Stella Show Management sells NY events to GLM

GLM is a tradeshow and events production company based in White Plains, N.Y.

A statement on the Stella Show Management website reads: “ … after 45 years of a great association with antiques dealers and the antiques events industry, Irene Stella wishes to retire and pursue with more attention some of her life's other interests. In order for her to do so, we have undertaken a reorganization of Stella Show Management Co.”

GLM is the producer of the Original Miami Beach Antique Show® plus other highly regarded events in the U.S

Stella Show Management Co. notes that dealer applications and all deposits, records and booth preferences for the November show have been transferred to GLM. Dealers will be receiving communications shortly from GLM.

Stella Show Management Co. will continue to focus on more specialized lifestyle events such as the Country Living Fairs and the Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques & Garden Fair. The company said other new and innovative events that are in the planning stages.

“Words can't express the extreme admiration I have always had and still feel for the hard work, knowledge and camaraderie of antiques dealers and the love and appreciation I feel for all their faith in Stella Show events over the past 45 years and the great people, characters and amazing friendships this business brought to my life,” commented Irene Stella in the statement.

NH town steps back into Civil War for 250th

Re-enactors from Massachusetts and Maine have joined New Hampshire residents for a Civil War camp re-enactment.

The New Boston Historical Society has expanded its visiting hours Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a featured exhibit on Civil War memorabilia.

Other events planned throughout the rest of the year include an art festival and concert.

#   #   #

Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Jeffrey S. Evans to host Va. Decorative Arts Seminar, June 15

The exciting, one-day colloquium features three expert guest speakers who will present lectures related to this year’s topic, “A Safe Place: Punched-tin Paneled Furniture of the Valley of Virginia.”

Speakers include:

• Jeffrey S. Evans, president of Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, Inc.
• J. Roderick "Roddy" Moore, director of the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum at Ferrum College.
• Kurt C. Russ, independent scholar and former Director of Washington and Lee University's Anthropology Laboratory.

The event is preceded by an informal tailgate sale in the JSE & Associates parking lot beginning at 8:30 a.m. The tailgate sale is available only to attendees of the seminar; participants in the tailgate sale should bring their own tables.

The cost per person for the seminar is $75 (with lunch) or $65 (without lunch)

Visit the Education>Classes/Seminars page at www.jeffreysevans.com for links to the printable registration form, speaker bios, program schedule, directions, and information about last year’s seminar. For information and/or to arrange your registration for the seminar, call 540-434-3939 and press 0 for the office or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

International Society of Appraisers announces summer classes

The Core Course in Appraisal Studies will be held June 3-9 in Toronto at the Arts & Letters Club, 14 Elm St., Toronto, Ontario M5G 1G7. Leon Castner, PhD, ISA CAPP, and Kathryn Minard, ISA CAPP, will be the instructors.

This is the “original” complete appraisal methodology course for personal property appraising. Its thorough scope includes appraisal objectives, intended uses, market identification and analysis, research methods and skills, ethics and professional conduct, and a detailed presentation of report formats and checklists.

Asian Art I: Japanese Prints will be taught by Daphne Rosenzweig, Ph.D., ISA CAPP, June 24-26, on the campus of Northern Illinois University Naperville in Naperville, Ill.

This course will give students a background of history, artists, periods and styles that appraisers/dealers/collectors must know to analyze and value Japanese prints. Students must do precourse reading and data collection at home prior to attending the course, bringing their completed work with them. The course then provides a two-day workshop with formal instruction plus a "hands on" connoisseurship session with prints, followed by a full day of tours with the Asian Art II students.

Rosenzweig will also be the instructor for Asian Art Ii: Asian Screens And Paintings, June 26-28, also at the NIU Naperville campus. This course will be an examination of various forms of screens and paintings in Asian art, including Tibetan, Chinese, Korean and Japanese examples. This will be a guide to description information, what to ask the client, the effect of condition problems, where to search for artist and value information and other aspects of connoisseurship and appraisal in this difficult field. The first day of class will be a tour day with the students from the Asian Art I course.

Course materials must be purchased in advance and brought to class.

Shuttle transportation available between the host hotel and the university.

Shuttles are available from both Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport. More information regarding airport transportation and daily course transportation will be sent to all those attending.

NIU Naperville is located at 1120 E. Diehl Road in Naperville.

The host hotel is the Country Inn & Suites, 1837 Centre Point Circle, Naperville, IL 60563, telephone: 630-505-3353. The hotel’s website is www.countryinns.com/napervilleil.

Reference "ISA" to receive the discounted group rate of $95 per night plus tax.

To apply contact Michelle Stearns, ISA Education and Credentialing Coordinator: 312-981-6784. The ISA website is www.isa-appraisers.org.

Peter Paone to speak on print collecting at Rago open house

Peter Paone will share important information for the print collector, a step-by-step description of printmaking processes, the language, symbols, terminology and conservation of the print, and the markets for collecting.

Peter Paone attended the Philadelphia College of Art. He has taught at Pratt Institute in New York, the National Academy of Design in New York and since 1978 the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. He has received a number of grants and awards such as two Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Grants, a Pennsylvania Council for the Arts Grant, a Mid-Atlantic Foundation grant, the first Print Club Award of Merit, the 172nd annual Painting Prize from the National Academy of Design and three years in London on a Guggenheim Foundation fellowship.

