ST. PETERSBURG
The sign out front still touts it has "over 100 fine dealers," but the Gas Plant Antique Arcade, one of the first and best known antique malls in the area, has streamlined its retail offerings.
The first floor of the four-story pink building at 1246 Central Ave. still has antiques, but they all belong to one company, Pinkee's Antiques & Collectibles. The second floor now houses Audio Retro Lounge, a vintage audio equipment dealer, and Planet Retro, a vintage toy and record retailer.
Furnish Me Vintage, which could double as the set of Mad Men, occupies 7,000 square feet on the third floor, selling mid-century furniture and accessories. Modern used furniture may soon be sold on the fourth floor.
"We still get some of the old Gas Plant customers. It's 50-50 between people who want to see all their old antiques and others who say 'Oh, this is awesome what you did with this space,' " said Jackie Williams, who owns Furnish Me Vintage with her husband, Todd Wilson. They have become a destination for people from Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Orlando and beyond looking for the clean lines of Danish and mid-century furniture, including stair-step end tables, bar cabinets, velvet sofas and egg chairs. Though the deflated housing boom has hurt the furniture business, the AMC hit about life in the advertising world of New York City in the 1960s has spurred interest in mid-century finds.
"The majority of our customers are Mad Men fans," Williams said. "I'll get messages on Facebook that say 'I saw this piece you have on Mad Men last night.' "
Luigi Defabrizio, who bought the 86-year-old Gas Plant building in 2010 for $650,000, said he wanted to be a landlord and not the manager of an antique mall overseeing dozens of dealers, so he thought it was time for a change in the building. He decided to lease each floor to one tenant.
"With (the antique mall) you have to track their inventory. You have to have your employees there to run their stuff through," said Defabrizio, who owns several other buildings on Central Avenue. "This way you eliminate all that management and you have people tracking their own inventory and their own space."
But for those shoppers who still love to browse through multiple dealers' ever-changing offerings, Antique Galleries at 450 34th St. N now houses some of the vendors who left Gas Plant. Co-owner Tom Larson, who was at Gas Plant for 15 years, bought the former Sun Bank building shortly after Gas Plant changed hands. His 16,000-square-foot store houses almost 90 dealers selling antique, shabby chic, contemporary and designer furniture along with home decor accessories.
"I don't want everybody with the same thing because then nobody will sell enough for it to be worthwhile for them. We try to make it interesting for the customers," he said. About 40 percent of his sales are to outside dealers who sell in the Carolinas, Miami, Sarasota and elsewhere.
Back at the Gas Plant, Pinkee's Antiques is a new store born of a Craigslist ad. Lisa Ragone and Kitt Fadgen of Palm Harbor were looking for a business to open. They saw a Gas Plant dealer selling a whole floor of inventory and decided to buy it and lease the first floor.
Sales have been up and down since opening May 1, but they are hopeful. Just arranging and staging the inventory and cleaning up the space has boosted sales.
"We went through three vacuum cleaners in one month," Ragone said, laughing. "People walk in here and say, 'Wow. It looks great.' '' The women are adding to the mix by buying estates and taking items on consignment.
The next floor up, Planet Retro sells everything from the original limbless Fisher Price people for $2 each to a Japanese vinyl Godzilla figure for hundreds of dollars.
"I grew up in the '70s watching Creature Feature with Dr. Paul Bearer every Saturday afternoon," said store owner Rob Sexton, who recently set up shop. "People are happy to see something in here besides tea sets and glass."
Defabrizio, who bought the Gas Plant from the Lew family, which had owned it since the 1940s, plans to put contemporary used furniture on the fourth floor. When asked if he ultimately would sell the building for other commercial or residential development along Central Avenue, Defabrizio said that's not his plan now. Ultimately he'd like to bring in lighting, rugs, fabrics, and other home decor and furnishings and make the Gas Plant somewhat of a design center.
Katherine Snow Smith can be reached at (727) 893-8785 or kssmith@tampabay.com.
