Dissolution by Pamela Sukhum

Lately Pamela is excited to unveil & release her new series of original paintings titled “Bamboo Amongst Oaks.” These highly vibrant and detailed pieces are very textural, with several impasto layers creating depth and luminosity. There are pieces of varying sizes & palettes in this series. Many of them have already been placed with collectors.

Bamboo Amongst Oaks 25 - original by Pamela Sukhum

Pamela shared with us her inspiration for these wonderful new works:

“These pieces are about finding a sense of home and belonging. Growing up in a small Midwest town as one of the only non-white students, I often felt as if I didn’t fit in with the others…..like a Bamboo Amongst Oaks. As the years went on, I left the confines of my small town and began to explore the world. In my travels I came across many different people, ideologies, and customs, and I began to realize that nearly everyone, regardless of race, origin, or background experiences this same longing for a sense of home and belonging in their lives. It is this shared experience that connects us all.

I believe we can come to love and appreciate all the differences that make each of us truly unique “that make each of us stand and grow towards the light” like a Bamboo Amongst Oaks.”

New Bamboo Amongst Oaks
Limited Edition Released

The series is well received and in order to share more of her works with everyone, Pamela has released two limited editions with hand-embellishment.

Bamboo Amongst Oaks 3 limited edition Hand-Embellished Print on Canvas, Image Size: 36" x 24"

Bamboo Amongst Oaks 7 limited edition Hand-Embellished Print on Canvas, Image Size: 36" x 48"

These are printed on canvas and only in small edition sizes.  This is a great way to start collecting Pamela’s work since the prices are very affordable as well.

We have these beautiful originals at the gallery:

Bamboo Amongst Oaks 27, original on canvas by Pamela Sukhum

and

Filial Expansion, original by Pamela Sukhum

We hope you enjoy Pamela’s work.  There are still a few original paintings in this series available, contact the gallery for more information.

Fine Art Collecting – A New Form of Investment?

Fine art, continues to be a favorite son of today’s investment market and it is becoming more main stream than ever.  I was a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and a Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA) in the private sector.  My company managed over 100 million dollars on a cash basis in the financial market for hundreds of clients.  The first thing that we always tell our clients is “past performance is not Indicative of future results”.   Yes, historically investment in fine art has yield better returns than the financial market and yes we see that potential continue to exist.  However, nothing is fool proof, anyone who tells you that there is no risk associated with purchasing fine art as an investment, frankly, does not have your best interests in mind.

As with any investment, there are always risks involved, be that of depreciation of assets or liquidity of the market.  What defines a good investment is one that has reasonable “calculated risk” with good upside potential.  For a short term investment you are also looking at good liquidity, meaning, how easy it is to get out of your investment position.  But a “suitable” investment for one client is not necessarily suitable for another.  During the time that I was a money manager, it was not uncommon that we would turn down a client who was willing to pay for our service. This occurred when we felt the investment profile did not match our client’s risk profile and needs or, that the risk exposure was outside of their means (which I will address later).

Jack Storms Cut Glass Art Sculptures has high value at beginning prices that are very affordable.

We can all see that fine art has traditionally out-performed the S&P 500 as a long term investment and many auction houses continue to make record sales.  However, fine art investing is not typically appropriate for the short term. When compared to traditional investment vehicles such as stocks, options, mutual funds, and commodity and futures market, it is definitely not as liquid.  This is true because the masses have not yet realized collecting art is lucrative.

This incredible black and white fine art photograph by Phil Borges has doubled in price since it was sold out...

With these things said, is fine art a good investment?  Yes.  It has out-performed the financial market historically and we have seen the trend of its continuing appreciation.  An original work of fine art is not something that can be duplicated.  Therefore, there is a value associated with that.  This is particularly true when the artist is being recognized collectively by a broad audience.

