Art Auctions

[lipoppop]

What do you think about the art auctions that take place during the cruise? I see the paintings occupying a prime area of the ship but don't see many people in the room when the auction takes place.

 

Is it a real auction where people bid against each other or is a price preset for which you can buy the paintings?

 

I hear the spiel when I pass by but have never stopped long enough to find out what actually happens.

 

As for the art I am reminded of the phrase, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." To me much of what I see is awful and it does downhill from there. But that is only my opinion.

 

If people buy this stuff on impulse how much ends up in closets?

 

IMHO I think the space can be put to a better use and they should move the art to a less desirable place. But HAL and the company doing the sale must be making money amd the exhibition does attract business.

 

:cool:

[lknick]

My name is lknick and I'm an artaholic.

 

The art auctions are the second largest contributor of franchise revenue on HAL ships, following closely the casino. So there must be some who buy.

 

I've seen thousand of dollars worth of art purchased by individuals to either decorate a second home or in one case, to open a land based gallery. Smart? Well, you answer.

 

Much of the art sold is published by the seller, which on HAL is Park Galleries, and is seldom available on the secondary market, such as Tarkay, Le Kinff. The offerings are mostly seriographs but some times originals.

 

Is it an auction...hell no. It's amusement with a price tag.

[CaptData]

Usually, they start at a prince then go up from there but there is also a max price except on "O". For example they have 3 copies of X they start at $100.00 you except that, then some else may bid more but they will stop it at say $150.00 and give anyone who has did it for the $150.00. With originals it can go seveal thousand dollars (some even start there). I have bought paintings including originals. I had a fire and lost all but one, a Pino.

[Krazy Kruizers]

On our last cruise, there were lots of free champagne auctions. Very few people were attending the auctions. Everytime we turned around raffle tickets were being sent to the cabins just to try and get people to attend. We even got raffle tickets for eating dinner in the Pinnacle.

Think some people are getting tired of them.

 

[elmorejj]

I also would prefer them to hold the auctions in a different venue than the Ocean Bar, which is where most are held. This lounge is open to the public at the time the auction is going on and I don`t like to be asked by the auctioneer to keep my conversations to a minimum...the nerve!....jean :cool:

[Bookish Angel]

A lot of the "art" is poster art or memorabilia - a framed golf flag from The Masters is a collectible, not art. Most of the poster art can be had for much less off of the Internet or through your local gallery.

 

Do you really think the ship would have "priceless" art just sitting out? There MAY be some famous original art but I have never seen any on the cruises I have taken. I asked the "dealer" about provenance and he hedged and said he'd "get back to me." NEVER buy a piece of expensive art without documentation!!!

[lknick]

IMHO I think the space can be put to a better use and they should move the art to a less desirable place.

I agree. And the same should go for the casino and the card room and the spa. I don't use any of them.

 

What we need is more hamburger grills throughout the ship.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Like Jean, I also wish they would have the art auctions someplace else other than the Ocean Bar. There have been times when we just wanted to sit there and chat with a bar tender that we knew from the past - catch up on old times. And also got nasty looks because we were talking.

[kruzkeen]

.

 

The art auctions are the second largest contributor of franchise revenue on HAL ships, following closely the casino. So there must be some who buy.

 

 

I am surprized that there is more revenue from the art auctions than from the Spas.

 

Art, like Beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. I would never buy framed merchandise on a ship. Unless you live in a small town, there are stores (gallerys ?) in towns and cities that sell this sort of stuff.

 

What I have not seen for a couple of years is the 'made to measure' suits that were to me made in Hong Kong. There was a sales rep from the ship who had samples of cloth and was ready to take measurements.

 

Last summer on the first night the dentist was introduced. He was on board to do teeth whitening procedures. I wonder if that revenue producing scheme is still on the ships.

[twoatsea]

YEAH for more hamburger spots - and add some bbq pork ribs....and some steaks.....why not some lobster too!! :D