Have you ever bought at the Art Auction?

[Tao Diva]

This thread is extremely negative' date=' particularly when there are so many snobbish comments by people who are posting apparently just to make themselves feel superior to other people.

 

Over the years and more than 20 cruises, I have bought maybe 12 to 15 pieces of "art" through Park-West. I never approached it as an investment, and I never met anyone else who was taking that approach. Most people are bidding because it can be fun and because the piece they're bidding on "speaks" to them. That's what matters.

 

When I look around at the various pieces I've framed and put on the walls, I see each one and feel warm and fuzzy inside. They bring back good memories and remind me of amazing places I've been. If you've been in an art gallery lately the ship's prices seem pretty mild compared to what is being asked for works by even local artists.

 

Some of the works I've bought have increased in value (using gallery prices and eBay results as a gauge) and others haven't. It doesn't matter, though, because the items were bought for my (and my wife's) personal pleasure. As for auction prices, some of them may seem to have increased dramatically recently, but if you do more than look at them superficially, you'll see that it's often because of unique enhancements, such as added oil or acrylic hand-painted additions to the work or the item has been done on canvas, rather than paper, or is a limited edition print.

 

On my Victory cruise last month, I bought two Fanch Ledan pieces for $130 each. They were in frames that had seen better days, but the auctioneer had the frames removed and put them in a very heavy tube for me and didn't charge a penny.

 

There is always a preview of an hour or so before the auctions, where you can inspect every piece and ask the attendants questions about the techniques, provenance and unique features of each item. I have never known for the auction staff to be less than totally honest and you automatically receive a certificate of authenticity for anything you buy. You can sip the free champagne and then move on without attending the auction if you don't see anything you like.

 

We all have different things which bring us pleasure.

 

Why do some people have a compulsion to put down everything which they themselves don't like? It's unnecessary, often cruel, and almost always ignorant.

 

If you don't think the art auction is for you, then just don't go. There's no need except pettiness to put them down and attempt to characterize anyone who [i']does[/i] like them as being stupid or foolish or lacking class.

 

beautifully said. I personally have bought a few innexpensive pictures which I love. One reminds me of my mother, another one is a "picture" of my daughter's soul. I couldn't even tell you the artists names - I just love the pictures. I will continue to visit the art auction as part of my cruise experience. It's one of my favorite things.

 

Maybe if art galleries and art investments were part of my daily life, I would feel differently. But they are not, so I don't:o

[Sdallnct]

Is there anything about cruising you actually like? :rolleyes:

 

I love cruising...I never said otherwise and not sure why you would ask....

 

The question was about art auctions and many noted how it was a rip off. I just pointed out there are many other areas that are (IMO could be) considered a rip off. Doesn't mean I don't do them. I typically buy my wife a spa treatment. Doesn't mean it wasn't a rip off. I've bought excursions, doesn't mean their not overpriced. My wife like to play bingo now and again, doesn't mean I don't think it is just throwing money away.

 

That is the point. People who buy art and then have buyers remorse are silly. No one held a gun to their head. No one "tricked" them. They bought or didn't buy. Just like buying or not buying anything else on the trip.

[ampfadvisor]

Our first carnival cruise was last year and we didnt buy anything at the Park

West art auction. On four previous RCL cruises we've bought lots of art...everything from some very inexpensive stuff we "just liked" to spending several thousand on works by particular artists we really enjoy and collect. Those two are Itzak Tarkay and Yakov Agam

 

there are good buys to be had... you just need to kmow a little about what you are buying....and only buy because u like it not because u think u will make a profit

[ALLMYKIDS3]

We had several of the Linda LeKinff works' date=' but I lost them in the divorce settlement. :D We also had several by Tarkay and Bellet, in addition to four or five by Fanch Ledan. I did get to keep my two favorite Fanches, though. :)[/quote']

 

I went to one art auction ..can't remember which ship. I went because they had Dali's and I own 2. They were very small prints and too much money.Mine are beautiful and bigger ...and I got them in my divorce settlement LOL :D

[lillian marie]

We've bought quite a few works of art over the years and have been very happy with the art. In fact my art purchase from my last cruise in early May just arrived last Fri. I bought a Dali on a Princess cruise many years ago and it was a bargain.

