Hockey Mom versus Chinese art / Canvas relaunch (Wednesday 10 September 2008)
Uncovering the genuine article
compiled by Jean Morley
Real or fake? A question faced by paparazzi photographers daily is also troubling Circa staff. Yet again, we are being forced to differentiate between genuine art news and news as created by a bored gallery curator. Readers might remember the puzzling case of the the artist Jan de Groot (click here). Yesterday morning, the Detroit Museum of New Art was back with a news-feed to the effect that, despite having been considered toxic, its Chinese art collection would be left to hang on its walls.
According to the report, certain pieces of Chinese art entering the US had been labelled "toxic and unusable" by the Food and Drugs Authority. Under the same import laws also affecting pet food, toothpaste, medicines and toys, many of the museum's Chinese paintings had in them toxic levels of lead-based paint. One FDA spokesperson allegedly pointed out that "One square inch of a painting contains enough lead to poison 500 children." The American offence against "toxic" Chinese culture may not be as incredible as it sounds. The same nation forbade its athletes eat Chinese food at the recent Beijing Olympics out of fears of pesticide and unsanitary hygiene.
Beginning to believe the report, this writer's gullibility was shattered by references to the American presidential campaign. According to the same article, John McCain and Sarah Palin were so incited by the toxic paintings as to temporarily interrupt their Michigan speeches and call for action against the dangerous art. The presidential candidate, supported by his running mate, is reported to have proposed warning labels be attached to the Asian paintings.
Of course it's ludicrous to believe candidates would interrupt campaign speeches on topics as pressing as foreign policy and health to launch an invective against a type of paint. Or is it? A quick Google search reveals the majority of Palin's Michigan speech centred around hockey. The self-confessed "hockey mom" discussed her son's highschool sporting career before moving on to the differences between a pitbull terrior and the sporting mother. (It's lipstick, apparently.)
Gallery relaunch
News of a make-over for a Belfast gallery: the Canvas Gallery has re-opened, guided by "local up-and-coming art broker" Paul Evans. He is committed to offering clients "original art that is both desirable, a sound investment and with a competitive price tag. The Canvas team also offer a focused international sourcing service, and are open to discussing all opportunities for investment and expanding existing portfolios." Canvas is at 66 Stranmillis Road, Belfast, or http://canvasgalleries.com/
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For a full list of news items, click here.
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