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Get facts about artistic artifacts from other cultures
Posted: Mar 07, 2008 in Culture
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As the world becomes more accessible, options for acquiring global-themed art and decorative objects expand.
Consumer interest in art and collectibles from Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean and other exotic locales and cultures is strong. It's expressed not only in terms of museum and gallery attendance, but also through purchases at retail venues. And as with other arts and crafts items, savvy shopping prevents buyer's remorse.
"Our customers are interested in and fascinated by how people live around the world," says Lisa Kasparek, a buyer for Pier 1, a retail chain focused on imported furnishings and decor.
"The Internet, home-decor television shows and travel programs have helped to educate us about the beautiful artistry and craftsmanship that is part of the history of other cultures. It's part of a global mentality ..... that connects us all in many ways."
Magdalena Hoyos-Segovia, owner of the Magdalena Gallery of Art in Carmel, says that her customers often develop that international mindset through their own travels, and then seek to represent their enhanced world view through art.
"You go to other places, and you want to be able to bring those things into your home, because you want to broaden your horizons," Hoyos-Segovia says. "It's just a different way of looking at beauty, a different perspective, different points of view."
Along with new perspective comes the knowledge that many human concerns and experiences are shared among all people, making art from other cultures a unifying expression even as the individual works vary.
At Kuaba Gallery on Massachusetts Avenue, owner Jayne During specializes in African art, including paintings and three-dimensional works, which are particular best-sellers.
"The sculptures that I have, even though they are made by African artists, they can fit anywhere," During says. "There is one particular artist, Dominic Benhura, whose art has done very well in the gallery and all over the world. People just love his work, because it has this whimsical feel to it and it reminds a lot of people of themselves. He does a lot of children at play, and mothers and children, and that's universal."
But as interest in the works of other cultures grows and such items become more available, questions can arise about exactly what one is buying. Both original pieces and reproductions are available. So when should you make the leap to the real thing, and how do you go about making the switch?
As in all purchasing decisions, disposable income plays a role. Generally speaking, authentic items take a larger bite out of your budget. "Much of that decision," Kasparek says, "is based on how much the customer chooses to spend."
Jim Robinson, the Jane Weldon Myers curator of Asian art at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, compares buying artworks -- including imported items -- to investing in the stock market.
"There are many things you can look for," he explains. "But I would say, no matter what venue you're in, the blue chip tends to hold up best over time. ..... There's a certain amount of depth and staying power with something authentic. It always looks better than a reproduction, and it will always last better than a reproduction. Now it will cost a little more, perhaps, but then again, its value, like a good stock, will most likely increase."
Still, authentic doesn't always have to equal expensive. Jennifer Dennis manages Global Gifts on Massachusetts Avenue, one of two such not-for-profit Indianapolis stores. It sells works -- from jewelry and handbags to home furnishings -- created by international artisans.
"We get so many people that are surprised at how affordable things are in our store," she says. "We've got things (selling for as little as) a couple of dollars. It's very reasonable."
James Nottage, vice president and chief curatorial officer for the Eiteljorg Museum, says the price tags of authentic items created by American Indians run the gamut. You can spend tens of thousands of dollars, for example, to purchase a piece of pottery created by an in-demand artist. But, "There's pottery by American Indians -- it may be Potawatomi pottery, say, from Michigan or Indiana -- that can be very affordable and handsome. It could be $50 or $60 or so."
What's just as important as price, the pros say, is an awareness of how a particular item was obtained. That's a standard employed by top collectors, including museums.
"The one thing now, particularly in the Chinese market and some other markets -- African, South American art -- is the concern museums have of (unwittingly) supporting the looting of archaeological sites," explains Robinson.
"And nowadays, one should also be careful to make sure that they have proper paperwork -- that things have been properly exported and properly imported, or that they've been in circulation for many years. And so some museums, like ours, will not accept, even as a gift, something that doesn't have a clear provenance of ownership or of exportation from the probable country of origin."
For American Indian art and accessories, Nottage says, federal law requires that claims of authentic merchandise for sale by a gallery or museum shop must be true.
"In other words, (a merchant) can't sell something that isn't Indian and claim that it is. And there's some tooth to that law. ..... That puts pressure on (retailers). When we select artists for our Indian Market, we have to see their documentation as enrolled members of tribes."
Global Gifts works with organizations belonging to the Fair Trade Federation, whose members commit to purchasing products that are produced and obtained ethically. Art and other items sold through a fair-trade business must meet a number of standards, including a fair wage paid to the artisan, environmental sustainability in the creation process, public accountability in the creation and purchase of the product, and a respect for the artist's cultural identity.
"We also do our homework on organizations before we consider purchasing from them," adds Dennis. "We depend on their expertise of knowing the culture and knowing the people and the country, and working within that country to bring pieces over."
Doing homework is a key component for consumers as well, and it goes beyond knowing the origins of and importation methods for a particular piece.
Studying the type of imported art you favor -- whether it's Chinese jade, Vietnamese ceramics or Russian paintings -- before you head out on the hunt is key. The last thing you want to do is buy what you think is an authentic handcrafted piece, only to discover that it was mass-produced in a factory.
