The story behind the story is fascinating. The Orlando Museum of Art is a fine museum. But as museums go it is very young. I suppose having a high-profile exhibit seemed like a way to move up in the museum hierarchy.
Still, pretty sketchy to buy it off eBay... and the pieces were all done on cardboard? I mean, I know Basquiat's background, so that's not beyond the pale, but the whole story sounds made up, with the "found in a storage locker" claim and all. I wonder if the perpetrators were worried their scam would be revealed, with such a high-profile buyer. It also seems like the caliber of people staffing our cultural institutions has slid. Is this an example of what happens when you prioritize DEI over actual art expertise? They didn't see it as a fake because all they cared about was the instant win of being able to showcase Basquiat?
I think you are right--instant win. But they would be better to have showcased currently working artists of color--of which there are many in Orlando. And I'm not really sure what the base of appreciation for Basquiat might be except the astronomical $$$ being paid for his work.
I love that action figure! Was a huge fan of Pearl when I lived in Seattle for a decade. I and the other indie-published author nominated for the award lost to a NYT bestselling novelist. But I recently re-read Framed and Burning and spotted some things I wish I'd done differently... hindsight is always 20/20, though I'm proud of so much about that book. I'll be interested to know what you think and am grateful and flattered for your purchase. Thanks again!
Maybe your next writing should be about the history of censorship?
I find what I know back to Orwell to be frightening as well as intriguing.
I read or heard somewhere that the original title was 1948 about the present state of international affairs- same years cia was formed and television had invaded the vast majority of households….
You seem quite interesting to me so get to work on your new censorship through the ages piece !
Interesting tid bit ( though well researched based on the bib ) on an artist and museum that are both slightly” obscure “ to me .
It IS very sad to see the museum fooled though I’m “thee skeptic “at the British museum questioning EXACTLY the year they stole the Rosetta Stone or the number of thousands of years ago that a piece has been carbon dated to🤷♂️😀
I've worked in Florida and teach about museums. Orlando is trying so hard to be more than Disney. ...but you are right, this was not a national news story.
Thx for the tip about the Rosetta Stone. Ha, very convenient about carbon dating.
Basquiat just might be the most overrated artist in all recorded history. No talent or skill, no magic, no heft or power in his canvases, zero craft or ability, just cloying glibness.
The glitterati of NYC are always desperate to buy and sell the Next Cool Thing/Person and he was in the right place at the right time (and his being black was just the cherry on top).
I wonder if his team of forgers moonlighted as a kindergarten class ;)
Deeper in the footnotes the museum paid $60K to have the art evaluated. It was maybe a riff on what you were thinking that 2 guys with some cardboard made forgeries in 30 minutes that passed that test.
You may have forgotten that we’ve spent plenty of time on the west coast of Florida often combining yankees versus Tampa at the trop combined with days at the beach and at least one visit to an “obscure museum “ 🤷♂️. When I said to Matt ( I think he’s a Yankees fan) let’s go Yankees and you responded Tampa rules , I got the impression you were a Floridian and then read your profile!
The truth is out about you and your devil rays 👻👻👻👻
O my gosh, yes. That's the one thing I do not like about Matt, but everyone has their flaws.
I was at the Trop on a Thursday night when Matt Garza had a no-hitter. I'm not sure whether game 162 or that no-hitter was my baseball bliss. I try to be open on the Internet because if you get interesting, they will find out about you. I'm not too interesting. So I don't care. Teach book history--only dangerous by knowing the history of censorship. ALWAYS been with us.
High culture seems to be disintegrating.
The story behind the story is fascinating. The Orlando Museum of Art is a fine museum. But as museums go it is very young. I suppose having a high-profile exhibit seemed like a way to move up in the museum hierarchy.
Still, pretty sketchy to buy it off eBay... and the pieces were all done on cardboard? I mean, I know Basquiat's background, so that's not beyond the pale, but the whole story sounds made up, with the "found in a storage locker" claim and all. I wonder if the perpetrators were worried their scam would be revealed, with such a high-profile buyer. It also seems like the caliber of people staffing our cultural institutions has slid. Is this an example of what happens when you prioritize DEI over actual art expertise? They didn't see it as a fake because all they cared about was the instant win of being able to showcase Basquiat?
I think you are right--instant win. But they would be better to have showcased currently working artists of color--of which there are many in Orlando. And I'm not really sure what the base of appreciation for Basquiat might be except the astronomical $$$ being paid for his work.