His work has been featured in 51 one-person exhibitions in New York, Houston, Fort Worth, Philadelphia, as well as in London, Vienna and Germany. Since 1960, his work has joined that of other artists in 60 national and international group exhibitions. A selected list of public collections in which paintings, drawings and prints are represented include the Museum of Modern Art, in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum in London, the National Gallery of Art and the Library of Congress, in Washington, D.C., the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Academy of Design, Yale University Art Gallery, the Jersey City Museum, the Arkansas Art Center and the National Portrait Gallery.

He has been affiliated with the exhibitions committee of the National Academy of Design, the Visual Arts panel of the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts and is a board member of the Appraisers of Fine Arts Society and a member of the National Academy of Design.

His most recent one-person museum exhibitions include, "Poets" in conjunction with his photography collection "The Artist Revealed" at the National Academy of Design, "The Italians" at the Jersey City Museum and "Imaginary Watercolors" at the James A. Michener Museum.

The talk will take place during preview week for Rago's fine art auctions, to be held on Saturday, May 18, featuring 19th/20th century American and European art and postwar and contemporary art, featuring the collection of Joshua Smith, Part Two.

The auction house will open on Thursday, May 16, at noon. A reception will begin at 5 p.m. Paone will speak at 6 p.m.

RSVP to 609-397-9374 ext. 119 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Those unable to RSVP may attend; all are welcome.

Storage Wars stars' new venture: June 29 mega flea market in LA

A family-friendly event that merges yard sales with antiques, vintage and commercial items, the Yard Sale Expo & Flea Market will debut on Saturday, June 29th on 50 dedicated acres of the conveniently located Fairplex in eastern Los Angeles County. The show’s hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The idea behind a mammoth swap meet that welcomes yard sale, flea market and antiques vendors came about after discussions between the Dotsons and members of the related Pierce, Heard and Matthews families, whose four generations jointly operate Justuff the Yard Sale Store.

“Throughout southern California, it has become increasingly difficult for people to hold yard sales at their homes,” said Karen Pierce, co-owner of Justuff and a partner in the new operation. “Between municipal and homeowners association restrictions and the fear of being cited or fined for parking or sign violations, it’s just not possible for most people in our region to sell the items they no longer need. We’ve started the Yard Sale Expo to give everyone an affordable place where they can sell all sorts of things.” Note: Vendors may not sell firearms, explosives, food, automotive or illegal items.

The Expo offers owners of antiques, collectibles and mom-and-pop shops an additional venue in which to market their merchandise to the right types of buyers. Not only will it provide them with an additional place to “turn” their merchandise, the show will also help attract a new clientele to their own bricks-and-mortar stores.

Dan Dotson said there’s yet another type of vendor he and wife Laura expect to see at the Yard Sale Expo: the regulars who buy at their storage locker auctions. “Everything from A to Z can turn up in a storage locker, but most of the time the buyers don’t have a permanent location where they can sell the goods,” said Dotson. “At this show, everything has a chance to sell, from household items to fine antiques. We think some exciting discoveries could turn up. It’s bound to happen.”

In addition to the freedom it provides sellers, the Yard Sale Expo is expected to draw far more potential buyers than the average family could ever attract at a traditional yard sale. “People from all over can bring their yard sale items to one venue and have them seen by potentially thousands of people. They operate their businesses the way they wish, but without the worry of having to deal with advertising, signage or providing parking space for shoppers. We take care of all of that,” said Pierce.

Buyers will like the idea of so much merchandise being in one centralized location, Pierce said. “No driving all over town in hopes of getting to the good stuff first. You park your car and forget about it till your yard sale and flea market shopping is done,” she said. Onsite ATMs provide added convenience for shoppers who may run low on cash.

The event is being planned with all ages in mind, based on input from four generations of the family behind Justuff: Tomi Heard, her parents Tom and Karen Pierce, grandmother and family matriarch Billie Mathews; and Tomi’s 4-year-old Hudson Heard.

“The ideas that have come from multi-generational brainstorming have been very creative,” said Tomi Heard, describing some of the amenities planned for the show. “In addition to a fleet of gourmet food trucks offering a variety of delicious options, there will be a beer and wine garden, a live band for light mood music, and bounce houses and slides for children. We’ll even have charity bins on hand in case dealers would rather donate items than take them home. One thing we know for sure is that the shopping will be great and everyone will be well entertained.”

A special highlight is the live lunchtime auction of antiques and quality collectibles to be conducted personally by Dan and Laura Dotson. Anyone wishing to consign should bring their items to the Fairplex on Friday, June 28, or by 5 a.m. on Expo/auction day. The usual auction fees (seller’s commission and buyer’s premium) will apply.

Each $49 vendor space is a generous 17ft by 25ft, with easy entry and onsite parking for vehicles or trailers up to 20ft in length. Vendors may share a space, and they also may stay overnight in their vehicles, if desired. There is onsite security at the Fairplex. Nearby hotels, motels and the KOA Kampground Fairplex RV Park offer additional options for those who wish to arrive the night before the event.

