During this time when we are sheltering in place, watching our favorite movies, revisiting a favorite book and spending time with our families while trying not to worry, remember that we turn to our faith and the arts to help us get through uncertain times. We turn to the artists and creatives to remind us of beauty and to give us hope when hope is flagging.
Signet Art continues operations despite the upheaval caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Like many other small businesses, we are doing our part to combat the spread of the Corona Virus by complying with all state and local directives, including social distancing, use of appropriate PPE, employing increased hygienic protocols and limiting all nonessential travel. We have operated from a home-based office since 1987, so complying with shelter-in-place order has had little impact on our daily internal business activities, with the exception of dispersing our small staff to work from their individual homes until such time as it is deemed safe to return to a common office environment.
Since the shelter-in-place order, we have been busy serving our clients, completing research on projects started prior to the stay-at-home mandate, delivering appraisal reports, brokering artwork sales, and providing pre-purchase consultations. All of this is done quite efficiently using digital technology without the need for direct personal contact.
The only thing certain is…Change
We do miss seeing and serving you in person and look forward to a day very soon when we can return to doing just that. In the aftermath of this pandemic, it is clear that some things about the way we all conduct our lives and our businesses will be changed forever. What those changes will be is not self-evident. But, certainly our appreciation for the freedoms and privileges we do enjoy will be greatly enhanced. Complacency will be replaced with gratefulness and that will be a positive change.
In the spirit of prayer and anticipation of the resolution of this crisis, I have been thinking of artwork that deals with the theme of Hope. Of course, throughout time, artists have addressed the whole spectrum of human emotion and the human condition. Visual artists have dealt with themes of conflict, adversity, social change, historical events, our various identities as human beings, progress, and our environment—whether beautiful or devastated.
There is Hope
This week I went looking for artwork that deals directly with what we most need now, HOPE. Shown here are some of our favorite pieces in that category. Kadir Nelson’s new painting, “After the Storm” is a perfect example of the theme. Nelson was just interviewed while unveiling this latest painting on last week’s CBS Sunday Morning.
Nelson is an award-winning illustrator whose work has been used in several children’s books about African American heroes and history. His latest painting reminds me of Norman Rockwell’s “Golden Rule.”
Left: Kadir Nelson, After the Storm, 2020 | Right: Norman Rockwell, Golden Rule, 1961
Like the Rockwell painting, it is a closely grouped gathering of people of various ages and ethnicities. In Rockwell’s painting, the people appear to be studying the words of the well-known axiom about treating others as we would like to be treated. In “After the Storm,” the group’s gaze is directed toward a light in the distance as storm clouds dissipate above and behind their heads. They are drawn together, looking toward a new common bright future.
Left: Edward Hicks, The Peaceable Kingdom, 1845 | Right: Robert Indiana, Hope, 2009
Some other pieces evocative of Hope are: Edward Hicks’ series called “The Peaceable Kingdom,” in which he portrays wildlife of all types peacefuly gathered in the foreground and William Penn making peace with Native people in the background; Robert Indiana’s “HOPE” sculpture, a follow-on to his “LOVE” sculpture; and Lichtenstein’s “Sunrise.” These inspirational pieces are offered here to brighten your day and inspire you to start thinking toward a brighter future that we all hope is imminent.
Roy Lichtenstein, Sunrise, 1965
What can we do to serve you now?
Now is a great time to be planning the future of your art collection. Is there a particular artist you are searching for, a particular type of piece you want to add to your collection? Call and let’s discuss the details of what you have in mind. Now is a good time to begin the search process. Have you been thinking of selling a few items? Let’s start talking about the best way to do that in order to maximize your outcome. Sales at auctions often take many months of planning to execute to your best advantage. Now is the time to be discussing things that you might want to offer in fall auctions. Of course, it’s also possible that we might be able to find a private buyer for your pieces right away.
We are also here to speak with you about your appraisal needs. We urge you to call and get on our appraisal inspection schedule now in order to avoid long delays once the “all-clear” bell will have sounded. If your need is urgent and time-sensitive, please call to discuss whether the onsite work can be done in a manner that is safe for all. We would not ever do anything that would endanger our clients’ health or our own. Most of an inspection is close-up with the objects and can be safely distant from the owners. Our white glove service is easily enhanced to nitrile gloves, a face mask and antibacterial wipes. Appointments can be conducted in an appropriately socially-distanced setting.