Travis Simpkins

Friday, December 5, 2014

Research: Worcester Art Museum "Then and Now" by Travis Simpkins. Update #27

-In the first photo, from about 1960, the camera is facing west on the 4th floor landing at the Worcester Art Museum. Natural light illuminates the galleries through wide doorways. At left, the top of the stairwell is obscured by a small partition wall. At right, in what is now the Atrium, an open area allows for additional exhibition space. Today, the area has certainly changed, but is still recognizable. The high Atrium walls and skylight were added in 1983, the entryways were narrowed and the linoleum floor was swapped for a mix of ceramic tile and wall-to-wall carpeting.
-The second "Then and Now" composition, showing views from 1994 and at present, illustrates how little the Pre-Columbian Gallery has changed over a 20 year period. Every object is still in the same place. The only slight differences are the track lighting positions and the addition of audio tour stickers to the cases. The assortment of Pre-Columbian artifacts are amongst my favorite objects to sketch, and I have spent many inquisitive hours in this room.

-The sketch depicts the large ceramic Pre-Columbian "Seated Male Figure" circa 900-1200 A.D.

-If you look high up on the 4th floor ceiling above the main stairwell, you'll notice a large eye-hook in the center. Over the 16 years I've been at WAM, I've heard various theories about what the hook was intended for (some ideas more far-fetched than others). Recently, WAM Conservation Scientist Phil Klausmeyer suggested that it could've been used to suspend a Calder-type mobile, and asked me to look into it. He was correct. I found, through various sources, that the eye-hook was indeed placed there to suspend a piece of artwork that was here on loan many years ago... a large kinetic sculpture by George Rickey (1907-2002). The mobile once filled the empty void between the third and fourth floors.

4th Floor Galleries. Worcester Art Museum. by Travis Simpkins

Pre-Columbian Gallery. Worcester Art Museum. by Travis Simpkins

Seated Figure. Worcester Art Museum. by Travis Simpkins

Eye-hook 4th Floor. Worcester Art Museum

Thursday, December 4, 2014

"Hot Art: Chasing Thieves and Detectives Through the Secret World of Stolen Art" by Joshua Knelman

"Hot Art" by Joshua Knelman

Douglas & McIntyre Publishers. 2011

Brief Review by Travis Simpkins

In his ambitious 2011 book, Hot Art: Chasing Thieves and Detectives Through the Secret World of Stolen Art, Joshua Knelman offers new insights and projects studied focus on the illicit undercurrent of art theft… estimated to cause $4 to $6 Billion a year in losses worldwide. The tome looks at a series of passionate figures in the Art Crime field. Detective Donald Hrycyk heads the Art Theft Detail in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the only Municipal art theft unit in the United States, and took Knelman along on investigations and offered a unique look at the often-uphill battle he faces in tracking stolen works of art. Paul "Turbo" Hendry, a former Brighton "knocker" and stolen art middleman gives an insider's look and expert advice on theft: "Stay under the radar." Hendry's popular blog, Art Hostage, is noted and many entertaining tales are woven in charismatic fashion in the many pages dedicated to him. Former FBI Agent and Art Crime Team founder, Robert K. Wittman, provides his expertise in a brief interlude (Wittman had not yet retired and was quite busy at the time). Dick Ellis of Scotland Yard's Art and Antiques Squad offers his unique perspective on strategies to recover stolen art. Agencies such as the Art Loss Register and INTERPOL are prominently featured as well. Well-researched and expertly-written, Hot Art serves as an intriguing guide book to the world of Art Theft… an area that is altogether fascinating, entertaining and disturbing on a global level.