~DUANE HANSON/TOURISTS & more tourists !!/& LEO the K takes over BUIA the BUST !!

Duane # 1
sometimes it’s fun just to be a tourist in NYC, and cruise the great hi-end/famous art on show in this big art capital.
VAN DE WEGHE is always a pretty good bet – on 23rd St. just below 10th Ave. – the gateway to Chelsea . . .
these pix are from their recent DUANE HANSON show (APRIL 22-MAY 22, 2009).
she looks pretty real doesn’t she ?!!
I’d say this is hi-fi big bucks, hi-tech sculpture – brought to jaw dropping perfection.
the figures are unique, not editions, and go for, ballpark: a cool half a million ($500,000) ea.

Duane # 2
she looks less real from the side.

Duane # 3

duane # 4
who’s real, . . . and who’s not !!

Duane # 5

Duane # 6
look out Gabriel Fowler (of DESERT ISLAND) !! – in about 90 tears, I mean YEARS !!

Duane # 7

PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH

see more pix from the exhibit: gallery/DUANE HANSON !!

BREAKING NEWS !! CHANGES ON 23rd ST & BUIA STIFFS MR. COLLECTOR

oh oh oh . . . tourist attraction, but – not for much longer !!
SIMON CERIGO reports that Van de Weghe is closing this space on 23rd St., but keeping its Upper East Side space.
Since he (Van de Weghe) owns the 23rd St. space – he will become STEVE KASHER’S landlord, when Steve Kasher moves his STEVE KASHER GALLERY – a photography venue – downstairs from the 2nd floor into the vacated storefront for the Fall season (2009).
SIMON adds: “STEVE is all happy.” duh.
thanks, Simon.
but I’m gonna miss those guilty pleasure peeks at the high-end, real-deal, but oh so old school – VAN DE WEGHE offerings, usually large scale & mid-career signature Warhols, Harings, Basquiats, and Duane Hansons.

ok. here’s another little tidbit from SIMON – regarding 23rd St & a ‘gallerista’ – no more.
BUIA closed. and VANESSA BUIA’S name is mud. She folded in the night like a house of cards – but maybe more like: thief-in-the night – might be the better metaphor !! harsh, NOT !!
Apparently she owed at least one collector a drawing that he had alreday purchased, and which he had recently returned and left with her – to be signed by the artist. When he first got it home – he had noticed there was no signature. The work was paid for in full. It was a Paul Paddock drawing.
MR. COLLECTOR, aka ROBERT CHERUBIM is pretty upset at being treated this way, and has set Simon Cerigo on the mission to get his purchase back, and signed. an apology would be nice too.
needless to say, Vanessa didn’t leave a forwarding address. if she’s reading this, best to contact Simon thru artlovers/contact/homepage to resolve this. MR. COLLECTOR is a pretty tenacious and obsessive guy. He feels really slighted. I wouldn’t underestimate him. besides its not nice to treat the grass roots collectors, or is that just the “little people” ? this way. esp the ones who supported your venture from the get-go.

MR COLLECTOR

MR. COLLECTOR aka ROBERT CHERUBIM – photographed on the set of the MARK KOSTABI – ‘NAME THAT PAINTING’ set – where he is a regular cast member. (as is Simon.)
Nov 3, 2006
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
yep, he’s for real. no it’s not another Duane Hanson . . . and, yes he has a great collection, in fact – bet it beats YOURS !!
most of it is under his bed. all of it is cutting edge. name one artist he collects ? ok. ANDREW GUENTHER. AMY GARTRELL.
read more about: MR. COLLECTOR

robert at andrrews exhibit
in fact, here’s another oldie but goodie – MR. COLLECTOR at ANDREW GUENTHER’S groundbreaking PERRY RUBENSTEIN exhibit, Nov 3, 2004.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH

This photo made the inaugural artlovers ART LOVERS PHOTO REPORT – way back in the day – 2005-03-27 !!

UP-DATE: THURS JUNE 3, 2009 – LEO KOENIG TAKES OVER FORMER BUIA SPACE !!

or as we like to call it: LEO the K takes over BUIA the BUST !!

looks like LEO KOENIG, with his main gallery just a few doors down, at 545 W. 23rd St. – has taken over the former BUIA space, at 541 E W. 23rd St – as his ‘projecrt’ annex or “PROJEKTE” as he is calling it.

the inaugural opening is tomorrow – FRI JUNE 5, 2009 from 6-8 PM:
‘BLIND BUZZARD’ – Works by ANKE WEYER & ADRIAN MERAZ
running JUNE 5 – JULY 11, 2009
see: LEO KOENIG/PROJEKTE !!

leo K - Anke weyer
installation view: ‘Blind Buzzard’ – ADRIAN MERAZ and ANKE WEYER/PHOTO COURTESY: LEO KOENIG INC/PROJEKTE

also opening, the same night, same time – in the KOENIG main space:
BILL SAYLOR – ‘IF FANTASIES CAME BY THE GALLON THIS BABY COULD RUN FOREVER’
running JUNE 5 – JULY 11, 2009
see: LEO KOENIG INC. !!

Leo K - Bill saylor
BILL SAYLOR – invitation poster, 2009/COURTESY: LEO KOENIG INC.