The paintings at the gallery opening last night all had common themes, they had mountain ranges in the background and then they had urban elements from Los Angeles, Austin, and New Mexico. The colors were earthy. There was this small painting with a collage including a photo of an iguana I liked. I put my name on the mailing list because I liked the sample of work for the next, upcoming showing, a landscape with big clouds and sky. One woman complained, they had bland borders; white matte board and blond frames, but the artist pointed out this was dictated by the gallery. I guess they want uniformity so the paintings are all linked to the artist. I met the Deputy Editorial writer for the Statesman who was quite a fan of the artist. It was fun going from painting to painting and commenting on the works, I recommend that you visit an art gallery soon! Especially if it is an opening night event.

My most memorable opening night at a gallery had a full-fledged orchestra with it and was held in the UHHilo Theater/Auditorium. Two prominent members of the local art community had combined their talents - an Artist and a Composer. It reminded me of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition." As the paintings were projected onto an enormous screen, we read about them in booklets and listened to the composer's interpretations of the paintings. Lovely wine and cheese reception afterward allowed for discu sion and admiration of the event. It was splendid.

never been to an opening of a gallery. hmmmm, perhaps i should look for some.

You are not that far from Shreveport...there must be something around - even in your town. I mean, if Hilo has them...! Refuse to be intimidated. Look very studious and preoccupied with the art on exhibit and people with flock to your side...then smile knowingly. It drives them crazy *lol*

we do have them and they're in the influential part of town. trouble is, i'm too preoccupied to go. we have the barnwell center which hosts all sorts of things and i have been there a couple of times.

That's exactly what I did, Marcia and people did flock to me to hear my preposterous ideas.

*grin* this is something i shall have to try *laugh*

Wolfie, it really works...but ya gotta keep a straight face. That's why the litle furrow on the brow is good...makes it harder to giggle. Terry, I am delighted to know you are one of the cognicenti as well. *lol*

yeah and some of those retro sunglasses. i knew running around at work like you were in the middle of something does a number on everyone else but never thought to try it at an art gallery or similar place. but i giggle to easily!

The one lady carried on and on about how bad the frames were. She was obsessing on this. The artist was Donna Yarrell by the way and it was at the Wally Workman Gallery at 1202 W Sixth Street, the two restaurants adjacent to it both had 2 hour waits on tables.

Amazing what is out there in the way of human intellect...! I still think if you cannot talk about the work the artist did (doubt the frames were part of the exhibit except to hold up the paintings), then you should certainly do the silent and mysterious that we did so successfully. I am delighted you shared that with us. *lol* I have smiled all afternoon thinking about it! Think I might have eaten prior to viewing the art, but it is good to know Austin supports fine arts to that extent. Our own resident (at Spring) Plastic Surgeon, Gi, has had her own One-Woman show in Lisbon where she lives. She kindly sent me the program from her last one, and if I ever get a scanner (non-radio type), I shall place it on the Spring so everyone can see how gifted she is and how lovely, too.

T H O M A S P A Q U E T T E P A I N T I N G S The Flanders Contemporary Art exhibition opens in Minneapolis on 26 May 2000. 400 First Avenue North Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 tele - 612.344.1700 email - art@flanders-art.com http://thomaspaquette.com/

(Please do not let the above gentleman see this post...) Lucian Freud painting destroyed by mistake LONDON (Reuters) - Porters at a London auction house put a 100,000 pound ($158,000) painting by artist Lucian Freud into a crusher because they thought it was rubbish. ``It is an extremely unfortunate situation and we have taken immediate steps to prevent it happening again,'' said a spokesman for Sotheby's, who confirmed that the painting had been accidentally destroyed. ``It was a study rather than a complete painting and was worth around 100,000 pounds,'' he added. He gave no details of the painting by Freud, famed above all for his nude studies. The painting was delivered to Sotheby's but the porters believed the protective case containing the picture was in fact an empty box. They placed it in a refuse crusher. The Sotheby's spokesman refused to comment on the fate of the porters but he did say they had not been fired.

I didn't see that in the news. it's unthinkable.

And such a prestigious auction house. I am frightened for other artists...

