In Memory Of Bearden; Corporate Art Buying
Thursday, March 17, 1988 - THE CHARLOTTE POST - Page 5A
Romare Bearden was the
great-grandson of slaves. Bom
In Charlotte In 1912, he spent
his adult life in New York, Paris
and other foreign climes. Until
his death last Saturday morning
In New York Hospltcd, he was
considered by most art critics to
be "America's greatest living
black artist." Richard Maschal,
Art Eldltor at The Charlotte Ob
server, called Bearden "the most
renowned black artist to emerge
In America In the last half of the
20th century."
Bearden went a long way by a
hard road from his birthplace at
Graham and 2nd streets. He
worked 30 years In social work,
making his hauntlngly beautiful
collages by night, before recog
nition in the art world came his
way. But he was a pure product
of black America—he never gave
up. That is also part of his lega
cy.
1 met Romare Bearden twice.
The first time was in 1975, right
after 1 came home from Viet
nam. New Times magazine as
signed me to cover the opening
of a Bearden exhibit In Dallas.
Someone had told him that 1
had been a POW while in the
Army. He gave me a hug and
said he loved us—the G.l.s who
had served In Vietnam. That
meant a lot.
The second time 1 met Beard
en was when Charlotte's Mint
Museum did a major retrospec
tive of his work In 1980. Nearly
70 by then, the old man remem
bered me from the Dallas show
five years before. 1 was deeply
touched by that. But that's how
he was. A great spirit as well as
great artist.
This column, on corporate art
buying and Investment, Is dedi-
Murphy
Murphy Named
As Wachovia
Assistant V.P.
Special To The Post
Tommie A. Murphy has been
promoted to assistant vice presi
dent of Wachovia Bank and
Trust Company In Charlotte,
announcement of this promo
tion was made by Harold G.
Hoak, regional vice president.
Murphy joined Wachovia in
1977 in the Asheville Opera
tions Center. He has served as
manager of day transit/proof
operations and currently serves
as manager of data preparation
in the Retail Lockbox Depart
ment in Charlotte.
A native of Asheville, Murphy
earned a business degree from
the University of North Caroli
na at Charlotte. He has done vol
unteer work for many organiza
tions namely: The Charlotte
Chamber of Commerce, the
United Way, Junior Achieve
ment and the Arts and Science
Council. Murphy also serves as
an assistant pastor In his
church. Cannon Cathedral,
Church of God In Christ. Mur
phy and his wife Doris have two
daughters, Trevlra and Erlcka.
TAXPAYERS
with dependents
HERE’S A TAX TIP:
Beginning with your 1987 income
tax return that you will file in
1988, you generally must list social
security numbers for dependents
who are at least five years old by
the end ot 1987. If any of your
dependents do not have this
number, get an application form
today from the Social Security
office in vour area.
A Public Service of the IRS
cated to the memory of Romare
Bearden. His work, now that he
Is gone, will certainly become
considerably more valuable.
This column Is also a plea to our
affluent black business struc
ture. Some company, or person,
should buy a Bearden work and
donate It to our Afro-American
Cultural Center as a memorial.
Think It over.
The corporate art market Is
called "the art nobody knows" by
many tn the arts and in everyday
life. There is a biUlon-dollar cor
porate enterprise In art acquisi
tions going on right now. Draw
ings, graphics, paintings,
sculpture—^1 make up this vast
"art exchange" in business.
If you own a company that
wants to get involved In corpo
rate art bujdng, this next advice
Main
Street
by Jimmy Brock j
Romare Bearden
1912-1988
Is for you. Essentially, there are
three things of primary impor
tance you should Investigate be
fore taking the plunge. Tills also
applies to those who work for a
company—but would like to talk
art with their bosses.
First, learn the Prime Rule of
the game. What the museums
display and what they keep in
the attic. Popular styles In art
go through cyclical changes.
Right now, sculpture and anti-
quarial (very old!) art are hot. In
a year or two it might be figura
tive art or abstractions.
Then, consider the investment
angle. What Is selling? Learn
which artists are hot and which
ones are about to emerge. Also,
learn which artists are on the
wane as far as dollar value of
their works goes. More impor
tantly, learn who Is the arbiter of
all the above.
Last, consider the tax angle. As
you know, tax laws and regula
tions seem to change with
blinding speed. Be sure to get
good advice on whether your art
purchases or donations can
function as a shelter for corpio-
rate profits. It might be possi
ble to purchase, say, a Bearden
work—then make a permanent
loan of it to an organization like
the Afro-American Center. And
keeping a healthy tax write-off
on the whole deal. Get good ad
vice from two lawyers here—one
familiar with art acquisitions
and another who Is expert In tax
law.
Two people who can give you
some very good start-up advice
are Jerald Melberg and Milton
Bloch. Melberg Is the Charlotte
art dealer who represents Ro
mare Bearden. Bloch is Director
of the Mint Museum. It might be
wise to start by talking with
both of these gentlemen. Either
of them can probably steer you
to a reputable attorney who
handles art acquisitions.
A second source of Informa
tion Is ARTnews magazine. For
tune magazine of fine arts, and
is published monthly. Those In
terested In this publication
should contact Its Publisher,
Milton Esterow at Five West
37th Street, New York, NY 10018.
Come on, support the arts. With
out them we would still be
ranked with Neanderthal Man.
Sony—we'd be worse off than
that." Neanderthals produced
the wonderful cave drawings
we've all seen pictures of. They
were fabulous artists. Maybe in
some ways, they were a little
better than us.
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