Source: www.tampabay.com
Can anyone throw some light on why these costly art projects stay unlit? - Belfast Telegraph
Three separate public art installations costing almost 1m in Londonderry have malfunctioned over the past two years, it has emerged.
One of the three installations is Ireland's largest public art project and is still not working a year after it was launched. The 800,000 Mute Meadow project is one of a trio of major public art pieces involving illuminations along the banks of the River Foyle which are no longer operational. Questions are being asked about why the public has been literally left in the dark over what is going on with the projects.
Derry's regeneration company Ilex has joint responsibility with Derry City Council and the Arts Council for the Mute Meadow at Ebrington.
Ilex has confirmed the project been plagued by problems over the past year involving power fluctuations affecting software which runs the artwork.
Derry City Council meanwhile has responsibility with Sustrans for maintaining the 2005 Third Bridge project, situated on dual sites at Prehen and Foyle Road.
It was unclear yesterday how much had been spent on the artwork.
The local authority also went into partnership with the Western Health Trust for the 26,000 Gransha Beacon project which was twinned with a second light installation at Tower Museum.
Both of the latter — also installed in 2005 — were supposed to light up the night sky.
The Gransha beacon has now been broken for two years.
Ilex director of communications Mo Durkan said all three bodies involved with Mute Meadow were working together to sort out the issues.
Ilex said they could not give a date for when the project will be fully functioning but said they hoped to have it up and running “way before 2013” and Derry’s City of Culture year.
A spokeswoman for Derry City Council meanwhile said that they and the Western Trust have been trying to address the issues at Gransha and the Tower Museum since April and hope to have the installations fully reinstated by 2013.
She also confirmed that work was being done to fix the Third Bridge project, funded by the Department Culture Arts and Leisure, by the end of this week.
Mute meadows
Mute Meadows was to be a defining literal and metaphorical stake in the ground showing Derry as a world-class city.
The mammoth lighting project was launched amid much fanfare a year ago during the Peace Bridge opening celebrations. Within days, however, the lights had gone out.
Its 40 pairs of steel columns slope down from the former parade ground at Ebrington to the banks of the River Foyle.
The 800,000 artwork’s columns range in height from six to 10 metres and are supposed to light up in colours based on the stained glass windows at the Guildhall. It was created by Turner Prize nominee Vong Phaophanit and Claire Oboussier.
The third bridge
Artist Noah Rose developed the artwork along a new cycle and pathway route stretching from Prehen on the east bank of the Foyle across the Craigavon Bridge and over to the Foyle Road area in the west.
The art work is in two halves sited on opposite river banks. Two viewing structures made from a 120-year-old disused railway foot-bridge are symbolically cut in half.
At night the empty span is connected by a laser light of virtual colours, a virtual bridge to symbolise the uniting of divided halves. The project, installed in 2005, was supported by Derry County Council, Arts Council Northern Ireland, National Lottery Award, Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (Creativity Seed Fund), and Education for Mutual Understanding.
The gransha light beacon
The Gransha Light Beacon was installed in the grounds of Gransha overlooking the River Foyle at the end of October 2005.
It was meant to symbolically link the two sides of the city.
The project was twinned with another light installation on the roof of the Tower Museum in the city centre. A pathway bordered by plants and shrubs was meant to guide visitors to the beacon at Gransha.
Source: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Museum Quality Tiffany Antique American Sterling Silver Soup Tureens - 30% off! - PRLog (free press release)
See them both at:
http://www.nelsonandnelsonantiques.com/
A beautiful Pair of Antique American Sterling Silver Soup Tureens decorated with a carved band of ornate Repousse flowers encircling the body each tureen.
The tureens sit on raised pedestals that also feature applied Repousse blooms and the two handles are deeply carved with heavy scroll motifs and small swan heads. Also, each cover boosts a handle that is decorated with the identical Repousse blooms that are found on the pedestal bases. Made by Tiffany & Co. Makers, New York, New York, circa 1885.
Fully hallmarked, 105 Troy Ounces Total. Very Heavy Weight.
