Park West Art Auctions

Park West has run into misrepresentation issues with their "classical" art; they will certify that they bought it from where they claim to have bought it ... but not that it is real.  Their certificate of authenticity is thus very carefully worded.  I would hesitate to buy a Monet or a Renoir for that reason.

But they have a rather large stable of "house artists" - Shan-Mary, Lee, etc - and if you like the stuff they do and can find a place in your house to hang it, why not bid a couple hundred on a piece?  It's entertaining, unless someone knocks red wine all over you.  We've got a Tarkay hanging outside the dining room, and a Shan-Mary in the living room.  The big ones.  We've got one of the free Lee prints in the upstairs hall.  Another give-away something in the office.

rwilymz:

Park West has run into misrepresentation issues with their "classical" art; they will certify that they bought it from where they claim to have bought it ... but not that it is real.  Their certificate of authenticity is thus very carefully worded.  I would hesitate to buy a Monet or a Renoir for that reason.

But they have a rather large stable of "house artists" - Shan-Mary, Lee, etc - and if you like the stuff they do and can find a place in your house to hang it, why not bid a couple hundred on a piece?  It's entertaining, unless someone knocks red wine all over you.  We've got a Tarkay hanging outside the dining room, and a Shan-Mary in the living room.  The big ones.  We've got one of the free Lee prints in the upstairs hall.  Another give-away something in the office.

On our last cruise, the Park West folks told us that Carnival will not allow them to auction off any art by "The Masters", i.e., dead people.  It would not fit in with the Fun Ship image.

We have purchased five of the Park West "house artists" for less than $900, shipped and framed.  In 20 years, I predict that they will be worth $901.  We like them; and four of them are hung in our living room and family room.  One is still looking for a home.

We purchased two Peter Max paintings and had them appraised. The appraisal was 3 times what we paid for it and having the appraisal was great for the replacement cost after a fire burned our house down. What we really liked were the seri-cells of the Beatles and Simpsons we purchased. Generally that's what we purchase and then have them framed once we get home.

Of course the champagne is a draw for us.

dyaneC:

We purchased two Peter Max paintings and had them appraised. The appraisal was 3 times what we paid for it and having the appraisal was great for the replacement cost after a fire burned our house down.

Was the Appraisal independent of Park West?

Hi Rick,

     I suppose if anyone would know the answer to this question you would. We were on the Conquest in June,  there was not an art auction on this cruise, and we were told that the Park West auction was no longer going to be part of Carnival, I thought by that statement that it was fleet wide. Every now and then someone posts how much fun they had at the auction, as if it were still going on. We did participate in a Park West auction on the Splendor in Dec. '09. Are they still having the auction on any or all of the ships or not ? 

                                                                                                                                                    Thanks Rick

                                                                                                                                                          David

Was that $900 a painting or $900 for all of them?

CRUISING DAVID:

Hi Rick,

     I suppose if anyone would know the answer to this question you would. We were on the Conquest in June,  there was not an art auction on this cruise, and we were told that the Park West auction was no longer going to be part of Carnival, I thought by that statement that it was fleet wide. Every now and then someone posts how much fun they had at the auction, as if it were still going on. We did participate in a Park West auction on the Splendor in Dec. '09. Are they still having the auction on any or all of the ships or not ? 

Park West was on the my Spirit cruise in September.  The Park West people told me they would be on my Fantasy cruise in December.  The last time I asked Mary the question, she provided a list of ships with Park West auctions.  At that time 60% of the ships had the auctions.  The Conquest was on the no auction list.  It might be time to ask Mary again; since it seems to be quite fluid. 

luci:

Was that $900 a painting or $900 for all of them?

That was $900 total, including frames and shipping, purchased at several auctions.  As you can see, they are not "investment art".  We like them.  I can see 3 of them right now where I am sitting.