[Tiffany1203]

If you don't like the polls then why do you look at them? You can skip them you know. :)

 

I love the polls and wish there were more, I like to know why people like such and such or hate it. I think they are fun. :D

 

I agree :)

[Quilting_Cruiser]

Why do some people have a compulsion to put down everything which they themselves don't like? It's unnecessary' date=' often cruel, and almost always ignorant.

 

[/quote']

 

Our hearts beat as one. ;) I haven't been active on Cruise Critic for about two years--came back because we booked a cruise last week. Woo hoo! I was really looking forward to spending time on CC, but was quickly reminded of how petty some people can be.

[Barbluvstocruz]

We enjoy the art auctions and have purchased something on every cruise...around 6 or so. We buy what we like to look at and want to hang in our home. I just finished hanging the pieces I bought on a cruise in February. We are leaving again in less than 2 weeks for the Legend. We are running out of wall space so I think this time the money is going to jewelry. ;)

[mohavemommy]

No... I have never bought anything. I think they are a waste of good space.

[WeBeCruisin']

No... I have never bought anything. I think they are a waste of good space.

 

I think you just proved every point I and several others tried to make. Thanks! :D:rolleyes::D

[dominichunter]

Have you ever bought anything at the "Art Auction"

 

I looked a few times, but could not belive the prices.

 

If you think the MDR is over rated, check out the art auction sometime.

 

Wow what a price!

Park West Gallery Proved by Lawsuit Loss to Be Selling Fake Dalí Prints

 

 

 

 

Sharon Day Dalí Divine Comedy print sold by Park West, signed in the block by Dalí (top signature) and bearing a supposed Dalí pencil signature (lower signature) found by defendants' experts Nicolas Descharnes and Frank Hunter to be fake and described by defendatns' handwriting expert, William Flynn, as a "crude forgery"

 

 

DETROIT, MI.- The recent loss of Park West Gallery’s defamation case against Fine Art Registry and three individuals shows that the jury in Federal Court in Eastern Michigan had no doubt that the evidence they were shown proved that Park West Gallery has been selling and continues to sell inauthentic art, including Salvador Dalí prints, using fraudulent misrepresentation at art auctions on cruise ships. And Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines have stated that they will not be renewing their contract with the disgraced gallery.

 

Park West Gallery sued Fine Art Registry and the other defendants in the case for defamation. The main point Park West attempted and failed to prove through their witnesses and experts was that the Dalí prints they sell are genuine and bear genuine signatures and that the statements by Fine Art Registry that they were not genuine were defamatory. Fine Art Registry defended the defamation claim on the basis of TRUTH. According to Fine Art Registry there was no defamation because all of the statements the web based company made were truthful. These statements included the following:

 

• That Park West Gallery had sold and is still selling fake prints or genuine prints with forged signatures to its customers, including those of Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí, many of which were sourced from the controversial Albaretto family in Turin, Italy.

 

• That Park West Gallery was guilty of criminal, fraudulent misrepresentation and other criminal activities under the guise of selling art at so-called “art auctions” on cruise ships and elsewhere.

 

The jury found that there had been NO DEFAMATION because the statements were indeed factual.

 

The experts who testified for Fine Art Registry about the Salvador Dalí prints and signatures were Nicolas Descharnes, Frank Hunter and William Flynn. Nicolas Descharnes and his father Robert Descharnes, who worked with Dalí personally for 40 years, are acknowledged to be the only experts in the world trusted by the leading art auction houses to authenticate Dalí original work. Nicolas Descharnes testified as an expert on Dalí and Dalí signatures. He said of the results of the lawsuit, "It is a great historical victory for the preservation of the art of Salvador Dalí. I'm proud of my contribution to the justice of United States which fulfilled its mission."