No cost to discuss the timeless value of collecting antique sterling silver. We have these and other fine and affordable pieces for the novice collector as well as the experienced. We have been in business for over thirty five years and are here to be your guide in the rewarding world of antique silver and antique jewelry.
We are also actively seeking collectors who would like to sell antique jewelry by Van Cleef and Arpels, Tiffany, Heyman, or sell their antique silver. We buy Tiffany, Gorham, Jensen, and all fine antique silver.
At Nelson & Nelson we strive to maintain the most interesting pieces of sterling silver from the 19th century thru the mid part of the 20th century. All of our items have been carefully hand cleaned and polished by the same silversmith for over 30 years. All items purchases on the web site have a full guarantee as to authenticity and age. If you receive an item and are not satisfied for any reason simply return for a full refund on your credit card. If you have any questions please contact me personally by phone or email. Steve Nelson
Our website is at:
http://www.nelsonandnelsonantiques.com/
Source: www.prlog.org
Art attack’ transforms a rundown subway walk (From The Bolton News) - The Bolton News
‘Art attack’ transforms a rundown subway walk
10:15am Saturday 16th June 2012 in Local
MUMS, kids and volunteers launched an art attack in a run-down subway.
About 20 pupils from Kearsley Academy joined forces with three artists to cover the walls of the dis- mal subway under the Kearsley roundabout with a colourful mural for the community to enjoy.
Plans to spruce up the area began in February when a group of mums got fed up of walking past the graffiti-covered walls everyday on the school run.
Together the six women formed the Kearsley and Farnworth Vision Group and started the sub- way project with Kearsley Acade- my.
Sharon Tonge, chairman of the group, said: “Everyone has loved doing it and we’ve had so many people comment on how much bet- ter it looks now.
“It’s more brilliant than I could have imagined.
“The kids have absolutely loved painting it with the artists, and the girls from Asda who came down to help for the day were great, too.”
Sharon, aged 41, hopes to tackle the roundabout’s second walkway with primary school pupils from Kearsley West and Spindle Point for their next project. Pupils from Kearsley Academy’s school coun- cil worked in teams to brainstorm ideas for the mural before finalis- ing their choice of designs last week.
The artwork focused on giving out “positive and inspiring” mes- sages to the community who use the subway.
Offenders from the community payback scheme also helped clean up the walkway, working for 35 hours to scrub off the anti-vandal paint.
Dave Bowyer, who manages the community payback teams for the Greater Manchester Probation Trust (GMPT), said: “I am delight- ed that teams of offenders rigor- ously supervised by GMPT have completed this project and have, in a very real way, paid back to the community against which they offended.”
Tracy Fenton and her team of artists from Bolton’s ArtFantastic organisation outlined the artwork before the pupils set to work with their paintbrushes.
Tracy said:”It’s a piece of public artwork and the feedback has been absolutely overwhelming.
“People have said that the posi- tive message and colours of the mural makes them feel safer when they’re walking through the sub- way.”
Source: www.theboltonnews.co.uk
Tiffany American Silver Masterpiece Finally For Sale at Nelson and Nelson Antiques at 30% Discount - PRLog (free press release)
For instance, this impressive Tiffany and Co. Antique American Sterling Silver Vase designed in the figural Clover Pattern and features a beautiful “lapover” border of clovers clusters, a repousse motif of clover buds and three leaf clovers around the body of the vase and an applied border of clover buds and three leaf clovers encircling the base the vase.
More pictures at:
http://www.nelsonandnelsonantiques.com/
Made by Tiffany & Co. Makers, New York, New York, circa 1902. Fully Hallmarked. 50 Troy Ounces.
There is simply no cost to discuss the timeless value of collecting antique sterling silver. We have these and other fine and affordable pieces for the novice collector as well as the experienced. We have been in business for over thirty five years and are here to be your guide in the rewarding world of antique silver and antique jewelry.
We are also actively seeking collectors who would like to sell antique jewelry by Van Cleef and Arpels, Tiffany, Heyman, or sell their antique silver. We buy Tiffany, Gorham, Jensen, and all fine antique silver.
