THE ACADEMY AND POLICH TALLIX FINE ART FOUNDRY
REVIVE THE ART OF OSCAR® STATUETTES
The Academy announced that Polich Tallix Fine Art Foundry, based in Rock Tavern, New York, will exclusively create its iconic Oscar® statuettes, starting with the 88th Academy Awards®. In a process that returns to the Oscar’s fine art roots, the statuettes will now be hand-cast in bronze before receiving its 24-karat gold finish.
“With the help of some 21st century technology, we’re able to honor the Oscar’s proud beginnings,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “The new statuette exemplifies impeccable craftsmanship and the enduring nature of art.” Using a cast bronze Oscar from 1929, Polich Tallix artisans have restored subtle features of George Stanley’s original sculpture, which was based on sketches by MGM art director Cedric Gibbons. The overall size of the statuette remains the same.
“With this project, we’ve been entrusted with continuing a great tradition,” said Dick Polich, Polich Tallix founder and CEO. “It’s a privilege to be able to bring our art experience and technical expertise to the Oscar.” Polich Tallix started its Oscar-making process by creating digital scans of the 1929 statuette and a modern-era pedestal base. The digital Oscar was then 3D-printed and molded so the form could be cast in wax.
Each wax statuette is coated in a ceramic shell that is cured and fired at 1,600°F, melting the wax away and leaving an empty Oscar-shaped form. The statuettes are then cast in liquid bronze at more than 1,800°F, cooled, and sanded to a mirror polish finish. The figure portion of each Oscar is electroplated with a permanent layer of reflective 24-karat gold by Epner Technology, a renowned high-tech specification electroplating company in Brooklyn. The statuette’s bronze base receives a smooth black patina, which is hand-buffed to a satin finish. The time required to produce 50 statuettes in this manner is about three months.
At a height of 13.5 inches and weight of 8.5 pounds, the new Oscar retains the basic physical characteristics of its immediate predecessor, which had been made by Chicago-based R.S. Owens & Company since 1982. The Academy will continue its long relationship with R.S. Owens to service existing statuettes and create other awards for the Academy, including plaques for its annual Scientific and Technical Awards.
Polich Tallix, founded by Polich in 1972, combines advanced technology with world-class craftsmanship as it strives to create works of art that preserve each artist’s unique purpose and vision. The 88th Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 28, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
The L.A. Art Show (2016)
Review by Bruce Edwin
If you must skip church on Sunday (next year on January 15th 2017), don’t feel guilty, just go to the L.A. Art Show instead– it’s one of the best religious experiences you can have. Yes, great art to me can be like a religious experience. For it is artists that the great religions of the past adorned on their cathedrals. It is the artists that the Kings and Queens cherished, treating like royalty among their court. It is the great artist of today whose works sell for millions of dollars for one painting, and are clamored at by the rich and famous. Great art is not only an investment, and a treasure, it is a look inside the soul of its creator, and at its best, a glimpse to the divine of eternity itself.
And so, if you love art–and I can not imagine any one who does not, then you simply must attend the Los Angeles Art Show if you live in L.A. If you do not live here, when you do visit, definitely plan your trip around this show, as it is extraordinary. I spent at least 12 hours this year across numerous days visiting the show, and still probably missed some things.
Whether you are a dealer, collector, or simply a spectator, the L.A. Art Show is greatly entertaining, and a perfect way to take in thousands of great pictures from over 100 top art galleries from around the world.
Hollywood Sentinel Art Writer Moira Cue walked out with at least one new purchase from the show this year, and I spoke with many gallerists and artists from the show this year who did exceptionally well, and were very happy with their sales, which was great to hear.
After navigating the parking, and long walk to finally get in to the show, one enters the glass doors of the massive North West wing of the Los Angeles Convention Center. The first thing one saw this year, past the red carpet, was a massive plushy Teddy Bear art piece, that looked like he was about 500 pounds overweight, with rolls of faux fur fat, that was a big hit.