The Fairplex At Pomona is located at the junction of I-10, I-210 and the 57. “It’s an ideal location, no more than 90 minutes’ drive from any point in southern California. Everyone knows it as the home of the LA County Fair,” said Pierce.

General admission (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) is $5. Children under 12 enter free if accompanied by an adult. Early bird admission (6-8 a.m.) is $8. A parking fee applies at Fairplex At Pomona.

Vendors may view additional information and sign up for the show online at www.theyardsaleexpo.com. Tel. 909-222-0924.

Storage Wars, starring Dan and Laura Dotson, airs on A&E, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Eastern, 8 p.m. Central time.

# # #

NYC gallery to host Coney Island Sideshow exhibit May 2-25

While the golden era of New York’s most beloved amusement park has come and gone, relics of Coney Island’s colorful history and photos of its amazing cast of performers move back into the spotlight in “Sideshow,” an exhibition running May 2-25 at The Ross Art Group’s Manhattan gallery. Sideshow’s featured collection belongs to Dr. Robert M. Lerch, a New York City physician and longtime collector of the bizarre and unusual. The exhibition chronicles roughly the first 50 years of Coney Island – whose first enclosed amusement park area opened in 1895 – with additional pieces from other early 20th-century carnivals and circuses.

The “backbone” of the show, said Ross Art Group’s owner, Mickey Ross, is the collection of 28 original architectural drawings and blueprints that conceptualized Coney Island carnival rides and structures.

“The drawings were created by amusement park ride inventor and manufacturer William F. Mangels (German/American, 1867-1958) and depict such classic rides as the ‘Whip,’ Loop roller coaster, and carousel horses with a mechanical function,” Ross said. Like all other items in the exhibition, the architectural designs will be available for purchase.

One of the most remarkable inclusions in the collection is the assemblage of circus photos by itinerant photographer Edward J. Kelty (American, 1888–1967). The grouping includes a number of Kelty’s inimitable 11 by 20in panoramic shots of performers known collectively as “the Congress of Freaks.”

“Kelty had a fascination for human oddities and spent 20 years following and photographing circus troupes. Once a year, the entire Ringling Brothers ‘Freak Show’ cast would gather for a group shot. It was a big event,” said Ross. “The pictures include every imaginable type of performer – sword swallowers, snake charmers, bearded ladies, fire eaters, and ‘giants and midgets,’ plus aerialists and clowns.” Kelty’s Congress of Freaks photos, which originally were sold to the performers themselves as mementos, are highly sought after by today’s collectors.

Other iconic photos featured in Sideshow were taken prior to the end of World War I by Arthur S. Mole & John D. Thomas. Their technique consisted of mustering thousands of people to form aerial views of iconic symbols, such as The Statue of Liberty or Uncle Sam. Most of the photos’ participants were army troops who took part with the US Government’s permission.

Robert Lerch’s fascination for Coney Island memorabilia, arcade machines and quirky figural folk art dates back to his 1960s childhood in New York City, when he was introduced to the vast archive of pioneer collector, author and historian Frederick Fried.

“I spent most of my youth living with my grandparents on West End Avenue. A kid I used to play with who lived two stories above us was Frederick Fried’s son. I spent endless time in that apartment, which was so full of stuff it was barely navigable. I remember it like it was yesterday,” Lerch recalled. “Being around so many fascinating curiosities – from carnival objects to cigar store figures – had a profound effect on me.”

In fact, the Fried collection not only inspired Lerch to set off on a 40-year quest for the offbeat, it also eventually ended up, in part, in his own personal collection. “When Mr. Fried died, his daughter inherited his collection. I later acquired a portion of his Coney Island archive, which was considered the ultimate of its type, through a person who knew his daughter,” Lerch explained.

Selected highlights from the 75-piece Sideshow exhibition include:

• Coin-op machines, including “Witch,” a rare 1st-quarter 20th century 3-wheel slot

• Cast-iron amusement park jester head and four clown shooting gallery targets

• Three antique carved-wood contortionist figures on pedestals

• Circa-1920 coin-op baseball trade stimulator, one of perhaps three known

• Pair of 21in tall cast-iron Coke bottles, 1923, from Atlanta bottling plant’s fence

• Game that creates figure of pig with successive rolls of dice

• Rare French carnival knock-down figures

• Circa-1920 electric trade stimulator of chirping, moving birds in formal wedding attire

• 17 x 6in salesman’s sample of metal-trimmed glass coffin

• Circus and other posters, including an original for the Belgian release of the 1932 film “Freaks”

• Polychrome-painted convex carnival mirror

• Carousel memorabilia and figures including carved camel

• Unconventional vending machine that delivers a piece of pre-sealed cake

• Anatomical aluminum model of pig with hinged opening for view of internal organs

Sideshow – Exhibition and Sale featuring the collection of Dr. Robert M. Lerch (email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) with other select additions will be held May 2-25 at the Ross Art Group’s gallery, 532 Madison Ave., 4th Floor (entry on 54th Street), New York, NY 10022.

