Wishing All of You a Very Happy 2017
My goodness it is cold here in Northern Virginia. I cannot remember it being this cold. It is so cold that I have now had to change my work attire and actually put on a pair of long pants. I normally do not do this until the first snow so something is amiss with the weather.
Well, it appears that the day is almost over so I must be getting ready to close for the day. Tomorrow is our big day. Don't forget culturalpatina will be having our very first auction and I am hoping for success and that a number of folks will pick up some nice Christmas presents either for themselves or for that some one special in your life. You can assess the link here.http://www.invaluable.com/catalog/searchLots.cfm… . Don't forget if you are going to bid, you will need to register. I hope everyone has a safe and pleasant evening. Take care.
Dear Friends and Clients
Just wanted to let all of you know that culturalpatina will be holding an auction on December 17th for 98 Vintage Native American Art/Pottery pieces from our American Southwest Collection.
I am trying to make room for new items that will come in at the beginning of the year and there are some supper buys a this event to take advantage of this requirement. The auction will take place on line at 10:00 EST. Here is the link for your perusal of items being offered. http://www.invaluable.com/catalog/searchLots.cfm… . Please note that if you plan on bidding, you will have to register for the event.
Now is the time to get that unique and beautiful Christmas gift for someone special in your life. I will be shipping immediately after payment so that you can have in time for Christmas, if at all possible. Have any questions or need additional information on the event, please contact me soonest. Thanks again for your continued support to culturalpatina this year, it is greatly appreciated. Happy holidays.
Largest Collection of Jeff Wolf Bronze Sculptures for Sale Now at culturalpatina.etsy.com and culturalpatina.com. Several Items on hand for immediate sale and numerous Made to Order limited edition pieces for purchase. Jeff is one of the finest Western Bronze Artist in the US today and all of his sculptures are investment grade that can be handed down generation from generation in your family. Please check these out and let me know if you have any questions or desire additional information. I can be reached at 703-503-8019 or at dlbent@aol.com.
Largest Collection of James P. Regimbal Bronze Sculptures for Sale Now on culturalpatina.etsy.com and culturalpatina.com. Many Items on hand for sale and nine Made to Order limited edition pieces for purchase. James is one of the finest Western Bronze Artist in the US today and all of his sculptures are investment grade that can be handed down generation from generation in your family. Please check these out and let me know if you have any questions or desire additional information. I can be reached at 703-503-8019 or at dlbent@aol.com.
Dear Friends and Clients
Just wanted to let all of you know that culturalpatina will be holding an auction on December 17th for 98 Vintage Native American Art/Pottery pieces from our American Southwest Collection.
I am trying to make room for new items that will come in at the beginning of the year and there are some supper buys a this event to take advantage of this requirement. The auction will take place on line at 10:00 EST. Here is the link for your perusal of items being offered. http://www.invaluable.com/catalog/searchLots.cfm… . Please note that if you plan on bidding, you will have to register for the event.
Now is the time to get that unique and beautiful Christmas gift for someone special in your life. I will be shipping immediately after payment so that you can have in time for Christmas, if at all possible. Have any questions or need additional information on the event, please contact me soonest. Thanks again for your continued support to culturalpatina this year, it is greatly appreciated. Happy holidays.
When I received information on Jeff Wolf's new upcoming Bronze Sculpture entitled "The Edge of Winter, I asked him where he gets his inspiration from. He responded with the following which really moved me and I wanted to share it all of you.
"Inspiration
Like most artists, I am often asked where my inspiration comes from.
You might as well ask how I breathe.
I can only explain it by saying it is simply who I am. Somehow, some way, inspiration is a motivation that holds me inescapably captive. It finds me in many places and a multitude of forms: in dreams, in personal experiences, in unique faces or actions I encounter in public, in family and friends, in stories, in the works of other artists, in those who appreciate and collect my work, and elsewhere—everywhere.
