Headlines: Polaroids, Pigs and Destructive Kids
1) Air Artists Auctions Infamous Rock n' Roll Props
The UK-based company Air Artists, frequent creator of props for big-name rock bands, is selling 30 years worth of its works at auction in September. Among the items up for sale are props used by bands including Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, AC/DC and Bon Jovi. No estimated prices are available due to the "unusual" nature of the items.
2) You Can Make Up Background Stories for these Polaroids:
Canadian Artist Kyler Zeleny is asking for help in writing narratives for several thousand found Polaroid photos. The images, and the stories that have been collected so far, are available to the public on the project website. Zeleny intends to have each Polaroid accompanied by a short story of around 250 words.
3) Art Dealer Admits to Selling Fake Chagalls
French art dealer Gailord Bovrisse has been handed an $800,000 judgement after selling two apparently fake Marc Chagall paintings through his New York-based company, Golden Trade Fine Art. Bovrisse sold the paintings to two separate buyers, for $400,000 each. It seems Bovrisse was aware, at least, that the artworks were of questionable origin, as the lawyer representing the scammed parties notes that Bovrisse apparently purchased a $100,000 Porsche with cash shortly after selling the paintings.
4,5) This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things
It seems the month of August ended with something of a bang - or rather, a crash and a tear - with two youths making separate headlines for damaging precious artworks. A young girl at an Israel museum was lucky that the 2,000-year-old vase she knocked over has been restored so the crack is barely noticeable.
A 12-year-old boy who accidentally punched a hole through a Paolo Porpora painting in a Taipei museum was not so lucky. The painting is over three centuries old and was valued at around $1.5 million. Restoration efforrts are underway - no word yet on how the work's newfound internet fame will affect its value.