 

Frank Hunter, Director of the Salvador Dalí Archives in New York, who worked with Albert Field in the compilation of the well respected catalog of Dalí’s graphic works, testified as an expert on Salvador Dalí graphic works (prints) and on Salvador Dalí’s signature. After hearing the jury’s verdict in the trial he said, “The opinions expressed by Nicolas Descharnes and myself are based on a firm foundation of knowledge, first-hand experience with the works of Dalí and with Dalí personally.

 

Such opinions are considered expert opinions. Real experts cooperate with one another, and, as professionals, do not spew invectives at other experts. Someone whose opinions are based on speculation, conjecture, or guesswork is not, in anyone's opinion, an expert. Dalí authentication should be left to the authentic experts.” Frank Hunter was the only witness who testified in the court who had personally watched Salvador Dalí signing prints in series.

 

The eminent handwriting expert William Flynn, in his remarkably clear testimony which left the jury in no doubt that the so-called Dalí signatures on the prints sold by Park West which he examined were fake, described the most commonly seen signature type as “a crude forgery” and another set as “practiced forgeries.” He used science to demonstrate the basis for his opinion.

 

It is notable that Park West retained two handwriting experts in this case but neither one testified in court because they could not affirm that the signatures on the Park West prints were by the hand of Salvador Dalí and they had great respect for William Flynn and his expertise. The only expert witness on the subject of Salvador Dalí signatures who appeared in court for Park West Gallery was their own retained appraiser and self-proclaimed Dalí expert Bernard Ewell who never met Salvador Dalí and is not recognized as an expert on Dalí by anyone other than Park West and himself. His testimony was therefore very unconvincing.

 

Having lost their defamation case in Michigan, Park West Gallery still faces six class action suits – four in Michigan, one in Washington and one in Florida – as well as individual cases against the gallery and its principals, with other cases on the way.

 

It is apparent that Park West Gallery has for some time been under investigation for criminal activities by several separate Federal agencies, including the US Postal Inspection Services (for mail fraud), the FBI, the IRS and Customs and Border Protection. Park West Gallery’s defeat in their defamation case against Fine Art Registry should open the door for these Federal agencies to move ahead and bring their investigations to a rapid conclusion. Fine Art Registry has been helping these agencies by providing all available information to them and by putting them in contact with Park West Gallery customers/victims and with ex-employees who have much inside information to impart.

 

The jury’s verdict, after a nearly six week trial in which a great deal of evidence was presented which is relevant to all the cases and investigations, will no doubt have great bearing in the other lawsuits and in the Federal investigations.

 

Also in the wake of the Michigan Federal Court case comes the decision on the part of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Park West’s largest cruise line partner, not to renew the contract with Park West Gallery which terminates shortly. Tony Faso, Associate General Counsel for RCCL, told Fine Art Registry, “We are not renewing the contract with Park West.”

 

The verdict of the Federal Court jury in Michigan has great significance for the Dalí graphics market which has been inundated by very expensive forgeries sold by Park West, many of them coming from the Albaretto family in Turin who have for years been surrounded by controversy regarding the authenticity of their Dalí collection and the prints they have placed on the market. Park West’s defeat in this lawsuit has now established in a court of law that this art is indeed inauthentic.

 

Theresa Franks, CEO of Fine Art Registry, said, “It is clear that the jury’s recent verdict in the Federal Court case in Michigan is a landmark decision which will have wide impact on the Dalí print market, the practices of cruise ship art auctions, and the future of Park West Gallery and its operating methods. This is an example of a SLAPP lawsuit which has backfired very heavily on the plaintiff and a lesson that should be learned by litigation-happy companies who feel they can silence their critics with frivolous lawsuits instead of paying attention to legitimate complaints and reforming their corrupt or criminal practices.”

[Nilo's Mom]

I bought my first serigraph on a princess cruise in March 2008. I got it on the auction for $30.00. I loved the picture it looked like a picture in the bahamas or Jamaica in a bungalow with a walkway full of flowers. I did go back at the end of the cruise to pick out a frame. The auctioneer and I discussed the price and since I'm from Canada he told me it would cost about $600.00 to frame it from Michael's. I chose the frame he suggested and received the painting by Fedex 6 weeks later took it out of the box and put it on the wall and I love it. I was concerned I might have to paint the wall to match the painting but I did not. It's a large serigraph and the colors are beautiful. It's called Ripeys path and I looked it up on the internet and I can purchase it for $2000.00. So I got a great deal. I have looked for more of her work but have not found anything to date. :) The price I paid for the painting, the framing and the shipping to Canada was $285.00 total.

