Vermont Magazine Fall 2020 Fall 2020 | Page 33

investment. Unfortunately, it’s a very significant part of the art market and the art world these days. I find it distasteful. On the other hand, Christine and I have so much money invested in art that we can’t ignore the value of it. Obviously when you’re spending a lot of money on a piece of art you have to make sure that you’re not spending money foolishly. It’s impossible to completely ignore the financial aspect of it, but for me it is secondary to the artistic considerations. However, there are many collectors who consider the financial aspect to be the only thing. I won’t name any names, but I remember many years ago being introduced to a world-famous collector. He and his wife had the most amazing collection of works. His collection was remarkable, but he couldn’t wait to sit me down by his computer to show me the spreadsheet where he had every work of art listed alongside what he paid for it, and the estimate of each artwork’s current value. It seemed he was much more interested in the financial dimension than the artistic dimension. izadorable.com EILEEN BLUESTONE SHERMAN THE VIOLIN PLAYERS When hate is dismissed and bigotry ignored……. A Jewish Girl’s High School Introduction to Antisemitism Q: With all of these different factors at play in the art world, how do you see art as a whole progressing in the future, and how do you see the Hall Art Foundation progressing along with it? A: The art world was already undergoing some fairly major changes with artists, galleries, auction houses, museums, collectors, and financial speculators all now interacting in a more connected and transparent world. Now we have the Covid-19 crisis which is already having a profound impact on the art world. Globally, it’s in crisis mode. Covid-19 is going to hasten change. The art world was already having to deal with much greater transparency, with things like the internet and Instagram and online auctions changing the dynamic of the art industry. I don’t know how it’s all going to shake out, but from the perspective of the Hall Art Foundation, our mission hasn’t changed. We want to continue to create, to use a German term, a “Gesamtkunstwerk”, or a total artwork. We want our place in Germany, Schloss Derneburg, and on a much smaller scale, our property in Vermont, to not just be where people come to see interesting exhibitions and collections of art presented in a thoughtful way, but places that give people a more holistic experience, where they can see great art in an aesthetically pleasing environment. It’s not just about the art. It’s also about the architecture and the surrounding environment. As I say, the totality of the A teen romance audiobook read by the author. NOW STREAMING on all major platforms, including Audible, Chirp, Google Play, Libro.fm, Scribd, Apple Books, and dozens more. And just in time for the holidays…. PRE-ORDER THE PAPERBACK FOR DECEMBER at barnesandnoble.com VTMAG.COM FALL 2020 31