My Word - Winter 2024

Understanding that the art world is under pressure from cultural, economic, and political forces, we have devoted a portion of this issue to giving you reference material to help you undertsand the impact on you or your institution. As always we strongly recommedn your subscription to culturalpropertynews.org as an important resource.

We completed ArtTrak Auction's first auction and it was a great success with both dealers and collectors participating in the bidding. In the future we will have more invitation only ArtTrak ayctions as well as timed auctions on Liveauctioneers. We continue to get calls every week from "downsizers" looking for solutions for disposition of their collections. It never is one solution and always presents as problems requiring measured and specific solutions. With what is going on in the world today this has never been more true. For that reason we will also continue working with auctions based both in the U.S. and in Europe. It is an exciting time.

It has been a quiet Spring semester for our two interns Camila Martinez and Mary Chandler who have primarily worked virtually. This will change for the summer as we gear up for our auctions and an increased workoad on appraisals. We are interviewing now for these positions.

Because of commitments in Dallas this has been my third season away from Antiques Roadshow. Thank you for all the inquiries. I hope to be back very soon and look forward to re-joining the team and all my friends.

Finally, 2024 is the 20th anniversary of the Arttrak blog. It seems fitting, considering this and the results of the Barbier sale, to assess where the tribal art market is and where it might be going. You may enjoy the comments as well as the message from my mentor, Roy Sieber.