Exhibition hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. May 2nd opening-night hours are 5-8 p.m., and as a special added attraction, several performers from Coney Island USA’s Sideshows by the Seashore will be there at the gallery to entertain, pose for pictures and help raise awareness that Coney Island is back in business following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. The performers include Leo the Human Gumby (contortionist), Insectavora (tattooed lady and human blockhead), and Scott Baker (magician and master of many sideshow feats). Additionally, sideshow banner painter Marie Roberts, who grew up around many famous sideshow performers, will be on hand to speak with the press about Coney Island's unique history.

Dr. Robert Lerch has pledged to donate the sale proceeds from one of his rare Coney Island photographs to the nonprofit Coney Island Museum.

For additional information call 212-223-1525 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Online: www.rossartgroup.com.

#   #   #

Brett Beldock designs vibrant room setting for NY show

"I am very excited to collaborate with the Spring Show NYC dealers in order to raise additional funds for the ASPCA," says Beldock. Her room blends modern and traditional objects. Among them are gilt-gesso armchairs, circa 1790, from Clinton Howell Antiques, and a pair of Regency satin-wood spoon chairs from Hyde Park Antiques. Among the others contributing to the eclectic decor are Milord Antiques, Lillian Nassau, Yew Tree House Antiques, Phoenix Ancient Art, Leo Kaplan, L'Antiquaire & The Connoisseur, Alexander's Antiques, Linda Bernell Gallery, Jeffrey Tillou Antiques, Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts and Jeff Bridgman American Antiques.

To infuse her signature contemporary look into the room, Beldock will also use wallpapers she designed: One features crocodiles and the other wood grain. Both motifs are overetched silver. "The introduction of these wallpapers and a few pieces of contemporary furniture of my own design for Profiles really make the glorious antiques sing," said Beldock.

Over the years, Beldock has also whipped up memorable rooms for the Kips Bay Decorator Showcase, Design on a Dime for Housing Works, and Holiday House for Cancer Research, as well as several other decorator showcases.

An adjunct professor of design at NYU, a one-time fashion designer, and a color forecaster for products developed by Samsung of Korea, Beldock and her company, Brett Design Inc. have won notable coverage in The New York Times, New York Post, House Beautiful, Interior Design, Forbes, Elle Décor and Connecticut Cottages & Gardens, as well as in many other shelter books and publications.

Beldock's specially designed room for Spring Show NYC Collection will be on public view from May 2 to May 5 at the Park Avenue Armory, Park Avenue and 67th Street.

Palm Beach Show Group unveils its new Chicago event

The Chicago Show will feature the finest and most prominent exhibitors showcasing their impressive collections of fine art, antique and estate jewelry, Asian antiquities, sculpture, textiles, American and European silver, furniture, contemporary art and more.

This prestigious show is set to feature more than 100 of the world’s most acclaimed exhibitors and will make its debut at the internationally celebrated Navy Pier. Located just east of Chicago’s downtown, Navy Pier offers a unique experience of shopping, dining and entertainment that attracts more than 8.6 million visitors annually, making it the Midwest’s No. 1 tourist and leisure destination. Chicago’s Navy Pier is a destination unmatched by any other, making it the idyllic location for a Palm Beach Show Group Event.

Chicago is a major metropolitan city with an affluent consumer and collector. It has recently been recognized as a rising design city, setting the stage for exhibitors to connect with designers and architects, which represent a vast majority of buyers of art and antiques.

“There is a remarkable legacy for trade shows and art fairs that began at Navy Pier,” said Laurette Lutiger, newly appointed managing partner of the Chicago Show. “In recent years, Chicago has established itself as a leading arts and cultural city in the Midwest and represents collectors of every age and level of interest who have been waiting for a show of this caliber to emerge.”

The Chicago International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show will kick off with a private opening night preview party, offering museum patrons, high profile private collectors and elite attendees a first glimpse of the rare treasures available for purchase. Guests will be greeted with complimentary champagne and hors d’oeuvres while being charmed by remarkable collections from all corners of the globe. The show will be open to the public for the remaining four days, Friday, April 25 through Monday, April 28.

“Chicago is an established market and the Chicago collector is one of the best in the world, with a proven track record of purchasing from art, antique and jewelry shows,” said Scott Diament, president and CEO of the nationally expanding Palm Beach Show Group. “Our research has shown that we will also pull collectors from Canada, which is experiencing tremendous growth in high net worth individuals. We know this is a great market for dealers.”

Owned and produced by the Palm Beach Show Group, the inaugural Chicago International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show is designed to meet the needs of galleries, antique seekers, art buyers, interior designers and enthusiasts of all fine things. The Palm Beach Show Group is committed to creating environments to grow dealer and collector relationships through pleasant experiences, networking opportunities and powerful marketing campaigns.

15 new participants at Spring Show, May 1-5 in NYC

Among the new participants from the United States are Phoenix Ancient Art, antiquities from the sixthh century B.C. to 14th century A.D.; Alexander Gallery (18th-20th century American and European paintings, antiquities, Asian art, and works on paper); Gemini Antiques Ltd., early American toys and folk art) Lillian Nassau (Tiffany Studios lamps and glass, 20th century design and American sculpture); Marion Harris (16th-19th century articulated artist model and lay figures, ceramics and decorative objects); Pat Saling (fine and estate jewelry); Reville & Rossiter (Downton Abbey-style English silver, Cartier and rare jewels, period costume and paste jewelry); Southampton-based Hollis Reh & Shariff (fine and estate jewelry), Jeffrey Tillou Antiques from Litchfield, Conn. (18th and mid-19th century American furniture and fine arts; Queen Fine Arts LLC (15th-20th century painting and sculpture), from Miami. The Manhattan Art & Antiques Center will be represented with featured galleries, Paul Anavian Gallery, Estate Silver Co., and Blum Antiques, as well as Botier Inc., Leah Gordon, Treasures & Pleasures, Antique Reflections, F&P Associates and Alexander’s Antiques.

