By Ann Nichols
Staff Writer
There is no question that the economic conditions of the past two years have affected the art world. Numerous galleries, even in New York City, which has long been considered the art capital of the United States, have closed their doors. Some art dealers now work out of their homes, in favor of the overhead involved in a storefront enterprise.
And many artists have turned to the Internet and established personal websites to promote their work.
So will artists and their creations have a place of stability and importance in the future?
"We emphasize that whether you want a beautiful piece of art which retails for $500 or $500,000, the important things are that you love what you buy, you become educated with what is happening in the art world and you build trust with a reputable gallery that brings experience and a full spectrum of artists who are credible on every level," said Bonny Shuptrine of Shuptrine Fine Art & Framing.
She suggests that potential buyers examine auction house sales to educate themselves regarding a particular artist. Stephen Scott Young is one of the featured artists in "A Vested Interest," an exhibit on display through Dec. 31 at Shuptrine Fine Art & Framing. Known for his exquisite, detailed watercolors and copperplate etchings of boats, the Bahamas and Bahamian children, Young is just one example of an artist whose work has continued to increase in price at auction house sales.
On an international scale, Edvard Munch's lithograph "Madonna" fetched $1.95 million in July at the London-based auction house Bonhams, according to Shuptrine.
To answer the question concerning the importance, value and relevance of art on a historical scale, people have only to consider the cave paintings from 15,000 B.C. in Lascaux, France, and Altamira, Spain. From these pre-historic images, people gain an understanding as to how people lived thousands of years ago. Visual art transcends language but, more importantly, documents and chronicles the times in which people live. On an individual level, art can enhance the owner's environment, provide beauty and provoke conversation.