Intertwined with inspiration is the insatiable desire to create. When inspiration strikes, I form a vision of what is to be created; a vision that repeats over and over in my mind until an image, scene, or event becomes so vivid that the sculpture seems to magically create itself. Other times, the inspiration and vision are so spontaneous and intense they come like a flood, begging to be brought forth at that moment.
When seized by inspiration, I am but a vessel meant to create; captive to forces of nature that will not be denied and refuse any alternative. My hands seem only to serve as tools to give that inspiration life, to watch its unique personality emerge, and to tell its story. If the viewer cannot read the story in the sculpture, then I have failed the inspiration that sought me out as its author.
At both the beginning and end of art, it is the magic of inspiration that stimulates what some call a gift, some call talent, and some call genius."
Jeff Wolf
Wow, in addition to the culturalpatina cyber Monday sale, 10 of our museum grade Naga adornments are being offered at auction with Curators eye on Nov 30th. You can see the incredible selection here:https://www.curatorseye.com/C=Rare-Ancient,-Asian-and-Ethno…. Check it out, now is the time to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to start your Naga collection or add to the one you might already have. Please contact me if you have any questions
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Culturalpatina will be having a Cyber Monday and Holiday Sale with 20% off all items in the Gallery. The sale will start on Monday, November 28 and run through December 2nd. Now is the time to get that unique and beautiful gift for yourself or someone special in your life. You can shop at either out culturalpatina.etsy.com or culturalpatina.com store fronts. As a added gift, if you contact me before hand, I will cover the shipping charges for you on normal items. I will need to take the shipping charges off the items you will be purchasing from this end. Bronze sculptures and very large paintings are excluded from this offer. Please use coupon code: CDM5515672 when checking out for the discount. I hope you can find something special for this holiday season.
Jeff is hard at work, creating new masterpieces. He is now working on "The Edge of Winter" a magnificent piece. If you purchase the pre cast version, the cost is only $10,500.00 which is a saving of some $4,500.00 for the retail price which is $15,000.00.
The first cold winds bring the onset of winter to the plains. Thankful for her man who has proven himself as a great hunter and warrior, her admiration and appreciation shows obvious on her face.
Proud of his strong beautiful wife, he gently shelters her from the cold with their best bull buffalo robe as they prepare to walk through their village to visit with family and friends.
As a sculptor my greatest interest in depicting the early Native Americans is their everyday life. Much the same as a gentleman of today, covering his wife with a shawl or long coat as they step out into the cold.
Dimensions: 30" H x 16" W x 13" L
Condition: Excellent Precast. On all precast orders we ask for a deposit of 75%, this covers the molds and first casting. Precast orders are purchased before the sculpture has been molded and cast in bronze. This feature allows the client to get in on the ground floor of early edition numbers while saving a considerable amount over retail. Once the work is cast in bronze and is on the retail market the price does not decrease. On orders that need to be cast we require a 50% deposit with the remainder due upon completion of the piece. Shipping and insurance are the reprehensibility of the purchaser. Delivery is usually 8-10 weeks from time of order. This piece has not been molded and cast.
Good Friday morning and happy Veterans Day. Thank you to all of our Veterans who have given service and sacrifice to insure we have the freedoms we enjoy today. God speed brave warriors. It was hard to sleep last night, because after working so hard on the Jeff Wolf sculptures all I could see in my dreams were these extraordinary pieces of art.
I hope you will take the time to check these and other Bronze artists culturalpatina carries. In addition to Jeff Wolf, we carry pieces by the renowned western artist, James Regimbal, Lincoln Fox, Gerorge Northup, Ron Stewart, Ken Payne, Jules Moegniez, Charles Russell, and Wally Shoop. All of these are some of the greatest of our time.
Before my normal postings for the day, I have some very good to news to share with you. First off, 10 of my very best pieces of Naga adornments and textiles will be up for auction by "The Curator's Eye", on November 30th around the world. These extraordinary pieces are part of a very unique and beautiful collection of ancient, Asian and ethnographic jewelry offered from multiple collectors world wide. In looking at the catalog this morning, it was a site to behold. If you are interested in this event, you can check it out here: http://www.invaluable.com/catalog/searchLots.cfm….