Hailing from Europe are: Marco Bertoli from Modena, Italy (19th-century Italian painting); and Londonbased galleries: Gladwell & Patterson, (English and European 19th- and 20th-century paintings); Sue Brown (jewels from ancient Roman through the 1940s); Stern Pissarro Gallery (artworks by multiple generations of the Pissarro family, 19th and 20th century European paintings); and the William Weston Gallery (Modern European and British Master prints).

"We're thrilled to welcome an outstanding roster of top-tier specialists to the Spring Show NYC," said Clinton Howell, president of the Art and Antique Dealers League of America. “And we are grateful for the energizing force that each of these dealers imparts to the fair in singular and exceptional ways."

Jeanne Bertoia's doorstop collection on view at Philly antiques show

Jeanne Bertoia is a renowned expert on the subject of cast-iron figural doorstops and authored the groundbreaking reference book titled Doorstops – Identifications & Values. Over the past 35 years, she has bought, sold and collected some of the finest known antique and vintage doorstops. Aspects of her personal collection will be displayed in the armory foyer throughout the popular three-day antique show that many consider the opener for Philadelphia Antiques Week.

Approximately 75 doorstops have been chosen for the exhibit. Most are in mint or near-mint condition. Among the many rarities are a Littco Halloween Girl, large-size animal figurals by Bradley & Hubbard (including Turkey, Heron, Rabbit, Rooster), the complete Art Deco series designed by Fish, and many other favorites personally selected by Jeanne Bertoia for inclusion in the colorful display.

“I have known the armory show’s promoter, Frank Gaglio, for many years. He always produces a beautiful show, so I was especially pleased when he called up and asked if I would like to display pieces from my collection this year,” said Bertoia.

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 12 and 13; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 14. The venue is located at 22 S. 23rd Street between Market and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia, Pa.

For additional information, log on to www.barnstar.com.

# # #

Special Report: Sculpture by the Sea in Perth, Western Australia

For three weeks every March, Cottesloe, a laid-back beachfront suburb of Perth, hosts around 70 sculptures by contemporary artists from around the world, attracting an estimated 250,000 visitors. In October, almost twice that number head to Sydney to see 100 works displayed along the coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama Beach. When former lawyer David Handley conceived the idea of Sculpture by the Sea back in the mid-1980s, he had no idea of the extent to which his modest community-orientated project would eventually alter the landscape of Australian contemporary art. Not only does it bring international sculpture into the lives of Australians and thousands of visitors from abroad, it also provides precious opportunities for artists to show their work, and in some cases to sell it.

The Cottesloe display, now in its ninth year, is still proving that when executed with wit and style and a certain curatorial generosity open-air sculpture exhibitions have the capacity to build a sense of community and enhance the quality of life of a whole region. It helps, of course, that Perth – the remotest city on the planet – is blessed, like most of Australia, with glorious weather almost all year round. When this year’s exhibition opened on a lovely Friday morning at the beginning of what Australians quaintly call autumn, the temperature was in the low 30s (Celsius) and the skies a ridiculously intense, cloudless blue. As most anaemic Brits will testify, when you’ve been starved of natural light for 12 months even mediocre sculpture can make a reasonably convincing case for itself.

Apart from its beautiful locations in Perth and Sydney, what makes Sculpture by the Sea such a breath of fresh air is its breezy determination not to take itself too seriously. This is sculpture as entertainment, sculpture for kids and families, sculpture to climb on (in a few cases), to go ‘Wow!’ at, or ‘Huh?’, or ‘Hey! How did she do that?’ The wow factor is one of the festival’s main strengths: a reminder that art doesn’t always need to be high-minded and impenetrably oblique. Sometimes it’s enough to create a pause in the daily routine, to interrupt conventional channels of thought. It’s a pleasure to see a crowd of weekenders clustered around a work, pointing at it and exchanging ideas about how it was constructed, what material it is made from, how it got here, where the idea might have come from, what it means.

Unsurprisingly, for most visitors Sculpture by the Sea is photo-heaven, seaside snap-candy. Some artists respond accordingly. Big open forms are popular, screaming out for the cheesy portrait or moody landscape shot. But mixed in with the wry and the whimsical, the visual gags and the easy one-liners, are more challenging things, works that hold you up for a moment and invite you to linger, look and think a little more deeply.

