Stealing Hoffman
It was a steal, I tell you!! Never thought I’d own real art, let alone a piece that I tried to acquire two years ago. Well, technically I own a “share” of this art. Will explain further…
My chance encounter with Michael Hoffman at the Clayton Art Fair in 2006 was brief; it pretty much ended when I asked, “So how much does your stuff go for?” Anyone in St. Louis who isn’t familiar with Hoffman might recall enjoying his beautiful tile works lining the walls of Kaldi’s Coffee on DeMun. I immediately recognized them at his booth, all but lost in a sea of Kinkade-esque fluff (rumor has it that Hoffman was 1 of only 3 local artists featured at the Fair that year).
Michael Hoffman. Cadaques (2007), in my apartment. Those of you who are Photoshop-saavy will hate me for this. I couldn’t light it at any other angle without a horrible glare; it appears to be covered in a layer of clear acrylic.
So two years pass by… cut to Sunday night. Johanna and I decided to take a walk in the hood (Mapelhood, that is) when we happened upon what sounded like a block party on Sutton. It was actually a nested little gallery space drawing a street corner crowd – among them were Bill Christman and Beatle Bob. We scoped out the artwork inside and learned that it was part of a silent auction for AIDS LifeCycle 7. Go figure. Johanna suggested we bid on the Hoffman, which immediately caught her eye. Mine too, obviously! To further the cause, we called Ben, who almost immediately pulled up in his snazzy new Mercedes, :::wink wink, Nicholas::: took one look at it and, “Sure, why not?!”
We left with the canvas Cadaques, named after a bay town in Catalonia, Spain, which the artist calls “absolutely beautiful.” Like his other pieces, I’m reminded me of Rothko for its rich concentrations of vibrant color that seem to “hover.” The idea of staining the tile and then cutting into it what appears to be grid work or some kind of symmetry-based study in geometric balance…wow! Truly amazing stuff.
Me and Johanna with the new acquisition, at the LaChance Hoffman Contemporary Gallery, via Ben’s camera phone.
In effect, we’d formed a “foundation,” and this first piece in our collection would “travel” from “gallery to gallery” each year, the 3 of us being shareholders. I suppose it’s “currently on loan” in “my gallery,” from this “strange, unnamed foundation.” If anybody has a suggestion on a name, please speak up!
Off to Carmina rehearsal [insert obligatory roasted swan joke here.]
That’s a pretty piece, pal.