[simplelife]

Nope, just go for the free champagne. :D

Exactly what I was going to say!

[WeBeCruisin']

Park West Gallery Proved by Lawsuit Loss to Be Selling Fake Dalí Prints

 

 

 

 

Sharon Day Dalí Divine Comedy print sold by Park West, signed in the block by Dalí (top signature) and bearing a supposed Dalí pencil signature (lower signature) found by defendants' experts Nicolas Descharnes and Frank Hunter to be fake and described by defendatns' handwriting expert, William Flynn, as a "crude forgery"

 

 

DETROIT, MI.- The recent loss of Park West Gallery’s defamation case against Fine Art Registry and three individuals shows that the jury in Federal Court in Eastern Michigan had no doubt that the evidence they were shown proved that Park West Gallery has been selling and continues to sell inauthentic art, including Salvador Dalí prints, using fraudulent misrepresentation at art auctions on cruise ships. And Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines have stated that they will not be renewing their contract with the disgraced gallery.

 

Park West Gallery sued Fine Art Registry and the other defendants in the case for defamation. The main point Park West attempted and failed to prove through their witnesses and experts was that the Dalí prints they sell are genuine and bear genuine signatures and that the statements by Fine Art Registry that they were not genuine were defamatory. Fine Art Registry defended the defamation claim on the basis of TRUTH. According to Fine Art Registry there was no defamation because all of the statements the web based company made were truthful. These statements included the following:

 

• That Park West Gallery had sold and is still selling fake prints or genuine prints with forged signatures to its customers, including those of Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí, many of which were sourced from the controversial Albaretto family in Turin, Italy.

 

• That Park West Gallery was guilty of criminal, fraudulent misrepresentation and other criminal activities under the guise of selling art at so-called “art auctions” on cruise ships and elsewhere.

 

The jury found that there had been NO DEFAMATION because the statements were indeed factual.

 

The experts who testified for Fine Art Registry about the Salvador Dalí prints and signatures were Nicolas Descharnes, Frank Hunter and William Flynn. Nicolas Descharnes and his father Robert Descharnes, who worked with Dalí personally for 40 years, are acknowledged to be the only experts in the world trusted by the leading art auction houses to authenticate Dalí original work. Nicolas Descharnes testified as an expert on Dalí and Dalí signatures. He said of the results of the lawsuit, "It is a great historical victory for the preservation of the art of Salvador Dalí. I'm proud of my contribution to the justice of United States which fulfilled its mission."

 

Frank Hunter, Director of the Salvador Dalí Archives in New York, who worked with Albert Field in the compilation of the well respected catalog of Dalí’s graphic works, testified as an expert on Salvador Dalí graphic works (prints) and on Salvador Dalí’s signature. After hearing the jury’s verdict in the trial he said, “The opinions expressed by Nicolas Descharnes and myself are based on a firm foundation of knowledge, first-hand experience with the works of Dalí and with Dalí personally.

 

Such opinions are considered expert opinions. Real experts cooperate with one another, and, as professionals, do not spew invectives at other experts. Someone whose opinions are based on speculation, conjecture, or guesswork is not, in anyone's opinion, an expert. Dalí authentication should be left to the authentic experts.” Frank Hunter was the only witness who testified in the court who had personally watched Salvador Dalí signing prints in series.

 

The eminent handwriting expert William Flynn, in his remarkably clear testimony which left the jury in no doubt that the so-called Dalí signatures on the prints sold by Park West which he examined were fake, described the most commonly seen signature type as “a crude forgery” and another set as “practiced forgeries.” He used science to demonstrate the basis for his opinion.