The Curator's Eye works with leading dealers from around over the world bringing art collectors the finest selection of art, antiques, historical objects and natural history specimens.
The second bit of good news to share is that the Legendary Western Artist, Jeff Wolf and I will be working together to expand his reach around the world by offering a selection of his very best bronze sculptures to serious collectors. At the moment, we are working to select these pieces so that I can post them in the near future. The addition of Jeff's work to the culturalpatina collection will give a selection of bronze sculptures that will surely satisfy a broad spectrum of collectors.
A Scary Good Sale for Halloween Oct 24th-November 4th. 15% off Gallery Wide. Have fun. Please call with questions if needed. 703-503-8019
Largest Collection of James P. Regimbal Bronze Sculptures for Sale to The Public:Now on culturalpatina.etsy.com and culturalpatina.com. Many Items on hand for sale and nine Made to Order limited edition pieces for purchase. James is one of the finest Western Bronze Artist in the US today and all of his sculptures are investment grade that can be handed down generation from generation in your family. Please check these out and lot me know if you have any questions or desire additional information. I can be reached at 703-503-8019 or at dlbent@aol.com.
I mentioned earlier that I will be representing James Regimbal who is one of the finest bronze sculpture artist's in the United States. Starting next week, I will be posting detailed information on 9 of his made to order bronze sculptures for purchase. All of these are limited edition and one of a kind pieces of art, and are truly magnificent investment grade bronze sculptures. To give you an overview of these, I have pasted below a collage of these. More details to come in the following days, so stay tuned.
I have been collecting James Regimbal sculptures for a very long time and believe they are some of the finest pieces in my large collection, and in the field today. His eye to detail and finish is unparalleled. His work is extraordinary and if you are looking for an authentic piece of art depicting individuals in our past that are investment grade, than a James Regimbal sculpture is for you. To celebrate his work, Carol Sims from the Antiques and the Arts Weekly wrote the following article for culturalpatina. It was published in the "Gallery" on 10-7-16
Bronze Masterwork By James P. Regimbal Regimbal 
By Carol Sims
YUCCA VALLEY, CALIF. - A life-long resident of the American West, James Regimbal (a French Canadian name pronounced with a soft "g") early turned to Western themes for his artwork, and his studio is in the spectacular landscape of the Southern California desert, next to Joshua Tree National Monument and very close to where Gene Autry made his movies out in Pioneer Town.
At 21 Regimbal left his home in Yakima, Washington for the adventures of a young itinerant artist, riding freight trains through Montana and Wyoming and selling his original clay models from street corners to pay for food and art supplies. It was the spring of 1971. "I never looked back," said Regimbal in an interview with Antiques and The Arts Weekly. "Sometimes I would rent a garage for $20 or $50 a month and use it as my studio and a place to sleep. I sold hundreds of clay models back in those days."
In 1977, Regimbal met a bronze agent who represented several notable Western sculptors and this agent helped establish a steady demand for the young artist's work. Collectors and galleries began to take note, and Regimbal began to sculpt larger and more important pieces, some detailed sculptures taking up to a year to complete in clay before they were cast in bronze.
Regimbal spoke of how important it is to work with a good foundry. "I have used Kalispell Art Casting in Kalispell, Montana for 28 years. Your work is only as good as the foundry. Now it takes me two solid days to drive up there, and sometimes in winter it's forty below." He also works with American Fine Arts Foundry in Burbank, Calif., which takes him through notoriously jammed LA freeways.
"Cowhands" expresses the day-to-day heroism of the American cowboy doing his job of moving and protecting cattle. The rider is presented at the highest point of the sculpture, and he has a young, rescued calf resting on his lap. His faithful dog trots alongside, hence the plural title, for the cowhand, his horse, and his dog are a team.
Four steers navigate the steep trail, sculpted as individual animals with their own varied appearances and actions. One steer appears to be looking up at us, as if we were on an adjacent hillock, while the other three are watching where they are going and moving forward, down the trail. The steers are a Hereford-longhorn mix. Regimbal sought out a ranch veterinarian to be sure they were anatomically correct. "There was no guesswork," said the artist. "Every detail is accurate."
