....an art rental is tax-deductible as a business expense (to keep the finance folks happy)!
If you're looking for a solution to that pesky artwork (or lack thereof) problem, call us for help and a free consultation: 888-440-9260 x710.
Proud Members of IFMA, BOMA and ASID
See us IFMA in Atlanta, Booth #704 - October 27 - 29, 1020
An art rental can solve the problem of empty walls, a lackluster lobby or outdated frames inexpensively, quickly and efficiently. Our consultants are located throughout the US and work with companies to provide artwork that fits the corporate culture and style, for just a few dollars per day and.....an art rental is tax-deductible as a business expense (to keep the finance folks happy)!
If you're looking for a solution to that pesky artwork (or lack thereof) problem, call us for help and a free consultation: 888-440-9260 x710.
Proud Members of IFMA, BOMA and ASID
See us IFMA in Atlanta, Booth #704 - October 27 - 29, 1020
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Fall, Leaves, Fall by Emily Jane Bronte
Fall, leaves, fall by Emily Jane Bronte
Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.
I shall smile when wreaths of snow
Blossom where the rose should grow;
I shall sing when night’s decay
Ushers in a drearier day.
Nostalgic Vintage Art Styles
If vintage art is the right selection for your home or office, work carefully with your art consultant to frame and exhibit the piece in such a way that the vintage work fits your style and personality. Originals can increase substantially in value over time, so always use quality matting and framing, along with museum-quality glass to enhance and protect your art.
A great place to find vintage art is through galleries that specialize in vintage artwork, antique dealers and your local art consultant. Do your homework when selecting vintage art to make sure you're getting what you think - if you're paying $10 for a poster, chances are it's not original. If you're paying hundreds or thousands, verify it's authenticity and provenance with the seller before you buy.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
2011 Budgets Just Around The Corner
Summer is over, how can that be? It seems like just yesterday that I was pulling out my white pants for the season! Now it's time to embrace Fall and Winter, put away those warm weather clothes, summery throw pillows, prune the plants and bring out the warm socks.
For many of you it's time to plan for 2011 budgets, update your space and prepare for the new year. If you need to spruce up your home or office, re-frame, redorate or you are relocating or expanding, consider working with one of our art consultants to maximize your art budget.
You can check out the website at http://www.artrentandlease.com/ and see over 3,500 original works of art from artists throughout the US. For more information, please follow our blog - it talks about many different areas within the world of art: artists, artwork, color, design, styles, tax-deductions on art rentals, art leasing, art for your building or office, utilizing art to improve your corporate image and enhance employee morale...all meant to help and inform.
Lisa (888) 440-9260 x710 or lisa@artrentandlease.com
For many of you it's time to plan for 2011 budgets, update your space and prepare for the new year. If you need to spruce up your home or office, re-frame, redorate or you are relocating or expanding, consider working with one of our art consultants to maximize your art budget.
You can check out the website at http://www.artrentandlease.com/ and see over 3,500 original works of art from artists throughout the US. For more information, please follow our blog - it talks about many different areas within the world of art: artists, artwork, color, design, styles, tax-deductions on art rentals, art leasing, art for your building or office, utilizing art to improve your corporate image and enhance employee morale...all meant to help and inform.
Lisa (888) 440-9260 x710 or lisa@artrentandlease.com
Saturday, September 18, 2010
National Portrait Gallery’s Art Sings on Walls of Color
by Jean Molesworth Kee
Living near Washington, D.C., I have the luxury of great galleries and museums at my doorstep. No stranger to the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum before their renovation, I was not prepared for the stunning choice of paint colors used to bring new life to these pieces.
I’ve visited this space, praised by Walt Whitman as the “noblest of Washington buildings”, many times over the past 5 years, studying the new wall colors, painstakingly selected by professionals. Last week, I stepped inside with my new camera, determined to capture and share a bit of the breathtaking backdrop that now showcases the art and architecture there.
For the permanent collections, which are displayed chronologically, the Gallery chose historically correct colors for each time period and/or colors that were complementary to each piece.
Color is used to organize and connect these spaces and careful consideration has been given to the interplay of color between the rooms. In the Grand Hall, a soft neutral is used with subtle variations on walls, ceilings and trim. But look at the glimpses of color seen through doorways and beyond.
What is so fresh and edgy about these spaces, in all of their historical context and splendor, is a contemporary color twist. Here the eye is drawn to a freestanding feature wall – a bold plane of color. The color may be historically accurate but it is bold and sassy. Portraits of stodgy, gray WWII generals now hang against an acid yellow.