Paradoxically, the beachfront location might be considered one of the project’s drawbacks. Few serious sculptures look good sinking into soft white sand and not everything wants to be plonked against a horizon where sky meets sea, however picturesque it may be as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean. Most abstract sculpture needs the counterpoint of a level surface to emphasize its volume, weight and mass, for angles to sharpen, curves to visually swing and roll. Undulating sand often undermines those qualities, but there are exceptions. Akira Kamada’s woven organic form titled Sky, land and sat comfortably on the beach as if blown into shape by the Freemantle breeze, while Maia Anthea Marinelli’s Wind Playground, a huge tent-like structure sewn from recycled windsurf sailcloth, added a dazzling splash of Fauvist color down on the beach where it flapped and billowed dramatically on windy days.

The beach is a second home to most Australians so even those pieces that might have looked better on solid ground such as Hilde Danielsen’s Upside Down Again at least enjoyed as significant a footfall as the works situated up on the lawns overlooking the beach.

Ken Unsworth’s Look This Way – an oversize skeleton perched atop a ladder sunk into the sand, intended as a tribute to the artist’s late wife – was among the most popular works this year, perfectly pitched to amuse and engage while throwing a dramatic silhouette against the evening sky.

The promenade’s surrounding lawns are clearly the prime real estate at the Cottesloe exhibition, enjoyed this year by, among others, illustrious participants such as leading Chinese artists Chen Wenling and Sui Jianguo, British heavyweight Sir Anthony Caro and American artist Richard Rhodes.

Chen Wenling is one of China’s most celebrated sculptors. Critics and collectors have taken with enthusiasm to his massive phantasmagorical creations and signature grinning boys, much of it churned out by an army of assistants in Xiamen and Beijing. His red-painted bronze Games, a gurning adolescent perched on the feet of another figure performing a handstand was going down well with the kids with cameras (Fig. 6). British sculptor Sir Anthony Caro’s orange-painted and welded steel piece, Eastern, enjoyed its own patch of ground and yet seemed slightly out of place in this context. A characteristically thoughtful meditation on concavity, it was hard to find an angle from which to appreciate it without the sea or the tourist attractions distracting. Other works held their own more successfully. Seattle-based sculptor and designer Richard Rhodes’ Embrace: Sentinel series, comprising two chunky interlocking forms in carved granite, was among the few truly standout works, beautifully executed and open to multiple readings. It seemed perfectly at home overlooking the ocean. Brancusi would have liked it.

Sculpture by the Sea also features an indoor exhibition of affordable small-scale works and maquettes, many of which were finding buyers at Cottesloe. Meanwhile the Tactile Tours – offering interactive access to the sculptures for visitors with disabilities – was encouragingly well-subscribed. These aspects of the project underscore why the biannual free festival continues to thrive. The public enjoys it. Artists love it. Quite why more members of Western Australia’s booming business community don’t get behind it with some generous top-line sponsorship remains the biggest mystery.

If you’re visiting Australia later this year, be sure to put the Bondi Beach installment of Sculpture by the Sea on your agenda. It’s got sun, sea and sand, and for a few weeks in October it will have some remarkable sculpture too.

Marble festival rolls into Cairo, W.Va., May 4

The festival is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activities include the sale of antique and contemporary marbles, exhibits, marble identification, books and more. Food is available on site and both admission and parking are free.

For those interested in selling or just displaying, setup is free and begins at 8 a.m. For those arriving Friday evening, the Community Building will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. for marble chatting, networking and mixing.

The town of Cairo is interesting to explore and an added attraction is the historic old Bank of Cairo exhibits.

The festival is part of “A Program of Saturdays on the Square” co-sponsored by the Museum of American Glass in West Virginia. For further information contact Ann Fissel at 304-628-3445.

The Museum of American Glass in West Virginia is open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day noon to 4 p.m. The balance of the year the museum is open daily noon to 4 p.m. and closed on Wednesday and Sunday. Admission is free. It is easily accessible off I-79 exit 99. Begun in 1992, the museum occupies 12,000 square feet with over 12,000 pieces of glass on permanent display. The museum is home to the National Marble Museum and the American Flint Glass Workers Union Archives. The museum holds an annual marble festival and numerous special exhibits throughout the year. More information can be found at http://magwv.com/. Questions about programs or the museum can be directed to 304-269-5006.

2nd Cotswolds Dealers’ Association Fair
 expands

WOODSTOCK, England – After a spectacular first show last year, the Cotswolds Art & Antiques Dealers’ Association Fair returns to the elegant setting of Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1PP from Thursday, April 18, to Sunday, April 21.

Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, eldest daughter of the present Duke of Marlborough, is the new patron of the Association.

Over 4,000 visitors came to last year’s hugely successful inaugural event and, as a result, the fair has been enlarged to accommodate extra stands and is now being staged over four days. All the initial exhibitors have rebooked and the seven new dealers exhibiting are Andrew Dando from Bradford on Avon, Freshfords Fine Antiques from Bath, Hall-Bakker from Woodstock, Elizabeth Harvey-Lee from North Aston, Kinghams Art Pottery Ltd. from Chipping Campden, the Kyffin Gallery from Woodstock, Stuart Boyd Fine Art from Chipping Campden and Spencer-Churchill Designs Ltd. from Woodstock. Everything is for sale with prices ranging from £100 to £100,000.