 

It is notable that Park West retained two handwriting experts in this case but neither one testified in court because they could not affirm that the signatures on the Park West prints were by the hand of Salvador Dalí and they had great respect for William Flynn and his expertise. The only expert witness on the subject of Salvador Dalí signatures who appeared in court for Park West Gallery was their own retained appraiser and self-proclaimed Dalí expert Bernard Ewell who never met Salvador Dalí and is not recognized as an expert on Dalí by anyone other than Park West and himself. His testimony was therefore very unconvincing.

 

Having lost their defamation case in Michigan, Park West Gallery still faces six class action suits – four in Michigan, one in Washington and one in Florida – as well as individual cases against the gallery and its principals, with other cases on the way.

 

It is apparent that Park West Gallery has for some time been under investigation for criminal activities by several separate Federal agencies, including the US Postal Inspection Services (for mail fraud), the FBI, the IRS and Customs and Border Protection. Park West Gallery’s defeat in their defamation case against Fine Art Registry should open the door for these Federal agencies to move ahead and bring their investigations to a rapid conclusion. Fine Art Registry has been helping these agencies by providing all available information to them and by putting them in contact with Park West Gallery customers/victims and with ex-employees who have much inside information to impart.

 

The jury’s verdict, after a nearly six week trial in which a great deal of evidence was presented which is relevant to all the cases and investigations, will no doubt have great bearing in the other lawsuits and in the Federal investigations.

 

Also in the wake of the Michigan Federal Court case comes the decision on the part of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Park West’s largest cruise line partner, not to renew the contract with Park West Gallery which terminates shortly. Tony Faso, Associate General Counsel for RCCL, told Fine Art Registry, “We are not renewing the contract with Park West.”

 

The verdict of the Federal Court jury in Michigan has great significance for the Dalí graphics market which has been inundated by very expensive forgeries sold by Park West, many of them coming from the Albaretto family in Turin who have for years been surrounded by controversy regarding the authenticity of their Dalí collection and the prints they have placed on the market. Park West’s defeat in this lawsuit has now established in a court of law that this art is indeed inauthentic.

 

Theresa Franks, CEO of Fine Art Registry, said, “It is clear that the jury’s recent verdict in the Federal Court case in Michigan is a landmark decision which will have wide impact on the Dalí print market, the practices of cruise ship art auctions, and the future of Park West Gallery and its operating methods. This is an example of a SLAPP lawsuit which has backfired very heavily on the plaintiff and a lesson that should be learned by litigation-happy companies who feel they can silence their critics with frivolous lawsuits instead of paying attention to legitimate complaints and reforming their corrupt or criminal practices.”

 

Thank you for your unattributed, extremely prejudicial and biased report. :rolleyes:

 

Here's a link to what might be what really happened:

 

http://www.parkwestgallery.com/news/park-west-gallery-class-action-lawsuit

[Pee-ah]

Thank you for your unattributed' date=' extremely prejudicial and biased report. :rolleyes:

 

Here's a link to what might be what really happened:

 

http://www.parkwestgallery.com/news/park-west-gallery-class-action-lawsuit[/quote']

 

 

Allen thank you for sharing both sides of the story! Bravo!

[dominichunter]

This artical was about Fine Art Registry (FAR) lawsuit against PW for Dali prints w/fake sigs. The link that you ref. to is for the many class action suits they have going. correct me if iam wrong.

[Pee-ah]

This artical was about Fine Art Registry (FAR) lawsuit against PW for Dali prints w/fake sigs. The link that you ref. to is for the many class action suits they have going. correct me if iam wrong.

 

 

the rest of us are wrong.... I hope that with this victory you will leave the rest of us to relish and swim in our "art"

 

what you don't get is its not the value that you place on it..but the value that we do.... its not all about the $$$

[Gablin]

I've drunk the free champagne, but never purchased the "art."

I don't buy jewelry or art while on vacation. Oops! I have to take that back! I bought a hand-painted silk necktie in Bulgaria for my son-in-law. He said he liked it, and I saw him wear it once...

 

The artists in my locality would welcome my business if I needed to put something else on my walls. I've never seen art or jewelry on a cruise ship that I needed to buy.

[cruisinsly]

Nope, too expensive and I have read on here where people have had issues.