Park West Art Auctioneer's Passion Shows

Dear Park West Gallery:

I want to compliment our cruise art director, Michael. We have purchased on cruise ships in the past and have seen several directors. Michael is by far the best one we have encountered. He is extremely knowledgeable about art and the artists. He has a passion for collecting and tries to share that passion with patrons. He has an intense energy during the auctions. The auctions were fun and entertaining.


Michael was great with art patrons. During the previews, I saw him moving through the crowd, able to talk at any level about the piece in question. I heard him make recommendations with sincerity and in line with the patrons’ interests, not just to make another sale. He treated everyone with the same respect and dedication whether buying thousands of dollars on multiple pieces or only hundreds on one piece.

The thing that makes him stand out, in my opinion, is that he is genuine and it shows. I hope next time I go on a cruise, he is the art director because I will definitely buy from him again.

James B.
Lascassas, Tennessee

Norman Rockwell: American Imagist

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND -- The National Museum of American Illustration presents Norman Rockwell: American Imagist, the first Norman Rockwell exhibition ever to be shown in Rhode Island. The remarkable collection of selected art - including more than 60 original paintings, drawings and studies - spans six decades of the artist's career.


Norman Rockwell's heartwarming depictions of everyday life made him the best-known and most beloved American artist of the 20th century. The exhibit asserts Norman Rockwell as a great American artist and illustrator, whose real and most enduring subject matter was capturing the American spirit. His images often served as a mirror of American life. It has been said that a Rockwell painting does not require an explanation, a caption or even a title. It speaks to us directly.

"I think (visitors are) going to have a greater understanding and appreciation of who Norman Rockwell was in his artistic career, certainly, and then within the context of American history," said Judy Goffman Cutler, founded the museum in 1998 with her husband, Laurence Cutler, to house their illustration art collection.

Norman Rockwell: American Imagist is currently on display through August 30, 2009.

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Related Links:

• For more information on the exhibit, visit http://www.americanillustration.org/index2.html



• Read Experiencing Rockwell - an essay by Park West Gallery's Director, Morris Shapiro



• Learn more about the artist Norman Rockwell

Rembrandt Exhibit 1st of its kind in Middle East

MUSCAT, OMAN / OmanObserver.com — Al Salmi Library will present Rembrandt in Oman, a grand exhibition of 100 original Rembrandt prints from the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam.

"This will be the first time the works of Rembrandt will be on public display not only in Oman but also in the entire Middle East and North African region," said Stefan van Wersch, Ambassador of the Netherlands.

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was the first to develop etching as a true artistic medium by using the scribbling strokes to produce extraordinary and expressive lines. He used a variety of subjects in his etchings that include portraits, landscapes and scenes from everyday life, said Abdullah Salem al Salmi, chairman, Al Salmi Library. The grand exhibition is going to illustrate the full range of subjects including scenes from the Bible, mythology and other classical sources.

Rembrandt in Oman will be on view at the Grand Hyatt Muscat from August 19 to September 19.

Read the full article >>

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Related Links:

• The Rembrandt House Museum http://www.rembrandthuis.nl/cms_pages/index_main.html



• To learn more about Rembrandt, visit Park West Gallery's new website dedicated to the master rembrandt.parkwestgallery.com



• Read recent postings about Rembrant parkwestgallery.wordpress.com



• View selections of Rembrandt artworks from the Park West Gallery collection sales.parkwestgallery.com

We look forward to Park West art auctions…

Dear Park West Gallery:

Just a quick note to say how much we enjoyed Bruce's auctions on our last cruise with Holland America. Bruce was most helpful and professional on each occasion that my wife and I dealt with him.

This was the second time we purchased art from Park West while at sea and for us, we really look forward to the art auctions. It has been a pleasure to deal with Bruce and I am sure on our next cruise we will again be attending auctions and adding to our collection through your many wonderful works of art.

Again, our thanks to Bruce.

Kind Regards,

Phil S.
St. John's, Newfoundland
Canada

Park West Cruise Ship Art Auctions Are a Big Hit!

Park West Gallery:

I wish to pay a compliment to Jacqueline, Damien, and Gustov for their awesome assistance during my cruise this past week. I have never attended an "art" sales show, nor an auction. They were most helpful at every step of the way! I am looking forward to the arrival of my art pieces, and then to admiring them on the walls!!

Please let them know how much I appreciate their help! One day, I will own a MAX.....they have us hooked!!

Sincerely,

Carla and Candace, mother/daughter duo!
Seminole, Florida

PS... Mother is also hooked on auctions, and cannot wait to cruise again!! :-) Great Job!!!

Celebrate Detroit's 308th Birthday!

TODAY MARKS THE 308TH BIRTHDAY OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN! In order to commemorate the occasion, The Detroit Free Press ran an article this morning entitled "8 More Reasons to Love Detroit," written by columnist, Rochelle Riley. The list of 8 is an addendum to 300 other reasons to celebrate the city - published in 2001 on the Detroit's 300th birthday - and includes landmarks such as the Detroit River, Motown's Hitsville USA and Comerica Park.

