About Ben Mahmoud Expertise Questions regarding "the business of the arts (ie.artist/dealer relations).
Questions regarding the collecting of contemporary art.
Please keep in mind that I am not a professional appraiser, however, I can direct interested parties to sources of information.
Experience 40 years as professor of art, Northern Illinois University
Curator of University Art Collection (responsible for purchase and care).
Member of the board of directors, Illinois Arts Council.
Juror of many competitions.
See vitae: http://benmahmoud.com/resume.html
Publications Many conference proceedings.
"Advice to Young Artists in a Postmodern Era" with William Dunning, Syracuse University Press, 2000.
Education/Credentials MFA, Ohio University, 1960
Awards and Honors See vitae: http://http://benmahmoud.com/resume.html
Question I have a watercolor of North Lake Shore Drive by a Chicago artist named Al Hollenbeck, along with a certification by Merril Chase Galleries expounding on his many accomplishments and awards. Yet, when I try to find him on the internet, I find absolutely nothing, even on a website that claims to list over 100,000 American artists. Any suggestions ?
Answer I know the Merril Chase Galleries very well. Many years ago I was on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Arts Council. I observed that some galleries were pawning of fake prints. Some the "creators" of these works were Chagall, Miro, Dali, and Picasso. I was able to get the state legislature to pass a bill that demanded documentation. As my memory serves me, M/C Galleries were one of the galleries engaged in the practice.
So, you have a watercolor with documentation.
It quite possible that an artist gains many awards through the extensive exhibition programs in this country. It is also possible that an art-fair artist can obtain awards as well.
I have always felt that the M/C Galleries dealt in what some of the Chicago artists called "tourist art." There is a reason that M/C Galleries are not a member of the Art Dealers Association of Chicago. You might be interested in going to the web site that lists the galleries that belong to that association. Here is the link:
Today most galleries have discovered the power of the web, and most good galleries will have a web site. In such a web site you could find the artist that are associated with the gallery. It is my hunch that Al Hollanbeck is not represented by any gallery that has a web site.
Now, all of that being said, I think you would really like to know the value of the work you have. Since there are no auction records for Hollanbeck, one cannot determine the market price of his works.
Of course, a work does not have to be from the hand of a well-known artist in order to have some value. However, the value can only be determined by what you can sell the work for. There may be someone out there that really likes the work, and would pay a good price for it. But, as I said, that can only be determined after the watercolor is on the market.
If you are interested in selling the work, here is my suggestion. Make a VERY good photo of the watercolor (and you will have to remove it from the frame and glass to do so). Then you can list it on E-Bay with a reserve of what you paid for the work. The cost of doing this is very small, and you might be surprised by the result.
If you have any further questions about this matter, please do not hesitate to ask.