Highlights within the fair include a portrait of a brother and sister, attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723), circa 1705 from the Kyffin Gallery. Traditionally said to be the Honorable Thomas Culpepper Fairfax with his sister, the Honorable Katherine Fairfax, this double portrait of a brother and sister features a young man wearing an unusual cravat, infrequently seen in British portraiture, called the “Steinkirk” named after the Battle of Steenkerque of 1692. The girl is dressed in the fashionable loose dress and mantle of an English baroque period portrait. There are similar portraits by Sir Godfrey Kneller in Blenheim Palace.

From David Pickup of Burford is a marble-top center table on an exceptional iron base in the form of griffins, the design of the legs being patented by William Bullock (1773- 1849) in 1805. This example is circa 1820 and is priced at £8,500.

More interesting pieces of furniture include a pair of spectacular Gothic Revival burr walnut corner cabinets, circa 1850, in the region of £6,000 from Kit Alderson of Tetbury, a rare George III Sheraton period circular rosewood breakfast table, circa 1790, £9,750 from Freshfords Fine Antiques and a William & Mary period oyster kingwood parquetry escritoire attributed to Thomas Pistor for £100,000 from W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd of Witney.

Collectors of ceramics will enjoy a gorgeous Austrian Secessionist green glass vase with copper overlay for £680 or a Royal Lancastrian “Pilkington” luster vase with four painted panels designed by William Mycock, dated 1913, from Hall-Bakker of Woodstock and a Martin Brothers grotesque bird, dated 1897, priced at £27,500 from Kinghams Art Pottery. Provenances are always very important and John Howard at Heritage is bringing a Staffordshire pottery equestrian figure, circa 1750 purchased by HRH The Princess Mary, Princess Royal, Countess of Harewood in 1940 from Thomas Goode & Co, with a price tag of £15,000. Chinese ceramics include a famille verte octagonal plate made during the Emperor Kangxi’s reign, circa 1710, £5,000 from Catherine Hunt Oriental Ceramics of Cheltenham.

With Blenheim Palace enjoying a strong artistic patronage various highlights in the fair include a Blenheim connection such as an exquisite early 19th century silk embroidery of Britannia mourning the death of Nelson from Witney Antiques. Distinguished visitors were sometimes received by the Duke of Marlborough but on the occasion when Horatio Nelson visited Blenheim Palace in 1802 with Lord and Lady Hamilton, the 4th Duke refused to receive him and greatly offended Nelson by sending out his refreshments into the park and not the palace. John Howard at Heritage has sourced a rare tureen and cover of Blenheim Palace, circa 1820, with a price tag of £1,200 as well as a dish from the Foliage Border Series with a transfer mark on the back “Blenheim Oxfordshire.” The dark cobalt blue decoration indicates the set would have been made especially for the American market. This is priced at £750. The fair includes three illustrations of Oxford colleges, a watercolor of Christchurch, signed and dated 1858 by George Pyne (1800-1884) from Stuart Boyd Fine Art, “The Thames, Oxford, Christchurch College beyond,” signed 1887 by John Fulleylove RI (1845-1908) from Newman Fine Art of Painswick and an etching of the Gateway of Queen’s College by William Walcot from Elizabeth Harvey-Lee. On a contemporary note, among the works by Edward Noott of John Noott Galleries from Broadway is an oil of the entrance to Blenheim.

An impressive gilt brass repeating carriage clock signed Dent London, circa 1850, is to be found on Montpellier Clocks of Cheltenham’s stand. Edward John Dent (1790-1853) was granted the Royal Warrant as Chronometer Maker to the Queen in 1841 and in 1852 he won the commission to make the great clock for the Houses of Parliament, but died in 1853 before it was completed. Other clocks include an 8-day walnut long-case clock by William Webster, circa 1730 from Jeffrey Formby Antiques of Moreton in Marsh.

The Titian Gallery, Stow on the Wold, known for their traditional works of art, is expanding into the contemporary market. Their stand includes a visually striking chess set by an Italian sculptor, Carlo Zoli, which features one side made in silver and the other side in gold. Hampton Antiques at Heritage, known for exquisite antique boxes, is bringing a decorative red sewing cabinet, circa 1810, priced at £3,250. Silver is a new discipline to the fair this year. Howards Jewellers of Stratford upon Avon are taking two stands, one exhibiting jewelry including an Art Deco yellow and white diamond pendant necklace, circa 1925 and the other for silver – a new discipline to the fair this year. A rare neo-classical claret jug decorated with scenes from the compositions of John Flaxman RA is one of the highlights on Jeanette Hayhurst of Tetbury’s stand. Textiles include a silk Ikat coat from the Ferghana Valley, Uzbekistan, circa 1860-70, £4,000 from Legge Carpets of Oxford, who are also bringing fine silk Kashan rugs from Iran and, for a more contemporary look, a decorative Spanish carpet from the first half of the 20th century.

Not forgetting the outdoors, Architectural Heritage of Taddington is bringing a pair of mid 19th century wrought iron gates stamped by the maker Butterley who was responsible for many prestigious commissions, priced at £2,800 and a pair of mid 18th century Bath stone finials originating from Barford Park, Somerset for £12,600.

The addition of the fair has significantly enhanced the profile of the Cotswolds Art & Antiques Dealers’ Association (CADA) and the membership has grown to 48 top quality dealers. Blenheim Palace is the perfect fit to host the fair and it provides a unique experience for the visitor and consolidates the Cotswolds as the antiques center for the scholar, the collector and the interior designer.