And a wasabi green.
And a Caribbean blue.
Anne Kenderdine, in an article for the Washington Post, used this example as a study in color theory. In a room filled with the oils of artist Thomas Wilmer Dewing, the walls are a soft dusky rose, the perfect complement to the green tones found in his paintings. Viewed from the doorway of this room, you glimpse across the hall where the reverse is used. Walls of deep saturated green complement the red tones of the floor and warm wood framing.
Other examples of the power of complementary color- here the eye is drawn to the shots of red and orange in these works hanging on a backdrop of blue.
Here, walls of deep chocolate brown add high contrast and drama to a white marble sculpture.
And here, an accent wall of peacock blue punctuates a large room of subtle gray tones.
My tour ended on the third floor of the American Art Museum in the wing that houses its contemporary works. Here walls are painted in subtle variations of white and gray with pops of color only in the art itself and furnishings.
Here are just a few of the Benjamin Moore paint colors used in this glorious renovation.
If you visit Washington, D.C., stop off at The National Portrait Gallery and The Smithsonian American Art Museum- two great museums, one incredible place.
About Jean: Jean Molesworth Kee is a certified architectural color consultant and founder of The Painted Room. She has consulted on numerous projects throughout the greater metropolitan Washington, D.C. area over the past 10 years. She graduated of The International School of Colour and Design in Sydney.
Living near Washington, D.C., I have the luxury of great galleries and museums at my doorstep. No stranger to the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum before their renovation, I was not prepared for the stunning choice of paint colors used to bring new life to these pieces.
I’ve visited this space, praised by Walt Whitman as the “noblest of Washington buildings”, many times over the past 5 years, studying the new wall colors, painstakingly selected by professionals. Last week, I stepped inside with my new camera, determined to capture and share a bit of the breathtaking backdrop that now showcases the art and architecture there.
Color is used to organize and connect these spaces and careful consideration has been given to the interplay of color between the rooms. In the Grand Hall, a soft neutral is used with subtle variations on walls, ceilings and trim. But look at the glimpses of color seen through doorways and beyond.
What is so fresh and edgy about these spaces, in all of their historical context and splendor, is a contemporary color twist. Here the eye is drawn to a freestanding feature wall – a bold plane of color. The color may be historically accurate but it is bold and sassy. Portraits of stodgy, gray WWII generals now hang against an acid yellow.
And a wasabi green.
And a Caribbean blue.
Anne Kenderdine, in an article for the Washington Post, used this example as a study in color theory. In a room filled with the oils of artist Thomas Wilmer Dewing, the walls are a soft dusky rose, the perfect complement to the green tones found in his paintings. Viewed from the doorway of this room, you glimpse across the hall where the reverse is used. Walls of deep saturated green complement the red tones of the floor and warm wood framing.
Other examples of the power of complementary color- here the eye is drawn to the shots of red and orange in these works hanging on a backdrop of blue.
Here, walls of deep chocolate brown add high contrast and drama to a white marble sculpture.
And here, an accent wall of peacock blue punctuates a large room of subtle gray tones.
My tour ended on the third floor of the American Art Museum in the wing that houses its contemporary works. Here walls are painted in subtle variations of white and gray with pops of color only in the art itself and furnishings.
Here are just a few of the Benjamin Moore paint colors used in this glorious renovation.
If you visit Washington, D.C., stop off at The National Portrait Gallery and The Smithsonian American Art Museum- two great museums, one incredible place.
About Jean: Jean Molesworth Kee is a certified architectural color consultant and founder of The Painted Room. She has consulted on numerous projects throughout the greater metropolitan Washington, D.C. area over the past 10 years. She graduated of The International School of Colour and Design in Sydney.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Art Styles for Art in the Workplace: Traditional and Fine Arts
Traditional paintings are generally oil or watercolor and would most likely include impressionists, still life's, painted portraits and historical events. It is generally historical in nature. Original paintings are extremely rare and exorbitantly expensive so a reproduction is more likely to appear in anywhere other than an art museum. It is crucial that the reproduction, framing and installation be of the highest quality and workmanship. Save the reproduction posters for the dorm room or early apartment. Click here to learn more about fine art at http://www.wikipedia.com/
Traditional art fits well in a professional office building, professional office, or upscale hotel. The piece will give a strong sense of tradition, safety and security. To find the perfect traditional piece for your office, work with your art consultant. She will work within your price range to provide the very art that speaks your corporate message.