At Nelson & Nelson we strive to maintain the most interesting pieces of sterling silver from the 19th century thru the mid part of the 20th century. All of our items have been carefully hand cleaned and polished by the same silversmith for over 30 years. All items purchases on the web site have a full guarantee as to authenticity and age. If you receive an item and are not satisfied for any reason simply return for a full refund on your credit card. If you have any questions please contact me personally by phone or email. Steve Nelson
Thank you,
www.nelsonandnelsonantiques.com
Source: www.prlog.org
Charles Fazzino’s 3D Pop Art Gallery Becomes Virtual Pop Art; Exhibbit with High Resolution Pictures and Art Images - PR.com
Virtual 3D Pop Art Gallery Online
New Rochelle, NYMuseum Editions, Ltd. announces the addition of an exciting, new, virtual 3D gallery to Charles Fazzino’s 3D pop art website. Developed by New Zealand firm EXHIBBIT, the online art gallery revolutionizes the way three-dimensional artwork is displayed on the internet by utilizing an intuitive interface that creates an exhibition experience much closer to reality than anything else online.
Online Art Gallery Shows off High Resolution Pictures of Fazzino’s Pop Art
“We are happy with the result and excited to see Charles’ clients enjoy the ability to float above the layers of his artwork and immerse themselves in the intricate and wonderful world of Charles Fazzino,” said Amanda Lane of Exhibbit. “Our team spent many months refining a special room and a user interface designed to showcase single artworks. It was user tested with PHD students at the University of Auckland and several iterations were produced before we finalized our single user interface. The real challenge with Charles’ 3d pop art work is to provide enough space to showcase the large artworks in a gallery setting and also provide for the extreme close up viewing that his very detailed artwork demands.”
The 3D gallery showcases Charles’ work with high resolution pictures and a navigation system that allows the viewer to zoom up really close to see the incredible detail in Charles’ three dimensional artworks.
“I am so excited about my new virtual 3D art gallery! It’s so hard to show people what 3D pop art really is unless they see it in person. Now my fans and collectors can click on a piece of 3dart art, zoom in, zoom out, tilt and turn, and get a close-up view of my work as if they’re in a gallery instead of online. It’s an amazing feat of technology,” said Charles Fazzino from his New Rochelle Studio.
See the new Virtual 3D Gallery and the entire Fazzino collection at www.Fazzino.com.
About Charles Fazzino
Charles Fazzino -- one of the most popular artists in the world -- is most well-known for his unique, detailed, and vibrant three-dimensional style. His work is exhibited in hundreds of fine art galleries and museums in twenty different countries. He is an officially licensed artist of the National Football League and the Super Bowl (2000-present), Major League Baseball and the MLB All-Star Game (2003-present), and the US Olympic Team (2000-present). He has also recently created official artwork for high profile events, including: the 2011 Centennial Celebration for the City of Fort Lauderdale, the President's Challenge for President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, NASCAR Sprint Cup series, NHL All-Star Game, Belmont Stakes, Daytona 500, Indy 500, Andy Roddick Charity Gala, U.S. Tennis Foundation, CMA Awards, Grammy Awards, Daytime Emmy Awards, NBC’s “Today” Summer Concert Series, Rosie O’Donnell’s For All Kids Foundation and the President William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation, among many others.
About Exhibbit
Exhibbit can create an exact 3D replica of any gallery for curatorial purposes, online exhibitions and to allow the contents of stock rooms to be shared with the public. Exhibitions appear on your website, and can contain your own gallery branding. 3D gaming technology is used as a basis for this platform, but the experience is not at all like a video game. The presentation is elegant and the environments have the ambiance of a real art gallery. There are three different galleries on the website to choose from and includes software for you to create and self-manage your own exhibitions. They are shared via the web, email or social media.
Media Contacts:
For Exhibbit: Amanda Lane, amanda@exhibbit.com, +64 9 379 4346
For Charles Fazzino: Julie Maner, Museum Editions, Ltd., Jmaner@fazzino.com, 914-654-9370
Source: www.pr.com
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