Ha, ha, ha! Well said. Though I saw a real Basquiat show in Miami back in the early 2000s, and it was compelling. BTW, I capitalize on the inflated cost of art in my second novel, Framed and Burning (nom'd for a Nancy Pearl Book Award and a RONE Award): https://www.amazon.com/Framed-Burning-Dreamslippers-Lisa-Brunette/dp/0986237752/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1682269210&sr=8-1
Nancy Pearl. I have the Nancy Pearl action figure. It's National Library Week.
Thanks for the link. I bought it to read on the kindle. it seems right on time for this Substack entry.
I love that action figure! Was a huge fan of Pearl when I lived in Seattle for a decade. I and the other indie-published author nominated for the award lost to a NYT bestselling novelist. But I recently re-read Framed and Burning and spotted some things I wish I'd done differently... hindsight is always 20/20, though I'm proud of so much about that book. I'll be interested to know what you think and am grateful and flattered for your purchase. Thanks again!
Yes. “Found in a store locker” was a bridge too far (without a heck of a lot of proof in its favor)...
Right...and they sure were duped.
If I wrote that into one of my mysteries, readers wouldn't buy it.
They'll be saying Trump's picture cards are fake next.
What a story!
Maybe your next writing should be about the history of censorship?
I find what I know back to Orwell to be frightening as well as intriguing.
I read or heard somewhere that the original title was 1948 about the present state of international affairs- same years cia was formed and television had invaded the vast majority of households….
You seem quite interesting to me so get to work on your new censorship through the ages piece !
Thanks!
The "About page" on this Substack has a list I try to keep up:
https://kathleenmccook.substack.com/about
Interesting tid bit ( though well researched based on the bib ) on an artist and museum that are both slightly” obscure “ to me .
It IS very sad to see the museum fooled though I’m “thee skeptic “at the British museum questioning EXACTLY the year they stole the Rosetta Stone or the number of thousands of years ago that a piece has been carbon dated to🤷♂️😀
I've worked in Florida and teach about museums. Orlando is trying so hard to be more than Disney. ...but you are right, this was not a national news story.
Thx for the tip about the Rosetta Stone. Ha, very convenient about carbon dating.
Art....more valuable than people.... Ridiculous.
Basquiat just might be the most overrated artist in all recorded history. No talent or skill, no magic, no heft or power in his canvases, zero craft or ability, just cloying glibness.
The glitterati of NYC are always desperate to buy and sell the Next Cool Thing/Person and he was in the right place at the right time (and his being black was just the cherry on top).
I wonder if his team of forgers moonlighted as a kindergarten class ;)
It's sad to see a museum be fooled.
hey kathleen, apologies for crabbing up your comments.
im a NYer of 80s vintage and basquiat (and haring) have always rubbed me the wrong way (in an Emperor's New Clothes kinda way).
appreciate your work
thanks
Deeper in the footnotes the museum paid $60K to have the art evaluated. It was maybe a riff on what you were thinking that 2 guys with some cardboard made forgeries in 30 minutes that passed that test.
whatever u may think of the quality of his work, it does look like it'd be catnip for expert forgerers.
Or a kindergarten class.
It does kind of seem like this fraud attempt was also an elaborate troll.
I thought that, too. but you said it better.
LOL. Thanks, Kathleen! And keep these interesting stories coming.
Thanks and FYI -- just in:
Hillsdale College National Leadership Seminar | Robert Barnes – April 24 (?), 2023 -- OUTSTANDING
https://www.youtube.com/live/S3-8Pndvxag?feature=share (starts after brief intro)
---------------------------------------------------
The REAL Reason Tucker Carlson Was Fired By Fox News! -- OUTSTANDING
https://youtu.be/jjw9m1cG5S8 -- Jimmy Dore/Aaron Mate – April 25, 2023
And per Megyn Kelly, Tucker has not been fired, just no longer hosts. Not quite sure what that means. After all Fox must have loads of money?
I think that it means he will lose tens of million dollars if he starts something else.
Current rumor is that he would like to organize GOP candidates discussion -- independently of RNC. That he is discussing this with Trump.
You may have forgotten that we’ve spent plenty of time on the west coast of Florida often combining yankees versus Tampa at the trop combined with days at the beach and at least one visit to an “obscure museum “ 🤷♂️. When I said to Matt ( I think he’s a Yankees fan) let’s go Yankees and you responded Tampa rules , I got the impression you were a Floridian and then read your profile!
The truth is out about you and your devil rays 👻👻👻👻
O my gosh, yes. That's the one thing I do not like about Matt, but everyone has their flaws.
I was at the Trop on a Thursday night when Matt Garza had a no-hitter. I'm not sure whether game 162 or that no-hitter was my baseball bliss. I try to be open on the Internet because if you get interesting, they will find out about you. I'm not too interesting. So I don't care. Teach book history--only dangerous by knowing the history of censorship. ALWAYS been with us.