Near that, was a shiny bright red sucker by artist DOC that at least one Korean woman was having her picture taken near, pretending to lick the several foot tall piece.
The real estate brokerage company called THE AGENCY, that specializes in luxury properties and decor gave a free lecture, and had another very large VIP area that one evidently needed some type of credentials to get in to, where one could sit down on some sexy soft chairs by RAPPORT INTERATIONAL FURNITURE, and look at some fancy decor, including a very nice mirror with an image of David Bowie on it that I liked. The area, giving guests the very real L.A. experience of feeling like either a somebody, or a nobody. I sat down for a minute here, and quickly met a woman whose husband is a TV producer and writer. Small town.
The Fine Art Dealers Association (FADA) was back. One of the young women representing them this year was a tall, pretty Asian girl who; after I told her she looked like a model, admitted she was signed with a local agency.
The Media area was back, with ART SCENE kindly giving away its publication, as well as free sign up’s to their great e-mail list. Other free publications at hand included AMERICAN ART COLLECTION, BUSINESS JET TRAVELER, THE ARCHITECTS NEWSPAPER, GOOD MAGAZINE, SANTA FEAN, and the longstanding FABRIK and ARTILLERY. Another art mag was there I vaguely recall the name of, but a sign was present stating not to take it, which I was tempted to do anyway, but didn’t. Oh well. With no one even at that table, I’m sure they were selling a lot of that one. Other free publications included copies of ARTS & ANTIQUES, L.A. ART NEWS, and ANGELINO, with a great cover of the beautiful, and all grown up CHLOE GRACE MORETZ–wow.
While this years show was smaller than recent L.A. Art Shows of former years; most noticeably, ending the majority of the antiques and jewelry booths as well as ending most of the prints booths, this years show did get far more edgy, with numerous performance artists, which the show had not had much of before. All of this years performance artists were female, most of whom decided to go topless–not that anyone seemed to be complaining.
While there were not many, there were some children at the L.A. Art Show, so it would probably be a good idea to let parents know beforehand that some of the performance art is PG rated. With that stated, I would applaud any parent that brings their children to such as great event as the L.A. Art Show, which is certainly more educational and healthy for any kid, than the latest twerk fest.
Performance artist MILLIE BROWN, positioned right near the left entrance and on the way to the classical side, spent her time lying down topless in her underwear on a wooden flower bed, surrounded by pretty flowers (that were supposed to be decaying). I don’t think anyone saw any flowers decaying, however they did see Millie’s bare chest, with large crowds regularly gathering around her, taking photos, and many men walking away either smiling or blushing. Millie was the artist who performed recently with Lady Gaga, throwing up day glo paint on stage. Yum–the art of sick. At least this time she didn’t do any of that.
MELANIE PULLEN attracted large crowds with her performance art, titled “High Fashion Crime Scenes,” which is stated in her biography to be about stopping violence against women. At one time I saw the artist in a scene mock hanging herself from a tree, and in another scene, she was crawling on top of another women, with both in a short dress and heels, under rock concert like green and red lighting, eating the entrails of the woman below her, seeming to enjoy it all as the crowd stared in awe and taking photos. While I don’t know how many spectators thought of the actual historical crimes she depicted, and how violence against women should be stopped, they were all at least riveted to watching her, like a bloody accident one passed by and could not take their eyes off of. Some were compelled, others were simply grossed out, a few others turned away. Marilyn Manson would be proud of her organ eating work, which; beautifully lit and composed, was like a cross between a well made horror film shoot, and the theatrics of a satanic rock concert ending in a blood orgy to ‘The Cure,’ which she played.
AN UNKNOWN performance art installation occurred at or near the Chinese exhibition area, which entailed yet another young woman in her underwear and topless, standing in a small glass enclosed room, on view for the crowd to see that gathered to watch her. This performance consisted of her just standing there; texting on her cell phone, with two TV monitors outside of the glass box on the wall, which viewers could see. One monitor screen showed her standing there texting, and the other screen was a digital ‘read out’ of the texts she was typing, which were a bit frequent and long. This attractive young woman later was gone, and the next time I passed by, one caught sight of an elderly nude woman hunched over in a fetal position on her knees in the glass room. I have no idea who the artist or gallerist was, as I did not see any indication of that, so if someone knows, feel free to inform me and we will publish the updated information.