Fine Art is the only investment vehicle that I know of that can, through aesthetics changes people’s life, increase the quality of life and even improve productivity.  Many companies have found that by providing their employee with a harmonious and beautifully inspired environment, the productivity of the employees go way up and, if the investment is smart, the value of their art collection also goes up.  Sometimes the art collection in a company is worth more than the value of the company as a business.  It’s kind of like a restaurant’s wine collection is worth many times the value of just the business.  Did you know that the world renowned San Diego Wild Animal Park’s botanical asset is actually worth more than the value of the animal collection that they had?  Further, there are more fine art works in corporate collections than private collections.  Many companies use it as a means to diversify their investment portfolio. If you have a business, consult your accountant about the possibility of writing off or depreciating the cost of the purchase as well for additional tax benefit.  There may also be other tax benefits to owning and investing in art.

Serge Marshennikov's Original Female Oil Portraits have been sold through important art auctions, including famous Christie’s of London and Bonham's in Knightsbridge. His work is in much demand and his prices are constantly rising.

Does fine art investment have risk associated with it?  Absolutely.  You can experience depreciation at times especially if you are trying to sell it quickly. There are a number of factors that come into play, and understanding those component factors are key to success.

Is fine art a suitable investment for me?  Well, this depends on many factors: 1. What is the source of funds that you are using to make this investment?  2. What is your investment time frame? 3.  How liquid are your other assets? 4. Would it devastate you financially if you are not able to liquidate your position?  These factors are actually all inter-related.

Fine art investment is a intermediate to long term investment so please do not use money that you need to pay your bills to make an investment.  Also, in order to liquidate your position (sell your artwork), you would likely go to an auction house or the original dealer, and sometimes even through private sales.  It can sometimes it can take months or even longer to sell the work.   If any of these things would put you at great risk, then it is probably not for you.

So if you are ready to include some fine art in your life to increase the quality of your life and to enjoy the potential benefit of the appreciation, don’t forget to contact your art consultant so that they can guide you through the process of establish your collection that is best suited for your needs and style, be it glass art, original paintings, whether contemporary or traditional, or even sculptures.  We have seen quite a few artists whose works have appreciated consistently over the last few years, if you love art, why shouldn’t you benefit from the appreciation?

Contemporary Chinese artist Hu Jundi's paintings have also been successfully auctioned in China.

Roket by Phil Borges. Roket was guarding the only well in the area to make sure no one took more than their share of water. He had just completed his circumcision ceremony and been initiated as a moran (warrior). The beadwork was handed down to him from an older moran who was getting married. I was told that if the initiate makes any sound or even slightly moves during the circumcision, he will be considered an outcast. In the past, he would be killed on the spot. Samburu Tribe

For anyone who has ever seen Phil’s art works, you know that each and every shot he does captures an amazing essence and energy from its subject.  I am not just saying this either.  In the gallery, there are more man ours spend gazing at the works on his wall than any other wall in the gallery.  Some people will stand there and marvel at the works for hours (and we have only a handful of the amazing shots from his complete collection.

It is rare for me to see a person come through the gallery that is not drawn to his art work in a profound and personal way; his work touches you. As I got to know Phil better, I realized the magic he draws from his subjects is really a part of the way he is personally able to break through any kind of barriers with anyone. This is true regardless of language (or other) barriers that might exist.  A deep compassion bubbles up from him that is felt right off.

Asgeli by Phil Borges. As a leader of the circumcision ceremony, Asgeli had performed hundreds of female circumcisions. Now, like others in the village, she is supportive of the change in custom that Abay had advocated. She said, “We did the circumcisions because that is what had always been done.We were in the dark house and did not know.”

The modern black and white photography landscape has been shaped largely by the greats early in the last century who used large format view cameras to capture their amazing images of the American West.  Phil Borges uses a variety of cameras, but most commonly he uses a 2.25 inch format camera such as the Hasselblad.

Phil Borges area of focus is modern black and white portrait photography. Up until very recently, he has been very purist about using only film and special Kodak papers.  However, as the availability of these materials has diminished to the point he can no longer reliably get them, he has been forced to start doing some of his work in black and white digital photography.