One of the style elements that sets Regimbal's bronzes apart from those of other artists is the texture and varied surfaces he sculpts into each piece. "Hair, wool, mane or tail, I try to work that out in the clay or the wax. I want it to look somewhat real," said Regimbal. This is very apparent in "Cowhands" where there are a variety of textures, from the sleek reflective muscles of the horse to the coarse, curly coated cows.
Another style element germane to Regimbal's bronzes is patina. "I didn't want paint put on my pieces. Eventually paint will come off a bronze. I am known for pioneering colored acid patinas in the 1970s and 80s. My early bronzes used to have a translucent chestnut brown patina, simulating the classic bronzes that were created with processes that have been lost-urination, burying the bronzes in certain soil. The foundry workers got more and more sophisticated with colors and some of the gals there could blend the acids and apply them so they wouldn't be gaudy. I would show them how to do the first few and then they could complete the edition."
Cast in 1989, "Cowhands" was created in an edition of 50, one of which has provenance of the University of Montana Foundation, Missoula, Mont.
For more information on "Cowhands" and other bronze masterworks by James P. Regimbal, visit www.culturalpatina.com. Private dealer Dennis Brining can be reached at 703-503-8019 or dlbent@aol.com.
I did finish all the curation of the new items that came in yesterday and a collage of them are put together below for you. You can get the details on each by going to culturalpatina.etsy.com, and or culturalpatina. com. They are a great addition to my current collections and are all excellent examples of the craft.
Had another disappointment early in the week from a scam artist in Canada. He bought one of my Naga necklaces and was paying with a check. The next day he told me that his accountant had written a check for me and another person who purchased a sewing machine by mistake. The scam artist apologized and ask that when the check cleared by bank account, that I send the money for the sewing machine to the local purchaser. I went back and told him that I was uncomfortable doing this and asked him to send me a check for the exact amount due, and when I received his first check, I would destroy it. He told me OK and then everything went dead.
Last night I received a note from the Etsy Trust and Safety folks letting me know that this was a scam called "The Over Payment" scam. The goal of the buyer is to convince me to send funds to a third party after receiving a check that will eventually bounce or be reversed, even if the funds initially clear. Every time, I think this will never happen again to me, it does. Always reminds me to stay in condition Red. Thought some of you other sellers might be interested in knowing about this. 
We will be having a special Labor Day Sale, starting today and going through Sept 5th. Buyers will receive a 25% off all items in the Gallery. Please use coupon code noted below. if you have questions on desire additional information, please contact me directly.
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We will be having a special Labor Day Sale, starting today and going through Sept 5th. Buyers will receive a 25% off all items in the Gallery. Please use coupon code noted below. if you have questions on desire additional information, please contact me directly.
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Altermanns to auction off 2 pieces of Ron Stewart Monumental paintings from the largest collection of Ron Stewart art held by culturalpatina. As you recall, 2 of these pieces were mentioned in a previous publication http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODE/AAW/Default.aspx?href=AAW%2F2016%2F05%2F06&pageno=43&view=document.
Altermanns Gallery Art Auction, Session 1 ,will auction off (August 12th, 2016 Santa Fe, NM USA 10 AM MST)2 of Ron Stewart Monumental paintings to include: "Phoenix Bound": http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ron-stewart-phoenix-bound-86-c-7a44959ae3, and "Apache Raiders": Http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ron-stewart-apache-raiders-621-c-03c4f9d9d1
My latest piece on collecting and philanthropy at culturalpatina has just been published in the Antiques and Arts Weekly, the Old West. You can see the article on pages 11 and 20 here. http://www.antiquesandthearts.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/The-Old-West-2016.pdf#page=11
Good news. The boss tells me that I can have a Fathers Day sale starting today and ending on the 20th. 25% off everything in the Gallery. Please use coupon code CDM5515669 at either culturalpatina.etsy.com orculturalpatina.com. I hope you can find something very special for Dad this year. If you need recommendations please let me know.