Park West Gallery, located in Southfield - a Detroit suburb, would like to propose the 9th (or 309th) reason to celebrate the Motor City - Detroit artists like Dominic Pangborn, Tim Yanke and Marcus Glenn. These artists continue to live and work in the area, contributing beauty, color and inspiration to their surroundings.


Shown above (left to right): Dominic Pangborn. Culture Reckoning - East Greets West (detail). 2006. Tim Yanke. Tons of Steel (detail). 2007. Marcus Glenn. A Dance at the Gallery (detail). 2006.

"I paint my stories," explains Marcus Glenn, who was born in Detroit and would eventually hone his artistic skills at the city's renowned art institution, the Center for Creative Studies. "Through art, I want to share a part of myself."

And the artist's roots into the city of Detroit extend even deeper. For instance, Marcus Glenn became the first African American and youngest cartoonist to be published in The Detroit News, he commissioned large murals for Detroit automaker Daimler-Chrysler and he had his first museum exhibition at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit in 2005.

Glenn's vividly expressive works encourage the viewer to experience what fascinates him, especially his love of jazz music. "It's almost as if you're sharing a piece of your soul with the public. I want people to see the love that I put into it," says Glenn

See the full list of 8 More Reasons to Love Detroit at freep.com >>

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Do you have a positive story to share about Detroit? How will you be celebrating the Motor City's 308th birthday? Leave a comment below with your thoughts!

Related Links:

• Learn more about these Detroit artists and view selections of their art available at Park West Gallery:
  
  
  • Tim Yanke - biography / artwork
  
  
  • Dominic Pangborn - biography / artwork
  
  
  • Marcus Glenn - biography / artwork


• Discover more about other favorite Park West artists bio.parkwestgallery.com

It was an unforgettable Park West experience...

Simon:

We would like to thank you so much for inviting us to be your guest at the Park West Gallery VIP cruise. We enjoyed it very much and it was an unforgettable experience. It was everything you promised and more.

Please do thank the rest of the team for a wonderful experience.

Susan D.
Belleville, New Jersey

Gatin (Medium Cat) by Nano Lopez

Young Art Appreciator Enjoys Park West Auctions

I just wanted to write a letter of thanks to the staff on the Inspiration. Amy and Chris Lindsay delivered an incredible auction and patience with my 9 year old son. He was interested in the artwork and wanted to attend both auctions during our cruise. He even convinced us a purchase a few items for him during the auction.

Outside of the auction, Chris and Amy were willing to spend considerable time answering the questions from my son and educating him on the artists.

Sincere Thanks,

Brian S.
Milford, Ohio

Park West Re-Launches Picasso Website

Website features expanded information and imagery of the 347 Series, La Celestine, and Suite Vollard artwork

PARK WEST GALLERY is pleased to announce the re-launch of its Pablo Picasso Website. The site includes expanded information about Picasso's 347 Series and the La Celestine images. Additionally, more imagery of Picasso's 347 Series and Suite Vollard has been posted.

The 347 Series is a compilation of 347 etchings, engraving and drypoints and represents one of the last great collections of Picasso graphic works. The entire series was created in only seven months (from March 16 - October 5, 1968) and was part of Picasso's historic battle against the wave of conceptual and theoretical "art" that was the rage in avant-garde circles in the late 1960’s.

Sixty-six of the 347 images were created for a small folio called Tales of Celestine, which explored Picasso’s fascination with the character of Celestina from the Tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea (Book of Calisto and Melibea and the Old Whore Celestina), a novel published in 1499 by Fernando de Rojas.

Suite Vollard is 100 etchings created by Picasso between 1930 and 1937 and was one of Ambroise Vollard's most impressive undertakings. Ambroise Vollard, while relatively unknown in his day, has come to be recognized as one of the greatest art dealers and publishers of the 20th century. Over the years, history has vindicated Vollard's artistic instinct and his championship of once controversial painters, including Cézanne, Renoir, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Rousseau, Rouault, and Picasso.

Visit picasso.parkwestgallery.com to view Park West's latest updates and learn more about Master Artist Pablo Picasso.

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Picasso once asked, “Who sees the human face correctly: the photographer, the mirror, or the painter?” What do you think and why? Share your ideas here!

Related Links:

• View Picasso artwork selections from the Park West Gallery collection sales.parkwestgallery.com



• Visit the Park West Gallery - Rembrandt van Rijn website http://rembrandt.parkwestgallery.com/



• Visit the Park West Gallery - Salvador Dali website dali.parkwestgallery.com

I am extremely satisfied with Park West Gallery…

Dear Park West Gallery:

I am extremely satisfied with the exceptional service I have received from the knowledgeable auctioneers and gallery directors aboard every cruise on which I have purchased artwork. This last cruise was no exception. I purchased artwork from a relative newcomer to the Park West staff, Christopher Lindsay. He was forced to make the best of a "non-art" crowd and only two auctions, but he was very enthusiastic and made the experience very enjoyable.

He and his partner Angie were very attentive to their customers and went above and beyond to ensure a good experience purchasing from Park West. I proudly display my artwork in my home and would recommend Park West to anyone who wants the best value for the art they desire. Thank you, as well, to the other auctioneers and gallery directors I have had the pleasure to do business with.

Regards,

Lori P.
Wesley Chapel, Florida