ACE GALLERY in Beverly Hills, as usual, had some outstanding work, and dominated a large area near the front of the show. ALEXANDER YULISH here, being my favorite at Ace.
The NATIONAL BASE FOR INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL TRADE (Shanghai), supported by the Bureau for External Cultural Relations Ministry of Culture, People’s Republic of China, brought us VISIONS OF CHINESE CONTEMPORARY ART, EMOTIONS AND SENTIMENTS, which was nearly as big as its name. This area consisted of many booths of Chinese based artists, with a few simply being American based artists, that were Chinese. I really enjoyed many of these artists work.
TONY SONG here, had some very nice works, and told me he was selling his works very well. JUSTIN Y. had some interesting works called ‘finger painting,’ which were very bright and colorful. Works here by SHEN XIANGYIN were very nice, as were the works of ink on rice paper by WANG FEI. SHEN CHUN XIA, who was kind, made some pretty works, including paintings of Chinese slippers which are very pop. She also designs Kimonos, which are very elegant.
Artist BOUN, also from China, was a nice man, and creates some very bright, colorful work using a method slightly similar to Warhol’s diamond dust technique, except mixing it undetectably in to the paint itself, and using various other gemstones, to add to the pigments’ hue.
LI XIA was a very nice artist, who made some great works, that I had the pleasure to interview, which will be running in a near future issue here. LI XIA graciously thanked me for my support, telling me that my praise of her work gave her new confidence that she had not had before. It must have, for she went on the next day to sell two works! Hey, where’s my commission? Just kidding. One of the titles of her works is called ‘Women General of yang Family,’ which is one of the ancient Chinese warrior tribes, in battle, led by a female warrior.
LIAHONA SPACE was a Chinese collective that also had some very nice works by Chinese artists. Artist LIU DADI was back, with some great black and white works. Last year, Dadi wowed the crowds with some outstanding color, nude works of the female form, which were very provocative. This year, he was back with some excellent, mixed media, black and white abstract works. Dadi expertly blends painting and photography, for some very unique and compelling pieces.
South Korean artist MARI KIM was heavily represented, with a booth of her work that she sat at, and also with her paintings over at the booth for SM Fine Art Gallery, which is located somewhere in Southern California, though I could not find their address on her biographical card. I did a brief interview with Mari, who looks like a young fashion model more than a successful, world wide artist, which she is. You’ll see what I mean in the next issue of The Hollywood Sentinel when we run that. Her work itself is quite exceptional, reflective a bit of legendary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. Part pop, and part animie, Maori Kim even throws in some bright bursts of neon lighting in text bubbles with English language print to communicate directly with her audience, which she told me she likes to do.
LILIANA GOLUBINSKY made a great work titled ‘Walking on Water,’ at SASHAD EDPACIO De ARTE from Argentina. Walter, with WALTER WICKISER GALLERY in NYC was cordial to speak with, and has some great artists including by his father, RALPH WICKISER, and two other artists who I will be covering in great detail in a future issue here. including Finnish artist SOILE YLI MAYRY, whose colorful abstract work is exceptional.
Jane with ECKERT FINE ART in Pine Plains, NY was also very cordial to speak with, and represents an outstanding artist who she taught me, trained with Warhol in The Factory; HUNT SLONEM, who I will also be covering in greater detail in a future issue. Artist RYUMA IMAI had some nice work, from Tokyo.