Good morning everyone. Today I will be posting the final pieces from the paintings and etchings in the culturalpatina collection. Please note that I started with the least expensive pieces early on. As we get towards the end of the collection, the pieces go up in price, given the size, quality, content and medium type.
Please don't forget that we are having two auctions at the moment, one with Live Auctioneers for 71 pieces of pottery that are priced to sell, to make room for new additions at
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/…/89399_native-american-ar…/. The auction starts at 3 PM PST, or 6 PM EST today. A number of pieces already have bids on them, so if you are interested in getting a very nice piece of pottery, please check out this auction. In addition to the low price, I also pick up the shipping costs which makes this a very good deal.
The second auction is with Bonhams in San Francisco, with one of the finest Native American collections that has been sold in the last 35 years. My extraordinary historic Acoma poly chrome pottery olla is included in this auction given its extreme quality, uniqueness and beauty. It is an honor to be included in this auction and says a lot about the quality of my collection.
I am having a special auction to help clear the way for new acquisitions in the future, and have selected 72 items from the culturalpatina inventory that are very nice and priced to sell. I've included a direct links for you on Live Auctioneers: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/89399_native-american-artifacts/. The auction will take place on 6-5-16 at 3:00 PM PST. You can place bids now if you are interested in any of the pieces.
I will be having a Memorial Day Sale for one day only on 5-30-16. All items in the store can be purchased at a 25% discount. Please note that this is for one day only. Please use coupon code CDM5515678 at check out.
Culturalpatina's Navajo Crystal Rug has been featured in the May edition of American Farmhouse Style magazine. This particular rug is a piece from the 1970's by artist Timothy Livingston, nephew of the equally famous weaver Agnes Johnston. The rug has a traditional Crystal pattern, with geometric shapes and no border along the edges. Please go to culturalpatina.etsy.com for additional information and pricing.
Wow what a day. Have spent most of it logging in and providing descriptions for a number of new pieces from the Southwest and Peru. They are all spectacular, and add yet more depth to the culturalpatina collections. I hope you enjoy them. They will be put up over this week.
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Some of you might like to know that one of my Historic Acoma pottery olla will be included the upcoming Bonhams auction on June 6th in San Francisco. It has been included with one of finest Native American Collections that I have seen and that Bonhams has reportedly ever handled. I believe this says a lot about the quality of my pieces.You can see it in the auction catalog athttp://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23384/lot/293/. Now is you chance to pick up an extraordinary museum quality Acoma pottery olla and a piece of history.
The article on Ron Stewart's monumental art in the culturalpatina collection has now been released. It will be in the May 6, edition of Antiques and the Arts Weekly, Gallery Section-4S.
You can see the article here:Http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODE/AAW/Default.aspx… We are on pages 4 and 9.
Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to discuss the purchase of the paintings in the article.
American Farmhouse magazine will be featuring on of culturalpatina's Navajo weaving's in the upcoming May edition. I will post the article when it comes out. For now you can see the piece that will be featured in this prestigious publication.
My next article on Ron Stewart and his monumental art is complete and will be published in the May edition of the Gallery, Antiques and the Arts Weekly, A complete copy of this will be posted when it comes out. For now, I have included some of the art work for those who follow Ron's work.
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My next article on Ron Stewart and his monumental art is complete and will be published in the May edition of the Gallery, Antiques and the Arts Weekly, A complete copy of this will be posted when it comes out. For now, I have included some of the art work for those who follow Ron's work.
What a great week. Sales continue to come in and one of my textiles, a Crystal area Navajo weaving's by Timothy Livingston, #753, $3,993.00, was selected by the editor of American Farmhouse Style Magazine to be show cased in their May Edition. I have also finished up the editorial changes to my next article on Ron Stewart's monumental art that resides in the culturalpatina collection. This will be published in the May edition of Antiques and the Arts Weekly, The Gallery.