Did the student art show yesterday and the state art show today. The students need lots more work...not even a few catch-all phrases could have saved that one. However, the state one included item purchaced on our behalf by the State Fopundation for the Arts...so they were the best of what is produced here, supposedly. Others looked at me, and I found a slightly bemused smile and nod worked well when 'interesting prospective' did not. Could not work anything Terryesque into my conversation because there was so little landscape on show. I have gotten used to genius lately, and everyone else looks highly suspect to me. But, there were interesting collages and a brilliant free-standing metal fish sculpture which would grace the lovliest of our beach-front hotels. Pottery was ordinary as was the glass - with one exception (which I liked) but none won any citations at all. Actually the one which won the best oil/arcyllic on canvas was a huge ugly mess. It got MY personal worst in show (not counting the obviously amateurish offerings.) *Sigh* Art is as subjective to the viewer as to the creator! I really did enjoy myself - and thought about Spring and a friend who "paints" a lot!

..and Picasso isn't half as good as one I know...but he is dead...! Picassos are hot draw at 20th century art auction NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pablo Picasso's ``Nature morte aux tulipes'' sold for $28,606,000 at an auction at Christie's Tuesday, one of four works by the artist that made up the top four lots at its spring sale of 20th century art. The 1932 portrait of Picasso's muse and mistress, Marie-Therese Walter, had been estimated to sell for $25 million to $30 million, and was bought by an anonymous private collector. Christopher Burge, honorary chairman of Christie's America, called the sale ``a terrific result,'' noting that the total for the night of $72,980,000, including the auction house's premium, was within the expected range of $64 million to $84 million. Art world eyes are squarely trained on this week's sales at Christie's and Sotheby's, the powerhouses of the auction world, as well as a Thursday sale at Phillips, the distant third house that is making a serious bid to play in the big leagues. A federal investigation and charges looming against Christie's and Sotheby's over alleged price fixing have been a major focus of the rarefied, high-stakes auction world since the scandal broke early in the year. Volatile financial markets also have executives concerned. Burge said Tuesday's results and those of Monday's sale of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art that took in $104.5 million ``absolutely spoke for themselves'' when he was asked how the scandal was affecting clients. ``Buyers came to buy pictures and are not paying attention to anything else, except what they wanted to buy,'' he added. And Picassos, apparently, were the hot item. ``Buste de femme assise sur une chaise'' was the evening's second-highest lot, fetching $4,736,000, just over its low estimate of $4.5 million. Two other Picassos fared even better, relatively. ``Buste de femme a la frange'' soared to $4,516,000, or half again its high estimate of $3 million, while ``Le peintre et son modele,'' a 1963 work, reached $3,746,000 after an estimate of $1.5 million to $2 million. OTHER ARTISTS DON'T DRAW THE CASH Other artists did not fare so well, with featured works by Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Franz Kline and Henri Matisse going unsold when bidding failed to reach required minimums. A Cy Twombly 1968 piece, ``Untitled,'' managed only $2,866,600, less than its $3 million low estimate, but was the fifth-highest price paid on the night. Matisse's ``Etude pour 'Nu rose''' set a new record for a drawing by the artist, fetching $2,701,000 after an estimate of $1 million to $1.5 million, and Joan Miro's ``Le serpent a coquelicots trainant sur un champ de violettes peuple par des lezards en deuil'' sold for just under $2.1 million. It had been expected to go for $800,000 to $1.2 million. Burge said that the two nights' sales indicated ``a very strong market, but at the same time not a crazy market. Buyers are being careful, but as always are looking for quality.'' He added: ``It is not a speculative market for works of lesser quality.'' On Monday the first major sale of the spring season took in $104.5 million at Christie's, with a Gustave Caillebotte work obliterating the previous record for the artist, selling for $14.3 million, and a Monet fetching $20.9 million. Caillebotte's ``L'Homme au balcon, boulevard Haussmann,'' an 1880, sold to an anonymous bidder after fierce bidding drove the final price to $14,306,000 after a pre-sale estimate of $6 million to $8 million. The previous record for a work by the French artist was $2,061,700. Monet's ``Nympheas'' was the top lot Monday, at $20,906,000.

...meaning Picasso is dead, of course...

John Lovett did a hilarious Picasso skit on an old Saturday Night Live, where he'd sign napkins and folks clothes and shout "Here, send your kid to college, I"M PICASSO!" Funny.