Even museums have to guard against mistakes. "As some people say, it's the price of tuition," says the IMA's Robinson. "You get burned here and there. You.then realize what to look for."
Just because a piece is sold in a gallery doesn't guarantee that it is authentic, During warns. "It's very important that (the consumer) knows that the gallery really represents that particular artist.
"And even if they don't represent them.directly, they represent them through somebody who knows the artist.or knows of the artist. Because sometimes, you will get a piece and people will swear by it, but then it turns out that.it's not real."
Problems can be compounded if you see an item you like on the second-hand market, such as at an antiques shop or other less-formal merchandise setting.
"That's a tough thing if you're buying in the secondary market," says Nottage. "You would be astounded at how much 'American Indian' material is sold in this country as the real thing that might (actually) have been made in Taiwan or China. So you have to be careful."
Familiarizing yourself with the lines, craftsmanship, colorings and other distinguishing features of the type of item you're collecting helps to ward off regrettable purchases.
"Go to your local museum and hone your eye on some of the high-quality material," Robinson advises. "You could (also) look at things like the auction catalogs, which we have here, to see what some of the prices are, whether it's Japanese woodblock prints or Chinese ceramics."
Global Gifts' Dennis recalls discovering a museum exhibit that included Tuareg jewelry from Niger. "We carry things from that group of people (in Global Gifts)," she says. "Once you've done a little bit of research, you can just tell. I knew right away, without even reading the sign, that (the museum jewelry) was Tuareg."
During also suggests using the Internet to research authenticity. If you find a piece labeled as the work of a particular artist or cultural group, use search engines to find examples of authentic pieces, so that "you can see that they are works along the same lines."
If possible, meet the artist. During and other gallery owners often host receptions where clients and featured artists can mingle and discuss the works.
"If you educate yourself, you learn what to recognize -- an artist's signature, the artist's name -- and you learn from there that they're legitimate," Nottage says.
And, for big-ticket items, your best course of action may be to track down an expert in the type of art you're seeking. Even if you've done your research, you won't have the depth of knowledge obtained by a pro who has spent years examining thousands of pieces, both authentic and not.
"It's like any specialized field," Robinson says. "It's always good to have some expertise on your side. I mean, people can diagnose themselves to a certain degree, but it's always better to have a doctor do it."
How to start building your own collection
Collecting art from other cultures and countries opens up new possibilities for your home -- and your personal horizons.
"A painting is a way of thinking," says Magdalena Hoyos-Segovia, owner of Magdalena Gallery of Art in Carmel. "There is a whole wide world of artists out there making beautiful things and sharing different ideas."
Here are a few tips for finding your own worldly treasures:
Start from home base
If you're new to collecting, wade into the waters by purchasing items locally. James Nottage, vice president and chief curatorial officer for the Eiteljorg Museum, says many potential collectors of American Indian art begin by visiting art fairs and similar venues.
"Some of our most important donors to the Eiteljorg collection, who have become very sophisticated collectors, are people who started with a casual interest from visiting our (annual) Indian Market."
Make sure the item meshes with your home
"I go to houses with my clients when they think they like a piece, and sometimes it doesn't fit with other pieces," says Hoyos-Segovia. "If I see that a piece doesn't really give what it's supposed to give, I'll tell them to wait, because a piece of art is something that you live with for a long, long time."
Verify experience
A gallery owner's history is key, says Jayne During, owner of Kuaba Gallery on Massachusetts Avenue. "It's very important to know how long the gallery has been around and how long it has represented a particular artist."
Compare items side-by-side
Jennifer Dennis, manager of Global Gifts on Massachusetts Avenue, says that true handcrafted items -- even in a set -- will show signs of individuality through markings, subtle shape differences and the like.
"If you look at multiple pieces (side by side), you can see when something is handmade ..... there's that detail work with it, and you can see that it's got that uniqueness to it."
Condition counts
Sure, a less-than-perfect specimen will cost less than an unblemished piece. But if you're looking for an investment, go with the ideal, says Jim Robinson, the IMA's curator of Asian art.
"A jar with a crack may be cheaper by a factor of 10 than a jar that doesn't have a crack. The resale value will also be cheap. Whereas if something is in perfect condition, and is the best of its kind, it will always be the best of its kind."
Visit local shops for artwork
Here are a few local places to find art from other cultures -- to browse, to buy or both:
Eiteljorg Museum and White River Trader
Where: 500 W. Washington St.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Info: (317) 636-9378, www.eiteljorg.org
Global Gifts
Where: 446 Massachusetts Ave. and 1468 W. 86th St.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday (Mass Ave. location). 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (86th Street location).
Info: (317) 423-3148 (Mass Ave.), (317) 879-9090 (86th Street), www.globalgiftsindy.com.
Indianapolis Museum of Art, the IMA Store and the Gallery Shop
Where: 4000 Michigan Road.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Info: (317) 923-1331, www.imamuseum.org
Kuaba Gallery
Where: 876 Massachusetts Ave.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Info: (317) 955-8405, www.kuaba.com (Web site is currently under reconstruction).
Magdalena Gallery of Art
Where: 27 E. Main St., Carmel.
Hours: Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Info: (317) 955-8405, www.magdalenagallery.com
- By Julie Cope Saetre / Star correspondent