For a free consultation on fine art for your home or office, contact us at (888) 440-9260 x710 and visit our website at: http://www.artrentandlease.com/ - we offer a variety of styles of artwork from artists throughout the US, including eco-friendly, sustainable artwork.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
10 Great Reasons to Rent or Lease Art
Many companies think that they don't have the budget for artwork in their lobby and work area, especially in today's tough economy. This is a flawed perception. As a matter of fact, with the flexibility of leased or rented art, facilities managers and even owners of small businesses with a significant brand identity can't afford not to consider the benefits of leased or rented artwork.
Instead of staring at four empty walls or filling the lobby with silk plants, there are at least ten good reasons to consider the simplicity, economic benefit and uplift to a work area that art rental brings.
A rental can meet the business clients needs from an aesthetic point of view, can be beneficial for environmental and regional purposes and provides many financial benefits. The most obvious reason for considering artwork instead of bare walls is the aesthetics.
Making the decision to lease or rent art brings the beauty of fine art into the workspace. I think that anyone would agree that a beautiful place is a better place to spend time, whether as a valued customer, employee or vendor.
Carefully selected artwork is a good business decision.
First of all, tasteful art that is alignment with the corporate mission and vision enhances and reinforces the corporate image and message.
Second, the beauty of art improves the overall morale of both client and employees.
The third benefit is unique to leased and rented art. Did you know that leased or rented artwork can be rotated every few months for a "new" look? Art can be changed annually or even seasonally, converting a once uninteresting lobby or meeting area into a gallery for unique artwork?
A fourth and very compelling reason to lease or rent art is the flexibility of the try before you buy aspects of leased or rented art. The pressure to make a decision is greatly reduced when the piece of art can be swapped out. The selection of artwork can be a highly personal choice which, frankly, makes facilities managers uncomfortable at times. With the ability to rotate art, this personal nature of the decision is removed.
There are several reasons why leased art from local artists or artists who work in environmentally friendly medium can project a positive image for a building or company, which bring us to the fifth and sixth great reasons to consider the rental of art.
The fifth reason for renting art is to support the work of artists who work in mediums that are sustainable and eco-friendly.
The sixth reason to lease or rent art is to encourage local economic development. Art rentals can support local emerging artists by getting their work out of a gallery and into the local community where local patrons who might appreciate local talent can become aware of the artist's existence. Where you may not be in an economic position to purchase original art, leasing or renting could put the works of local artists on your walls to be appreciated by your local employees and clientele.
The reality of leasing and renting art has many great benefits that may be hidden in the fear of the perception. The last four great reasons to rent or lease art are all based on financial factors.
The seventh reason to lease or rent art is that in many cases, rental payments are deductible as a business expense. Discuss with your tax consultant the tax benefits of renting or leasing art.
Discuss your budget and term limitations with your art consultant, who is an expert at putting the right art into your office under the right terms for you to take advantage of tax benefits.
Specifically, an art rent or lease is an "off the balance sheet" transaction and will not raise the red flags that might a new acquisition might.
In addition to tax benefits, leasing or renting art allows you to have a lobby and work area that meets your needs and corporate profile while conserving capital for other business uses.
Your art consultant can work with you to tailor a program that requires little money down and costs a small percentage of what an acquisition would cost.
With ten very good reasons to seriously consider rented or leased art, call your art consultant today. And stop staring at four blank walls tomorrow.
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ARTISTS SUBMISSION PROCESS
We look for artwork suitable for a corporate lobby, conference room or hallway. Artists can send 3 to 4 small jpg images to me along with associated information such as size, medium, wholesale price, their resume and/or a website link. lisa@artrentandlease.com
CLIENT INFORMATION
Art Rent and Lease specializes in providing art rentals and leases to corporate, healthcare and hospitality clients in the US. Our consultants work directly with clients to determine a budget, make selections and complete installation. In business since December 2000, we've helped companies when they need artwork inexpensively, quickly and discreetly.
Visit our gallery: International Market Square, 275 Market Street, #C-1, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Visit our website at www.artrentandlease.com for information on how we can help, or call us at (888) 440-9260 x710 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Instead of staring at four empty walls or filling the lobby with silk plants, there are at least ten good reasons to consider the simplicity, economic benefit and uplift to a work area that art rental brings.
A rental can meet the business clients needs from an aesthetic point of view, can be beneficial for environmental and regional purposes and provides many financial benefits. The most obvious reason for considering artwork instead of bare walls is the aesthetics.
Making the decision to lease or rent art brings the beauty of fine art into the workspace. I think that anyone would agree that a beautiful place is a better place to spend time, whether as a valued customer, employee or vendor.
Carefully selected artwork is a good business decision.
