Art auction

[DGP1111]

There are no one of a kinds onboard.

 

Howard

 

This piece was shown in the gallery, and available for purchase, aboard Carnival Fascination in May. It is not an embellished work, or a variation on top of an existing litho. It is a small (approx 5"x5") work by Peter Max. I seem to recall it having a $5000 price. He has done numerous "Umbrella Man" works, and for this one every bit of acrylic was applied to a blank canvas. If purchased, PWG would take this exact work from the ship and send it to their Florida framing facility to be rematted and reframed, and then it would be shipped to the buyer. It was not like most onboard where they send you an identical (or closely identical) series copy from the gallery warehouse.

 

I considered this both unique, as well as one-of-a-kind. That's also they way PWG presented it. I guess it could be argued that since he does several of these from scratch, but all with the same theme, that they aren't officially OOAK.

For me it wouldn't actually matter, as I would have zero plans to purchase any of his pieces.

.

 

[rsinj]

And who CARES what the curator would say or do? On my last cruise there were a few people who spent about $12,000 each on some Peter Max "unique variations" and some other higher end works. They were VERY pleased with their purchases, and they obviously had the money to blow on it, so good for them.

 

"Higher end works"? What exactly does that mean? They paid more for it? The artist is more well known? By who's definition - their own? The market's? Yours? Or by PW's?

 

Hey, I personally couldn't care less what people blow their money on or if they were VERY pleased - they got duped plain and simple. I'm sure in the current economy, lots of people have $12,000 to blow for Peter Max "unique variations"...just like the Dalis sold that are so valuable. It is specifically those people who do blow $12,000 who don't know any better what they're buying which PW and the cruiselines rely on for what they're doing. Can you imagine - these people who would not spend $1000 for their entire cruise and bitch about $10/person/day on tips are dropping over $10,000 on pieces of canvas that might sell for $1000 on eBay on a good day by people who were just as drunk as them when they bid.

 

The issue is the belief (which is planted in them) that what they're buying has anywhere near the value of what they're paying for it. Tell me why PW would pull bids out of the air and bid against someone? No different than if you were bidding on eBay, and after you bid, the system automatically generated a phantom bid to top yours. And the "educational classes" that PW gives during the cruise...telling you what makes the artwork of the artists they're selling "valuable". It is all a very well orchestrated sham. Have you ever seen The Sting with Robert Redford and Paul Newman? It is no different - they are creating the atmosphere, leading you along, all to get you to make the purchase. By the time most people realize they've dropped $10,000 or more and that what they bought is nowhere near as valuable as what they paid, well it's too late. And I'll tell you, I guarantee there are many, many more that you don't hear about, because just like all people who get scammed, the majority are embarrassed to come forward and admit they were duped.

 

I'm very well aware of Peter Max "unique variations". Take a Max template, have someone paint by numbers, maybe change the colors slightly, and then he'll put a single brush stroke somehere on it. Bingo - "unique variation".

 

I spent only about $400, but I was also thrilled with the items I purchased - a few pieces for our living room, some animation art for the kids, and one piece I had wanted for a while for sentimental reasons. I couldn't have purchased a few of them anywhere else (I think I could get the animation works online, but not the others), and I'm glad I attended the auctions and bought what I did.

 

Very good for you. I know people have a difficult time reading that what they purchased doesn't have nearly the value they believe it does or who they purchased from is no better than a used car salesman, it's just human nature.

 

If a curator laughed at me for doing so, I'd kick him in the balls and laugh right back at him - because his opinion is meaningless to me, and most others who purchase art on their cruises.

 

If his opinion were meaningless to you, why would you kick him in the balls? Others professional "appraisal" of what the art is worth is obviously meaningless to you and the others. I mean who really wants to hear that what they spent $10,000 on could be purchased for a fraction of what they paid, is not original, and was given a bogus appraisal? It would be similar to you falling in love with a house, the seller providing you an appraisal 10 times what the market value is (the appraiser was the sellers brother-in-law), the bank giving you a mortgage for the appraisal price, etc. Hey, if the buyer gets so much enjoyment out of the house, and they obviously had the money to blow, why should anyone be allowed to say anything negative about it?

 

We buy it to hang it on the wall and enjoy it, and that's all that matters. Frankly, I'd much rather come home with some beautiful artwork than a diamond ring or pricey watch - THAT is something I personally find silly and trivial - but others enjoy it, and good for them if they have the money and it makes them happy.

 

Again, good for you and all the others who love the "art" that you're getting such great deals on.

 

The facts regarding the Auctions at Sea are well documented. I'm simply providing the same known info which is available many other places online. Just as the info regarding how much the $12,000 worth of Peter Max "unique variations" are really worth.

 

 

Howard

[rsinj]

They really push the Dali's as a great investment but I think they are way overpriced for what they are but that is JMHO.

 

Really? They told you they are a "great investment"? The owner of PW says that they absolutely do not make any statements regarding investment value of any of their pieces. Oh yes, but then that would be hard to prove, being that the actual fine print of the contract you sign says that any verbal statements are irrelevant.

 

Howard

[rsinj]

On the Conquest in February I spied a print of Muhammed Ali with the Beatles. My son is a HUGE Beatles fan & I thought it would be perfect for him....

Went to the Art gallery with my BFF, she'd had a glass of wine or two...

The gracious gallery host knew the print we were discussing and quickly pulled it up on her laptop...

She turned the laptop toward me...BFF couldn't see it...and said, "that print is one of series, it's seventy eight ninety five.

I politely thanked her, told her I would discuss it with my husband, and we left.

On the way out, BFF said, why didn't you snap that up, it was less than eighty dollars!