Rufo by Phil Borges. I first noticed Rufo as she was walking to school with her sister. The elegant wardrobe that she had created with remnants and scraps of cloth fasinated me. Like most Boran girls in southern Ethiopia, she spends her days collecting water and firewood, herding the goats and helping her mother cook. Her labor plays a vital role in her family’s survival.

Another amazing dimension of Phil Borges work his involvement in the support of indigenous cultures around the world.  In fact, Phil is an altruist, humanitarian and is devoted to spreading the message of cultural diversity.  It just so happens he uses his fine art black and white photography as his medium for spreading this message.  Phil has worked in conjunction with a number of charities such as Amnesty International, CARE and others in order to send some much needed revenues back into the areas where he has acquired his incredible black and white figure photography images.

The message of Phil’s work therefore, comes together at a variety of levels to be what it is. Whether it be the story telling, the art, a humanitarian cause and any number of other ways his message weaves together into a cohesive fine art form and cultural message.  It is very rare to meet an artist who’s work and message is so driven at so many deeply connected ways.

Palden by Phil Borges. Palden was arrested at his monastery in 1959 and spent 24 years in prison, where he was tortured frequently --actually loosing 20 teeth in one beating. He managed to flee Tibet in 1987 and came to Dharamsala. He told me “I no longer have anger for my captors. However, I feel it is my responsibility to let the outside world know what is happening in Tibet.”

There is another part of Phil Borges work that deserves mention.  On top of all the other factors, Phil’s work has tremendous value for the fine art collector.  I have personally watched his any number of his works escalate from a low level starting price of less than $1500 or so, to escalate to as high as $17,000 in value.

At the gallery, we serve more black and white photography collectors in pursuit of Phils work than any other gallery in the world. Our black and white photography website offers the full collection of Phil Borges works and our staff is the most knowledgeable in the world on his amazing black and white fine art photography.

Abi Gul's father spent eleven years fighting in the Pakistan courts to keep the Kalash valleys from being logged. For the Kalash, who have animist cosmology, trees are very sacred. Three years ago Abi Gul's father was killed by a bomb that was thrown into their little two-room home. Her uncle continued the court case and finally won the judgement. Abi Gul was very serious and quiet. Very dillegent, she stayed by my side and assisted me as I photographed her friends and relatives in her small village.

As we finished our meal and headed back to the art show at the gallery featuring Phil Borges work (in conjunction with CARE) where a huge crowd awaited him, I marveled at the stories he shared with me and the experiences he had in traveling to exotic uncharted corners of the world to meet special people of indigenous cultures around the world.

Phil Borges is a magnet personality with a huge message about where and what and who we are in the world.  His works have value that touches your heart and invests well.  But you don’t have to meet and have dinner with this precious man as I was privledged to do in order for his amazing works to touch your heart.  You can experience this heartfelt essence in every one of his black and white photograpic works of art.

Written by Rob Mitchell

In 1992, Palden Gyatso finally escaped his environment after being starved and tortured for nearly his entire adult life. When he escaped, he fled across the Himalayas to India to seek refuge. Fire Under The Snow is his story. The World Premiere film was released at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2008. It will soon be released to audiences world wide. Fire Under The Snow is also a book.

Fire Under The Snow, was first published in Great Britan in 1997 by the Harvill Press. The book has been translated into several languages.

Fire Under The Snow is neither a historical story nor a mystical one. It is simply a story of one man, faced with the inhumanity of a system perpetrated in the name of progress and ideology. It is his testimony to the suffering of the Tibetan nation during the Cultural Revolution.

The forward of Fire Under The Snow, was written by the Dalai Lama.  It reads in part:  “Palden Gyatso evokes the horrific years of the Cultural Revolution with deep compassion for others who suffered with him. It was not the threat of execution that most terrified him, but the inhumanity and cruelty he was forced to witness.”