First of all, tasteful art that is alignment with the corporate mission and vision enhances and reinforces the corporate image and message.
Second, the beauty of art improves the overall morale of both client and employees.
The third benefit is unique to leased and rented art. Did you know that leased or rented artwork can be rotated every few months for a "new" look? Art can be changed annually or even seasonally, converting a once uninteresting lobby or meeting area into a gallery for unique artwork?
A fourth and very compelling reason to lease or rent art is the flexibility of the try before you buy aspects of leased or rented art. The pressure to make a decision is greatly reduced when the piece of art can be swapped out. The selection of artwork can be a highly personal choice which, frankly, makes facilities managers uncomfortable at times. With the ability to rotate art, this personal nature of the decision is removed.
There are several reasons why leased art from local artists or artists who work in environmentally friendly medium can project a positive image for a building or company, which bring us to the fifth and sixth great reasons to consider the rental of art.
The fifth reason for renting art is to support the work of artists who work in mediums that are sustainable and eco-friendly.
The sixth reason to lease or rent art is to encourage local economic development. Art rentals can support local emerging artists by getting their work out of a gallery and into the local community where local patrons who might appreciate local talent can become aware of the artist's existence. Where you may not be in an economic position to purchase original art, leasing or renting could put the works of local artists on your walls to be appreciated by your local employees and clientele.
The reality of leasing and renting art has many great benefits that may be hidden in the fear of the perception. The last four great reasons to rent or lease art are all based on financial factors.
The seventh reason to lease or rent art is that in many cases, rental payments are deductible as a business expense. Discuss with your tax consultant the tax benefits of renting or leasing art.
Discuss your budget and term limitations with your art consultant, who is an expert at putting the right art into your office under the right terms for you to take advantage of tax benefits.
Specifically, an art rent or lease is an "off the balance sheet" transaction and will not raise the red flags that might a new acquisition might.
In addition to tax benefits, leasing or renting art allows you to have a lobby and work area that meets your needs and corporate profile while conserving capital for other business uses.
Your art consultant can work with you to tailor a program that requires little money down and costs a small percentage of what an acquisition would cost.
With ten very good reasons to seriously consider rented or leased art, call your art consultant today. And stop staring at four blank walls tomorrow.
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ARTISTS SUBMISSION PROCESS
We look for artwork suitable for a corporate lobby, conference room or hallway. Artists can send 3 to 4 small jpg images to me along with associated information such as size, medium, wholesale price, their resume and/or a website link. lisa@artrentandlease.com
CLIENT INFORMATION
Art Rent and Lease specializes in providing art rentals and leases to corporate, healthcare and hospitality clients in the US. Our consultants work directly with clients to determine a budget, make selections and complete installation. In business since December 2000, we've helped companies when they need artwork inexpensively, quickly and discreetly.
Visit our gallery: International Market Square, 275 Market Street, #C-1, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Visit our website at www.artrentandlease.com for information on how we can help, or call us at (888) 440-9260 x710 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Monday, September 13, 2010
How Do YOU Define Art?
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging symbolic elements in a way that influences and affects the senses, emotions, and/or intellect. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression, including music, literature, film, photography, sculpture, and paintings. The meaning of art is explored in a branch of philosophy known as aesthetics and even disciplines such as history and psychoanalysis analyze its relationship with humans and generations.
Let our consultants help influence your selection of art for your home or office - the consultation is free, simply call us to schedule (888) 440-926- x710.
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Impact of Color When Selecting Artwork for Your Office: Brown
According to http://www.sensationalcolor.com, "Brown says stability, reliability, and approachability. It is the color of our earth and is associated with all things natural or organic."
There are many emotions and personalities that go into the decision of what art is best for an office. No matter how small or large your budget, consider utilizing the expertise of an art consultant, who will help you to select the artwork that meets the culture of your office environment.
Art Rent and Lease provides tax-deductible short-term rentals and long-term leases to corporate, healthcare and hospitality clients in the US, specializing on placement with facility and building managers looking for artwork in their lobby, conference rooms and public spaces.
For information about renting or leasing art and a free consultation please visit our website at: http://www.artrentandlease.com/ or call us at (888) 440-9260 x710.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
New Products and Techniques Eliminate or Greatly Reduce the Toxic Content of Art for Your Office
New techniques and materials are available to artists to keep them safe and the earth that is often the subject of their work, clean as well. More frequently, graphic and print artists have moved over to the use of non-toxic electrolytic and electrochemical methods that do not require acids and safe etching and proofing techniques the substitute most harmful solvents and chemicals for etching, relief prints, monotypes and collages.