REHS GALLERIES in NYC is one of my favorites, having some of the finest master works as well as contemporary art. With a contemporary booth and classical era booth this year, REHS has works by artist DAVID PALUMBO, who does some nice figurative work of the female form. While I did not see the following works here this year, their catalog also boasts a great work by CHRIS POUSETTE-DART, and the stunning work of ‘La Jeune Laitiere avec son Troupeau, by JULIEN DUPRE’, (1851-1910) which I have seen before in person a former year at the L.A. Art Show with REHS, and is of stunning quality. Similarly exciting in their catalog is GUY CARLERON WIGGINS, ‘The Library Winter,’ and JOHANN BERTHELSEN, ‘42nd Street & Vanderbilt Avenue, Grand Central Station,’ which I have also seen here in person, which for any New Yorker or one who has traveled to NYC and been at this location, makes it further special.
LAMA (Los Angeles Modern Auctions) within the show had some nice prints, original paintings, sculpture, and furniture. Here, TIM HAWKINSON has created a great, bizarre work called ‘Sweet Tweet,’ which I will cover later here with an image.
Artist JANA CRUDER displayed a cool sculpture she made called ‘Immortalization of Self,’ a figure of the Greek Goddess Venus, taking a selfie. I suggest that next time she displays it, it be put on a taller structure, rather than just sitting on the floor, and be properly lit, which is the artists’ or gallerists’ decision to do or not.
Artist MIKI YOKOYAMA made some pretty, ornate works on display. Another very popular artist was LLUIS BARBA’s work, at THE CYNTHIA CORBETTE GALLERY. Barba, born in Spain, reworks iconic artworks, introducing modern pop icons into the pieces, in a very unique manner, which the crowds loved. More nice work at Corbette included that by DEBORAH AZZOPARDI, which references LICHTENSTEIN in her press.
BRUCE LURIE GALLERY, in Culver City in Los Angeles, had some great works as always, and was very popular. Bruce Lurie told me that he gave BASQUIAT his first show in New York, and has been a major player in the art world for decades, both in NYC, Miami, and now L.A., with a focus on pop art and contemporary photography.
KAZUHIRO TSUJI, had a work stuck way in the back of the show, yet that dominated, with large crowds constantly gathered around it photographing it; a hyper-realist sculpture of the icon painter; FRIDA KHALO, truly an extraordinary work that I, like everyone, loved. Last year, Tsuji displayed his ANDY WARHOL sculpture here, which was equally great. The artist or gallerist however, was unfortunately, no where to be seen as far as I could tell.
SKIDMORE CONTEMPORARY from Santa Monica was back with BRIGHTON SMITH who does some nice pop work including ‘Rainbow Heels.’ SUSAN TELLER GALLERY in NYC showed some nice works by PEGGY BACON. Artist LORETTA TEARNEY WARNER created some very pretty works out of fabric, reflective of the Greek pre-classical era.
Another one of my favorites, and one of the best gallerists here; DAPHNE ALAZRAKI FINE ART from NYC was back, who also has an office in LaJolla, California. JEAN PIERRE CASSIGNUEL’s work here of ‘Les Tentes Bleues,’ being one of my favorites. Daphne is always cordial.
Another outstanding gallery, GEORGE STERN FINE ARTS, in Hollywood, California, showed another one of my favorites, ‘The Rose Arbor,’ by LAWTON PARKER (1868-1954) which is of great quality.
Lastly, my favorite art piece this year was at GUARISCO GALLERY, in Washington DC. With great works by masters including RENOIR, my favorites on display at this gallery this year were by JEAN-PIERRE CASSIGNEUL, known according to their catalog for his “depiction of ethereal, mysterious women.” I also loved the PISSARRO piece here, yet my favorite work in the entire show being the stunning piece here by ROUAULT, titled ‘Carlotta.’ A masterful portrait of a young female, the quality of this work is extraordinary, with its composition, layers of paint, and color, lending a myriad of dimensions of perception to its brilliance. A bargain at just under $300,000, that any one with over a million liquid would be silly not to buy.