I had the distinct honor and privledge of meeting Palden Gyatso in September 2008, during his visit to Hallmark Gallery in La Jolla, California.  Hallmark Gallery, located in the center of the Village of La Jolla, on Prospect Street, has for sale the captivating photography of Phil Borges, a world renowned photographer.

Palden Gyatso, a Buddhist monk since childhood, was arrested by the Chinese Communist Army in 1959. He spent the next 33 years in prison for the "crimes" of peaceful demonstration and refusal to denounce his apolitical teacher as an Indian spy. He was tortured, starved and sentenced to hard labor. He watched his nation and culture destroyed, his teachers, friends and family displaced, jailed or killed under Chinese occupation.

Mr. Borges worked with the Dalai Lama on a collection of photographs for his book Tibetan Portrait.  Palden Gyatso is one of the portraits found in Tibetan Portrait .  Hallmark Gallery in La Jolla, also has the photograph of Palden Gyatso for sale, it hangs on our Phil Borges wall.

Palden, black and white fine art photography by photographer Phil Borges

One day, a client of Hallmark Gallery, La Jolla, happened to recognize the black and white photograph taken by Phil Borges, hanging on the wall of the gallery.  He told me, ”hey, that’s Palden Gyatso, he’s a friend of mine”.

That’s how I found out about Fire Under The Snow, the book, and Fire Under The Sun, the film released by the Tribeca Film Festival.  That’s also how I came to meet Palden Gyatso.  Hallmark Gallery’s client told me that next time Palden Gyatso comes to La Jolla, he’ll bring him by Hallmark Gallery for a visit.  And so he did.  Although Palden Gyatso did not have his translator with him during his visit, this simple Tibetan Monk whose smile lights up a room, was able to communicate simply by his presence. There was a lot of sign language and gestures, but little verbal interaction since we did not speak the other’s language.

Wow. What a terrific experience. Thanks to Rob Mitchell, Hallmark Gallery’s owner, for his generosity and being the awesome person he is, and also for being present for Palden Gyatso’s gallery visit.

As I watched the guests arrive, I couldn’t help thinking how lucky I am to live and work in one of the most beautiful cities in the United States.  La Jolla is a “Jewel” in San Diego county.

But this post is not about San Diego, nor is it about La Jolla, California.  It’s about a quiet unassuming gentleman, the artist, William Debilzan. The June show was my first opportunity to meet Mr. DeBilzan, or rather “Bill” (he prefers Bill to Mr. DeBilzan).  I was thrilled. It was sort of like meeting a Rock Star for me. From the day I began as a consultant for Hallmark Gallery, William DeBilzan’s paintings just captivated me.  Perhaps it is for this reason so many people have approached me to learn more about Bill’s paintings and to purchase it.

Reason Why - original mixed media by William DeBilzan

I was immediately taken by his bold colors and the anonymous figures he paints which seem to speak through their posture as clearly as if through an audible voice. William DeBilzan uses a variety of recycled material which he incorporates onto his multimedia canvas. The simplicity of his composition is made complex by texture and the color palette he uses so perfectly.  His work is bold and challenging but with a playful nature.  The wood frames he custom makes for each individual piece are typically as interesting as his paintings.

Inclined To Do So - original mixed media by William DeBilzan

William DeBilzan’s paintings have been featured in Film and Television.  “Frasier”; “Just Shoot Me”; “Spin City”; “L.A. Doctors”; and, “Housewives of Orange County” are some shows where one can find his paintings. His paintings also liven the walls of quite a few of La Jolla’s most prized designer homes.

William DeBilzan was also commissioned by the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra to create a huge visual interpretation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Concertos to accompany the symphony’s performance of this classic.

I invite everybody to visit us in La Jolla and stop by Hallmark Gallery to check out William’s DeBilzan’s newest paintings.  If you are not in the area, then stop by the website to experience Bill’s work on your own, of give us a call to find a piece that is perfect for you.  Art continues to be an excellent investment in these tumultuous financial times.

Christine Molina is Hallmark Gallery’s #1 art consultant.