.....I had to explain there was no decimal in $7895!....:eek:

lol, I won't be visiting any more art galleries! :p

 

This Ali/Beatles thing is on every cruise and you can see it in some of those mall shops selling memorabilia.

 

Howard

[Sdallnct]

"Higher end works"? What exactly does that mean? They paid more for it? The artist is more well known? By who's definition - their own? The market's? Yours? Or by PW's?

 

Hey, I personally couldn't care less what people blow their money on or if they were VERY pleased - they got duped plain and simple. I'm sure in the current economy, lots of people have $12,000 to blow for Peter Max "unique variations"...just like the Dalis sold that are so valuable. It is specifically those people who do blow $12,000 who don't know any better what they're buying which PW and the cruiselines rely on for what they're doing. Can you imagine - these people who would not spend $1000 for their entire cruise and bitch about $10/person/day on tips are dropping over $10,000 on pieces of canvas that might sell for $1000 on eBay on a good day by people who were just as drunk as them when they bid.

 

The issue is the belief (which is planted in them) that what they're buying has anywhere near the value of what they're paying for it. Tell me why PW would pull bids out of the air and bid against someone? No different than if you were bidding on eBay, and after you bid, the system automatically generated a phantom bid to top yours. And the "educational classes" that PW gives during the cruise...telling you what makes the artwork of the artists they're selling "valuable". It is all a very well orchestrated sham. Have you ever seen The Sting with Robert Redford and Paul Newman? It is no different - they are creating the atmosphere, leading you along, all to get you to make the purchase. By the time most people realize they've dropped $10,000 or more and that what they bought is nowhere near as valuable as what they paid, well it's too late. And I'll tell you, I guarantee there are many, many more that you don't hear about, because just like all people who get scammed, the majority are embarrassed to come forward and admit they were duped.

 

I'm very well aware of Peter Max "unique variations". Take a Max template, have someone paint by numbers, maybe change the colors slightly, and then he'll put a single brush stroke somehere on it. Bingo - "unique variation".

 

 

 

Very good for you. I know people have a difficult time reading that what they purchased doesn't have nearly the value they believe it does or who they purchased from is no better than a used car salesman, it's just human nature.

 

 

 

If his opinion were meaningless to you, why would you kick him in the balls? Others professional "appraisal" of what the art is worth is obviously meaningless to you and the others. I mean who really wants to hear that what they spent $10,000 on could be purchased for a fraction of what they paid, is not original, and was given a bogus appraisal? It would be similar to you falling in love with a house, the seller providing you an appraisal 10 times what the market value is (the appraiser was the sellers brother-in-law), the bank giving you a mortgage for the appraisal price, etc. Hey, if the buyer gets so much enjoyment out of the house, and they obviously had the money to blow, why should anyone be allowed to say anything negative about it?

 

 

 

Again, good for you and all the others who love the "art" that you're getting such great deals on.

 

The facts regarding the Auctions at Sea are well documented. I'm simply providing the same known info which is available many other places online. Just as the info regarding how much the $12,000 worth of Peter Max "unique variations" are really worth.

 

 

Howard

 

But you seem to think this is unique. It is not.

 

CC lines "creates the environment" that you will have the time of your life. Some do, some do not.

 

CC lines takes a zillion pictures of you during your trip and "creates the environment" that your cruise will not be complete without you buying a bunch of them!

 

CC lines has entire hour+ long meeting on "shopping in port". CC has "shopping" promises and guarantees , that "create the environment" to get you to get into port and shop. They even have the cruise director show up at shops and have the shops provide you "free" stuff just by showing your CC card!

 

CC lines temps you with bingo, casino and several other things. They "create the environment" to get you to buy, buy, buy.

 

CC lines charges you double for a shore excursion that you could book on your own with the "promise" of everything being taken care of. They "create the environment" that you must purchase from them or not only will you not have a good time, but you might miss the ship!!!

 

All these areas by CC "plant" things in your mind to get you to buy.

 

I'm not defending PWG. Not at all. But it is no difference than anything else. People should educate them self for ANY purchase. Any at all. I'm sure people have gotten great deals by buying Rolex on the islands. Or a large diamond. Maybe they did their research and "it was a great deal" by any definition. But I would never do that. I go on vacation to relax and have fun. Not to make large purchases.

 

However, I also don't accuse people who do as being "ripped off". As many have said they have bought things from PWG that they are happy with. If they are happy with them, then it is not a rip off TO THEM. You may feel it is and good for. I know people who think it is a rip off to spend $400 on a 7 day cruise! Or think cruises are a rip off in general.

[Rowan555]

This Ali/Beatles thing is on every cruise and you can see it in some of those mall shops selling memorabilia.

 

Howard

 

I have seen this photograph on the auction block before, and it was nowhere near $7900. I am very curious about the item the person who posted actually was looking at.

[stitched]

On the Conquest in February I spied a print of Muhammed Ali with the Beatles.

 

I was on the Conquest last February too, I remember seeing that piece displayed in the atrium and just scratching my head, thinking "*****". :confused:

 

I did go to that auction just to see the Dali animated Disney film. That was cool. Did not get any free drinks or prints. That would have been cooler. Not sure if I arrived a few minutes late or left too early? I left right after the film, since I didn't want to bid.

[jayesouthworth]

Seriously, why would anyone go on a cruise, go on vacation and buy "investment art"? What would possess a person to do such a thing? Do these people go to Wal-mart to get investment grade diamonds after they pick up some diapers and tomatoes?

 

It simply makes no sense to me. Your on vacation!

 

B I N G O!!!! Best response yet.

[Islandbear]

I went on a cruise, got drunk, and bought ART!

 

LOL :D