Last but not least, the most exciting part of the L.A. Art Show this year, was the Opening Night Premiere Party, otherwise known as the Patron’s Ball. At $250 per ticket, patrons were treated to the VIP area the night before the show was even open to the public. In the VIP area, guests enjoyed complimentary fine dining, drinks, wines, desserts, and a cool spoken word artist. VIP Patrons had the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets to win various exceptional prizes, with all proceeds going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Hosts for the evenings festivities was none other than the legendary, beautiful, and talented singer, dancer, and Academy Award winning and Golden Globe winning actress; Anne Hathaway, and her charming husband, Adam Shulman.
I selected ANNE HATHAWAY as one of The Hollywood Sentinel’s Top 10 Hottest Actresses of our time a number of years ago, referencing her mastery of her craft not merely as an actor, but like a star from the Golden Age of cinema; also as a dancer and singer. A truly legendary talent and beauty, it was to say the least, a great honor for me to meet one of my favorite actresses of our time.
Not to disappoint, Anne Hathaway was cordial, charming, lovely, and down to Earth, graciously shaking hands, posing for photos, and sitting down right along with the rest of the crowd. Her husband ADAM SHULMAN was a total gentleman; equally kind, gracious, and charming, and even smiling and telling me goodbye as I waved to him on my way out. What a great couple, and wonderful people!
Anne Hathaway seems to be simply an awesome human being. She took the stage before the hundred or so crowd of us, telling how for the past twelve years, she has donated her time visiting ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL, which she told us, is the countries best, top quality hospital for children diagnosed with cancer. The other amazing thing about the hospital, founded by DANNY THOMAS, is that the treatment to all the children they care for, is totally free, supported by the hospital and the kind donations they receive, from people such as the VIP Patrons of the Arts at The L.A. Art Show, and wonderful celebrities including Anne Hathaway, as well as last years VIP Gala host for the L.A. Art Show, AMY ADAMS, among more.
A cancer survivor took the stage, introduced by Anne, and told of how St. Jude made him feel as safe and calm as possible, and gave him a new chance at life. During his story, the sweet Anne Hathaway got tears in her eyes, standing on stage behind the boy, now around 17. Some others in the crowd, including myself, got teary eyed as well, as he happily stated how he was now cancer free, and pursuing his dream of being an actor. As he described some of his recent acting successes with good nature, Anne smiled and laughed. It was a beautiful momentous filled night with one of Hollywood’s greatest stars, and all for a great purpose.
Anne Hathaway reminded us that she knew there were many other big things going on this night, including a big sports game. Yet, she said, she felt that this was the best place to be at this moment on Earth; seeing great art, enjoying great food and drink, seeing wonderful people, and supporting such a great and important cause as St. Jude. I couldn’t have agreed more; except I would add to that, also spending the evening with one of the most lovely, talented stars of all time–Anne Hathaway; thank you, for all you do, we love you.
And so with that, you really can’t get any bigger or better than the L.A. Art Show. Other stars were out in full force for the opening VIP night. HARRISON FORD was reportedly running around somewhere, probably buying some great art, and at least 30 or so other celebs were here. Thank you to KIM MARTINDALE (LA Art Show Producer / Partner), and to SCOTT DIAMENT (President and CEO) who I also had the great pleasure to meet. A very special thanks also to AGNES for the very kind support after all of these great years covering this amazing show. It was a whirlwind weekend and week as usual, and it all went too quick. I miss the show already!
PALM BEACH JEWELRY, ART & ANTIQUE SHOW will be held from February 10-16, 2016, and be sure to mark your calendar now, THE LOS ANGELES ART FINE ART SHOW and L.A. ART SHOW will be back January 11-15, 2017!
Further coverage on Anne Hathaway at the LA Art Show will appear in our next issue, as well as interviews with the artists noted herein, and more coverage of the show.
In additional art news, the show; ANDY WARHOL; LIFE AND LEGENDS is going on now which started January 16th, and goes until April 3rd, 2016, at the Pepperdine Museum in Malibu. Admission is free!
This content is copyright, 2016, Bruce Edwin / The Hollywood Sentinel, all world rights reserved.