What a great week. Sales continue to come in and one of my textiles, a Crystal area Navajo weaving's by Timothy Livingston, #753, $3,993.00, was selected by the editor of American Farmhouse Style Magazine to be show cased in their May Edition. I have also finished up the editorial changes to my next article on Ron Stewart's monumental art that resides in the culturalpatina collection. This will be published in the May edition of Antiques and the Arts Weekly, The Gallery.
Cultralpatina has been asked to be part of Antiques and the Arts Weekly Marketplace for the second year in a row. You can check this out athttp://www.antiquesandthearts.com/meet-the-dealer/?id=1515.
Meet The Dealer Featured Items
Invaluable just published an article on culturalpatina in their monthly blog which can be found at http://www.invaluable.com/blog/a-collectors-dream-realized/ . A fun piece to read.
Pottery collection of Dennis Brining, collector and owner of CulturalPatina. Photo courtesy of Dennis Brining Dennis Brining, who calls himself
Several days back I received an invoice from Pay Pal on something, I did not purchase. On the invoice there was a note asking: This isn't You?, Resolve it Now.
Without thinking, I pushed this button and ended up on what looked like Pay Pal. It told me that my account had been limited because of suspicious activity and that I needed to provide pertinent information to get my account back up to normal. Since the invoice was indeed suspicious, without thinking again, I filled out the forms which asked for my banking information, all my secret security questions, routing number, account number, personnel information etc.
The site looked absolutely 100% real, so I submitted all of my information and Pay Pal thanked me and told me my account was back up to normal which made me happy.
On a bad feeling, I logged back into my Pay Pal account to see if the suspicious charges on the invoice had been removed. Imagine my surprise when I did not see any mention of the chargers. I immediately called Pay Pal and they asked that I send them the original email with the invoice, which I did. Within 5 minutes they got back to me, telling me the invoice was fraudulent and that it was part of a phishing effort.
While still on the phone, I told the Pay Pal representative that I only responded because the request and forms looked so original. To which he responded, yes they are getting very good at this and it is getting very hard to tell the real requests from the fraudulent ones.
I then asked him, when was Pay Pal going to let everyone of their clients that this scam was going on. He apologized and told me that the scam, I had fallen for was new, and that the information I had supplied them would be passed on to the FBI for their use in trying to track down the culprits involved.
In the end, I was pissed and had to change all of my account info, cancel cards, etc which cost me a good part of the day, since I had to show up in person to the bank to make the changes.
A word to the wise, when you get an invoice from Pay Pal, that is not yours, do not use the Resolve It Now Button. It caused me a great deal of frustration and anxiety which I could have avoided, if I was just paying a little more attention to what was going on at the time. If you have any questions about what happened to me and want more info, please let me know.
Ron Stewart, is working at the Arizona Fine Art Expo now through April 3 along with a number of other Western Artists. You can check out the event at this video site:https://www.facebook.com/arizona.expo/videos. If you like Ron's art, don't forget we have the largest collection in the US at culturalpatina.
Surprise him or her on Valentine day with a unique and beautiful gift from culturalpatina.com or culturalpatina.etsy.com.
Description: Western Artist, Ron Stewart (Arizona Born 1941), Oil Painting titled ''In The Morning Glow'', This is an extraordinary painting and speaks volumes of what an Indian camp may have been like in the past, in the wee hours of the morning.
Dimensions: Sight 32 x 40 inches, Overall 47 x 55 inches
Condition: Excellent condition
Provenance: From Ron Stewart Gallery
Some background on Ron and his monumental paintings:
A note from Sharon, Ron's wife on the subject: "Ron has done a lot of larger paintings. Sometimes they are commissions, or galleries request a large piece for their bigger walls, and sometimes he just feels like a challenged! He has done 4 ft by 10 ft, stagecoach paintings, and 6 ft by 4 ft commissions, and 3 ft X 8 ft, and he has done a 40 ft X 60 ft for a Scottsdale Ins. Co. Many, Many through the years. (In fact we have a 40 ft X 60 ft painting of a stagecoach with the Superstitions in the background, and a flock of quail in the fore ground. It hangs in Ron's studio on a very large wall with skins and artifacts around it. (It's awesome I think, but I'm prejudice!)"