And even where non-toxic chemicals and solvents are necessary, training is available to artists in techniques which dramatically decrease the usage and danger of these materials.
Do you know if the artwork displayed in your workplace is "green"? An informed art consultant can work with you to find the artwork that meets the needs of your workplace tailored to your budget, taste and mission statement.
Our consultants are located in major cities in the US. We provide short-term art rentals, longer term art leases, art for sale including paintings and sculpture....anything you need to beautify your space! Visit our website at http://www.artrentandlease.com/ or call us at (888) 440-9260 x710 for a free consultation.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Decorating Your Workplace with Local Art is A Great Way to Support Your Community and the Environment
Are you involved in a business that relies on the patronage of local customers? There is no better way to support the economic prosperity of your local community than to support other local businesses. Artwork in your workplace from local artists is a highly visible way to give back to your community by supporting others who live and work there. Artwork from local artists proudly displayed in your office and lobby sends a positive message to your employees, customers and vendors that you are invested in the area where you live and prosper.
Supporting local artists also greatly reduces the cost of transporting and installing art and reduces the fuel needed to put it into your lobby. Every little bit helps to reduce your carbon footprint and make you a greener neighbor.
Do you like the idea of buying locally but unsure how to find the right local artist for your needs, taste and budget? Art consultants who specialize in local art will be a great resource for you. Their expertise will lend an objective eye to help you to find the right local artist to meet your needs and taste. Art consultants are also well versed in the different financial options to meet your needs and budget.
Contact us for more information on how our consultants can help you select art that supports the community and the environment. Visit our website at: www.artrentandlease.com, call us at (888) 440-9260 x710 or text 360-921-8247.
Supporting local artists also greatly reduces the cost of transporting and installing art and reduces the fuel needed to put it into your lobby. Every little bit helps to reduce your carbon footprint and make you a greener neighbor.
Do you like the idea of buying locally but unsure how to find the right local artist for your needs, taste and budget? Art consultants who specialize in local art will be a great resource for you. Their expertise will lend an objective eye to help you to find the right local artist to meet your needs and taste. Art consultants are also well versed in the different financial options to meet your needs and budget.
Contact us for more information on how our consultants can help you select art that supports the community and the environment. Visit our website at: www.artrentandlease.com, call us at (888) 440-9260 x710 or text 360-921-8247.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Optimism and Positive Energy: Sustainable Yellow Steel Sculpture
According to http://www.sensationalcolor.com, " Yellow shines with optimism, enlightenment, and happiness. Shades of golden yellow carry the promise of a positive future. Yellow will advance from surrounding colors and instill optimism and energy, as well as spark creative thoughts."
This type of positive input is highly appropriate in high stress, high energy, creative environments. The only negative is that it lacks the calming balance of the cooler color. This can lead to an emotion charged environment as a stand alone.
Too much yellow? Not enough yellow? If all of this seems overwhelming, consider working with an art consultant. An art consultant is an excellent resource when you are looking to find just the right artwork for your office environment with the right pricing structure to meet your budget. The recycled steel structure shown here is shown in an outdoor installation, and rents for just $160 per month (about $5 per day)!
Art Rent and Lease provides tax-deductible short-term rentals and long-term leases to corporate, healthcare and hospitality clients in the US, specializing on placement with facility and building managers looking for artwork in their lobby, conference rooms and public spaces. To make an appointment for your free consultation, call us at (888) 440-9260 x710.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Recycled Art Is Creative and Helps Save the Planet
Many contemporary artists use recycled materials today. The sculpture shown above utilizes recycled high voltage wires created with zero energy and rents for just $60 per month! Artists also incorporate materials and processes that dramatically decrease the toxic impact of their works, with artwork that ranges from contemporary to modern to traditional and may not have much of a different look or feel than the art of earlier times.
If your office wants the world to take notice of a stand on the need to protect the environment, repurposed art may speak the message you wish to convey in healthy volume. Consider the work of artists who incorporate reclaimed and recycled materials in their work. Such pieces evoke a high sense of awareness to the viewer and are intended to change behaviors toward conservation and away from wastefulness.
Are you ready to take a stand but seek guidance to find the artist who speaks in the voice where you wish to be heard? Art consultants are highly knowledgeable and offer innovative programs where you can be put in touch with artists and works that reach your spirit and innovative programs that meet your budget.
Contact us for more information on eco-friendly, sustainable artwork and how our consultants can help you select art that helps the environment. Visit our website at: www.artrentandlease.com or call us at (888) 440-9260 x710.
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