The show is open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For details log onto the CADA website: www.thecada.org.

Expectations high for Marburger Farm show April 2-6

On April 2-6, 2013, you’ll have a chance to visit Marburger Farm Antique Show in tiny Round Top for a first visit or for a never-missed twice-yearly swoon.

“Wow!” is how photographer April Pizana sums up her first visit to the 43-acre Marburger Farm. “You come expecting knickknacks and you have no idea of the amazing things and displays that you will see.”

What does Pizana suggest for first-time visitors? “Bring a list, dimensions, a sturdy tote, a checkbook, cash or an ATM card. Bring a friend. And wear comfy shoes,” she said.

On a recent Marburger Farm Facebook post, Katrina Lounsbury of California recalls that “on my first visit many years ago, I loved the French enamel-ware, the jewelry and the antique and vintage Santas. I have a treasure or two from every show since.”

“What I loved most about my first visit to the Marburger Farm Antique Show,” says shopper Terri Henderson on Facebook, “was the quality of the merchandise, the number of awesome dealers and the creative displays.”

For some, it will be their first trip to Round Top, while those who have been a part of the adventure since the beginning, will see for the 32nd time that over 350 top exhibitors from coast to coast will encamp on the central Texas cow pasture with antique furniture, vintage accessories, jewelry, art, lighting, folk art and more. Styles range from industrial to French, from Swedish to mid-century modern to the original creations of the Marburger artisan dealers.

Spilling out of 10 giant tents and 12 historic buildings, the antiques and repurposed objects find eager new owners among the thousands of shoppers who visit Marburger Farm.

If it’s the first time for you or a return engagement, be sure to visit French exhibitor Pascal Jones of Desiree Antiques. Jones recalls that her own first impression of Marburger Farm was “the different styles of antiques – everything is at Marburger Farm.” For the spring 2013 show, Jones will offer her own mix of classic 18th century French and European antiques alongside 1980s brass, Lucite, art, industrial end tables made from French engraving plates and early wooden type-face letters made into furniture surfaces. “I love the mix of styles,” says Jones. “It’s nice to have different centuries and styles in a home. It makes it unique.”

Originally from Italy, Philadelphia exhibitor Marco Astrologo noted that on his first visit to Marburger, he found the other dealers to be “extremely good and extremely happy. They are the cream de la cream. And the customers love to buy.” Astrologo continues with the admission that “Before I went to Marburger, I expected Texans to be strange, you know? But you quickly realize that the people who come to Marburger Farm are very knowledgeable. They come from all over the world. They breathe the past 24 hours a day and they enjoy it.” Astrologo will offer antique and vintage trunks and luggage from makers such as Louis Vuitton and Goyard. His is the largest collection of antique Louis Vuitton trunks in the country.

Texas exhibitor Melissa Whitely Vasquez creates a booth with her mother and sister, jammed with American cottage furniture, early toys, doll furnishings, advertising signs and garden antiques. “What do I remember about my very first Marburger Farm Show? There was only one tent and one Porta-Potty.”

Things have changed. Not only are there air-conditioned restrooms now, but Marburger Farm has grown to become what Newsweek magazine calls “one of the country’s best venues.”

North Carolina dealer Susan Curran-Wright carries antique Italian and American linens, sterling and jewelry. “On my very first time at Marburger,” says Curran-Wright, “I knew Marburger Farm was going to explode. The energy was there, the wonderful property was there, the potential was there. Everyone there was so infused with enthusiasm that I knew that Marburger Farm was going to become a great antique show.”

So whether it’s your first time or a rendezvous you never miss, come to Marburger Farm to be infused with the energy and wonder of the very best antiques displayed by the most creative dealers anywhere.

In addition to the antique and artisans exhibitors, the April 2-6 show will also feature benefit booths for Dwell with Dignity of Dallas and for the Brookwood Community near Houston. The Brookwood exhibit will offer plants grown by and specialty décor, garden and kitchen items made by the special needs adults who are served by residential community. See www.brookwoodcommunity.org

Founded by interior designers, Dwell with Dignity transforms donated furnishings into dignified interiors for families escaping poverty and homelessness. Their booth at Marburger, located near the food pavilion, will bring to life such a sample interior. At the end of each Marburger Farm week, the show’s dealers donate antiques and vintage objects that will go back to Dallas to be used in dwellings or to be sold in the Dwell with Dignity Thrift Studio sale April 18 – May 18 in the Dallas Design District. See www.dwellwithdignity.org

The Marburger Farm Antique Show opens on Tuesday, April 2, with early buying from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. for $25 for adults, free for children 15 and under. Regular $10 admission begins April 2 at 2 pm. One admission is good all week, with the show running on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m, to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, April 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Advance tickets and group tickets are available.

Parking is free. Dogs on a leash are always welcome.

See information on travel, maps, vendors, special events, the Marburger Farm blog and mobile app, lodging, on-site shipping and the Marburger Cafe at www.roundtop-marburger.com or call Ashley Ferguson at 800-947-5799. Follow show news on Facebook or on the show blog at www.marburgerfarmshow.blogspot.com.