Ron had the following to say about the piece: "Morning Glow" is a Blackfeet Village with Braves who have returned with stolen ponies from a raid against the Crow Indians. Watering them in the morning light, and recounting their prowess at stealing fine ponies and at their status among the tribe. Most stolen ponies were distributed among tribal members to further enhance their place in the tribe. The figures and horses were from the Artist Shoot in South Dakota, and the figures adapted from Sioux Indians that modeled for me there. (Blackfoot & Sioux were enemies so did not tell them at the time that they would be Blackfoot!) Tepees are from my reference from the Black Powder Rendevous's from Montana and Wyoming back in the 70's."
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Additional Ron Stewart Paintings can be found at:https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/CulturalPatina/sections/16492699 and his Bronze work can be found at:https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/CulturalPatina/sections/1613101
Santa Fe art and antiques dealer Forrest Fenn, 85, wrote a memoir in 2010 with a mysterious poem containing clues about where he hid a $3 million treasure trove. An estimated 65,000 people have gone searching in the Rocky Mountains for Fenn's 12th-century bronze chest supposedly filled with gold nuggets, jewels, jade carvings and artifacts.
Randy Bilyeu, 54, is a recent adventurer who has gone missing along the frozen Rio Grande in northern New Mexico while in search of the "Fenn Treasure."
Bilyeu, who set off on January 5, was reported missing nine days later. His dog and raft were located, but authorities' search efforts have since been called off. Author Fenn, and other volunteers, are continuing private efforts to find the missing man.
“I’ve said many times not to look for the treasure any place where an 80-year-old man couldn’t put it,” Fenn said earlier this month.
Fenn's The Thrill of the Chase reads:
As I have gone alone in there
And with my treasures bold,
I can keep my secret where,
And hint of riches new and old.
Begin it where warm waters halt
And take it in the canyons down,
Not far, but too far to walk.
Put in below the home of Brown.
From there it’s no place for the meek,
The end is ever drawing nigh;
There’ll be no paddle up your creek,
Just heavy loads and water high.
If you’ve been wise and found the blaze,
Look quickly down, your quest to cease,
But tarry scant with marvel gaze,
Just take the chest and go in peace.
So why is it that I must go
And leave my trove for all to seek?
The answer I already know,
I’ve done it tired, and now I’m weak.
So hear me all and listen good,
Your effort will be worth the cold.
If you are brave and in the wood
I give you title to the gold.
Bronze Sculpture, "Tree of Life, By Lincoln Fox, 1994
853. Description; Bronze sculpture entitled "Global Tree of Life" by Lincoln Fox ( 1942-), 1994. This is edition #5 of 5 (out of an original planned 10) maquettes of the "Global Family Tree of Life" Lincoln made these in preparation for the 32 Foot Global Family "Tree of Life" displayed, at the 1994 International Park in Nagoya, Japan. These initial studies were primarily made for several dignitaries associated with the project. One was originally given to the Queen of Jordon, another to Dr. Brown of the UNEP, Two currently reside with Culturalpatina, and the 5th is unaccounted for. The last 5 were never cast.
Dimensions: The materials are cast bronze using the lost wax method, mounted on polished cut granite and routed oak along the bottom. 21-3/4" H x 17-3/4" W x 17-1/2" D. The overall weight of approximately 60 pounds.
Condition: Excellent condition considering the age of the piece.
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Lincoln sent me a letter on the " Global Tree of Life" and I thought it was important for folks who might be interested in this piece to have. I had tears in my eyes by the time I finished reading this letter.
"Since the beginnings of time, man has revered the tree as a universal metaphor of life. Tree imagery flows throughout legends and myths of every culture and many religions. The tree of Life was chosen as the symbol of the UNEP, because it represents the lungs of our planet and gives us the breath of life.
Our tree icon symbolizes the nurturing aspects of life so beautifully exemplified in living trees. The emotions invoked are of gentle respect for the earth and the family of man. