The Art Elevator – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode we speak with returning guest Tanzy Ward, who is a scholar, book author, educator, antique jewelry dealer, & historic preservationist. Her book publications include Hidden Legacies: African Presence in European Antiques and Unsung Portraits: Anonymous Images of Black Victorians and Early 20th Century Ancestors. Her second historical non-fiction book Unsung Portraits was selected as a 2022 Contingent Book List Award for Historian Authors. 

Tanzy's passion for Black material culture and heirlooms has presented her with the opportunity to be featured in critically acclaimed exhibits, including Yale University's 2022 show Allegories, Renditions, & A Small Nation of Women. 

Tanzy's connoisseurship training includes the Asheford Institute of Antiques and she is a proud member of the Asheford Associate Membership Program & The American Society of Jewelry Historians. Her expertise and scholarship have been featured in various decorative arts and jewelry publications, including National Jeweler. 

In this episode we discuss:

-       The inspiration and process of writing her second book

-       Tanzy's scholarship, and how she actively engages with artifacts of self-representation in portraits, in fashion, and in jewelry to illuminate and give voice back to individuals who haven't always been included in historical scholarship

-       Tanzy's philosophy about being a conduit to steward the perspectives of "unnamed ancestors" as she describes them in her book

-       How she utilizes modern platforms like Instagram for positive educational impact, creating beautiful content that also shares hidden stories

-       How Tanzy's work has expanded into new historical eras such as Mid Century Modern with her "Modern Black Glamour" themed posts

Links mentioned in the interview:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanzyward_antiques/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanzyward/

Books:  https://zanathiajewelry.com/collections/tanzy-ward-books

Zanathia Jewelry:  https://zanathiajewelry.com/

Tanzy's first episode on The Art Elevator Podcast: https://www.larissawild.com/podcasts/the-art-elevator/episodes/2147617546

In this episode of The Art Elevator Podcast, Sarah Reeder and Larissa Wild speak with Vanessa and Alexander Wendl of Toad Atelier on their exhibition at Larissa Wild Fine Art: Selections from the Toad Atelier Collection. This show will feature 35 rare artifacts from their collection of over 3,000 objects that highlight the history and impact of mid-century modern design.

Through this discussion, Vanessa and Alexander delve into their collecting journey, share their collecting philosophy which centers on three core principles: preservation, sharing, and enjoyment, and highlight how sharing their collection brings joy and fosters connections with like-minded individuals.

The episode is rich with anecdotes about specific pieces in the collection, such as the large-scale photograph of a New York scene and the Herman Miller Collections prototype catalogue. Alexander shares his profound connection to Irving Harper's work, explaining that Harper's creative process and the calming nature of his paper sculptures serve as a source of inspiration for Alexander's own artistic pursuits. The Wendls emphasize the therapeutic nature of creation and the importance of engaging with art for personal fulfillment and relaxation.

Alexander and Vanessa's story serves as an inspiring example of how passion, preservation, and creativity can come together to create a rich and fulfilling journey in the world of art and design.

Many family members of artists find themselves with a new full-time job if not a full second career when the artist in the family passes away and no concrete plans were made to deal with not only the artwork left behind but also the artist's reputation and market.

Joining me today is Kelly Juhasz, principal of Fine Art Appraisal and Services, who will talk to us about dealing with the estates of artists and the services her company provides around legacy planning for artists.

In this episode Kelly will answer questions such as:

• What do family members need to know about working with the legacy of a family member
  artist?
• What are these specific tasks that need to be done in order to build and protect the legacy and artwork of an artist?
• What practical tasks can the families of artists do to get ready or start building the artist's
  legacy?

Learn more about Kelly Juhasz and her services here:

www.fineartappraisalandservices.com 

In this episode of the Art Elevator Podcast, Larissa interviews Doug Bort on Art and Money Laundering. In this third episode of a three part series on art crime, they discuss:

- What is restitution?

- What are some scenarios and how does the process work for restitution?

- What is it like to go undercover, posing as a middleman?

Founder and Managing Partner of Odyssey Global Consulting, LLC, Doug Bort spent twenty-one years as a Special Agent with the United States Customs Service and Homeland Security Investigations. Doug is a Subject Matter Expert in the investigation of art and cultural property crimes.

During his tenure with Homeland Security Investigations, Doug represented the United States in international investigations around the world and was heavily involved in United States national policy decisions and international diplomacy. With a proven record of successfully leading complex international investigations, his work has resulted in the recovery and return of over $3 million worth of cultural property to its rightful owners.

Notably, Doug developed and operated an extremely effective undercover platform which targeted the illegal sales of cultural property, art and antiquities, including sales that funded international terrorist organizations. He was also instrumental in cultivating, developing, and conducting training for other Special Agents and law enforcement agencies, both in the United States and abroad, pertaining to the investigation of art and cultural property crimes.

Now in the private sector, Doug uses his vast knowledge and extensive experience to provide expert services to museums, private collectors, insurance companies and other individual clients.

Learn more about Doug Bort:

Odyssey Consulting

In this episode of the Art Elevator Podcast, Larissa interviews Doug Bort on Art and Money Laundering. In this first episode of a three part series on art crime, they discuss:

- What is the difference between a fake and a forgery?

- What is the process for figuring out if a painting is fake?

- Some case studies with the different motives behind each of them.

Founder and Managing Partner of Odyssey Global Consulting, LLC, Doug Bort spent twenty-one years as a Special Agent with the United States Customs Service and Homeland Security Investigations. Doug is a Subject Matter Expert in the investigation of art and cultural property crimes.

During his tenure with Homeland Security Investigations, Doug represented the United States in international investigations around the world and was heavily involved in United States national policy decisions and international diplomacy. With a proven record of successfully leading complex international investigations, his work has resulted in the recovery and return of over $3 million worth of cultural property to its rightful owners.

Notably, Doug developed and operated an extremely effective undercover platform which targeted the illegal sales of cultural property, art and antiquities, including sales that funded international terrorist organizations. He was also instrumental in cultivating, developing, and conducting training for other Special Agents and law enforcement agencies, both in the United States and abroad, pertaining to the investigation of art and cultural property crimes.

Now in the private sector, Doug uses his vast knowledge and extensive experience to provide expert services to museums, private collectors, insurance companies and other individual clients.

Learn more about Doug Bort:

Odyssey Consulting

In this episode of the Art Elevator Podcast, Larissa interviews Doug Bort on Art and Money Laundering. In this first episode of a three part series on art crime, they discuss:

- What money laundering is

- How art is used in money laundering

- Some case studies and surprising statistics on art and money laundering

Founder and Managing Partner of Odyssey Global Consulting, LLC, Doug Bort spent twenty-one years as a Special Agent with the United States Customs Service and Homeland Security Investigations. Doug is a Subject Matter Expert in the investigation of art and cultural property crimes.

During his tenure with Homeland Security Investigations, Doug represented the United States in international investigations around the world and was heavily involved in United States national policy decisions and international diplomacy. With a proven record of successfully leading complex international investigations, his work has resulted in the recovery and return of over $3 million worth of cultural property to its rightful owners.

Notably, Doug developed and operated an extremely effective undercover platform which targeted the illegal sales of cultural property, art and antiquities, including sales that funded international terrorist organizations. He was also instrumental in cultivating, developing, and conducting training for other Special Agents and law enforcement agencies, both in the United States and abroad, pertaining to the investigation of art and cultural property crimes.

Now in the private sector, Doug uses his vast knowledge and extensive experience to provide expert services to museums, private collectors, insurance companies and other individual clients.

Heather Bhandari (she/her) is the Co-Founder of Art World Learning (AWL): a subscription-based, online education platform to help those in the creative sector thrive by making intelligent business and financial decisions. It grew from a business and financial health conference for visual artists, named Art World Conference (AWC), which debuted in NYC in April of 2019, Los Angeles in February of 2020, and online in October of 2020. She and her AWL co-founder, Dexter Wimberly, were listed in the Observer's "Arts Power 50: Changemakers Shaping the Art World in 2019."

Heather is also an independent curator; a co-founder of the project-based curatorial team and podcast, The Remix; a trustee of Art Omi (an international artist residency in Ghent, NY); and an adjunct lecturer at Brown University where she teaches professional practice to visual arts majors. The second edition of her book, ART/WORK, was published by Simon and Schuster in October of 2017. 

From 2000 to 2016 Heather was a director of Mixed Greens, a commercial gallery in Chelsea where she curated well over one hundred exhibitions while managing a roster of nearly two-dozen emerging to mid-career artists. Most recently, she was the Director of Exhibitions at Smack Mellon, a nonprofit in Brooklyn. Heather received a BA from Brown University and an MFA from Pennsylvania State University where she recently received  their College of Arts and Architecture Distinguished Alumni Award. Her career began at contemporary galleries Sonnabend and Lehmann Maupin, both in New York City.

- The reality for most artists is they need to run a business as well as create masterpieces, and often incredible artists aren't wired for the former skillset. Heather covers some of the fundamentals an artist needs to have a viable career from a business standpoint

- Learn the benefit to society at large from providing this education for artists

- While we can question the root problems that have plagued "starving" artists in making a living to survive and thrive, hear what Heather Bhandari and Dexter Wimberly are doing to turn this around and empower artists through Art World Learning

With 3D printing, virtual reality and other technologies available, sculptors have an opportunity to explore the three dimensional in a way not previously possible. Join me as I chat with Nick Ervinck on how he harnesses these technologies to create works that speak to the present and the future, though remain grounded in the lineage of sculpture through time.

As an artist I am particularly interested in the tension between nature and culture, between tradition and innovation.

I try to push the limits of digital possibilities, while maintaining respect for the (art) historical legacy.

When creating a work I investigate the possibilities between the organic and the digital, between the virtual and the physical.

I explore classical themes such as man (with a focus on the anatomy and the emergence of cyborgs), plants (especially their genetic manipulation),
masks and animals, always starting from an (art) historical background that I cut with contemporary pop and sci-fi culture.

- Nick Ervinck

For this episode I had the pleasure of discussing the connections between art and transformation with artist Miriam Vlaming, whose work explores the human experience through figurative subject matter. Join us in this exploration of how art can create pathways for us to see ourselves more clearly, from different perspectives and ultimately lead to transformation.

Ever wondered what it is exactly that an art consultant does? I know I get the question all the time. In this episode the one and only Sarah Reeder of Artifactual History Appraisals and Worthwhile Magazine interviews me to pick my brain on what it is that I do. Here are some of the key points:

• Guide you to develop your interests, style, taste and awareness of what artwork is out there
• Help you understand the larger art world and how the pieces you are interested in fit into that picture
• Guide you on how to understand price and value, and then balance your collection to embrace both passion and your financial interest.
• Understand that the most important things when selecting an art consultant are: finding a good personality fit, as well as identifying one that has the education and background to help you navigate the art world intelligently and with meaning.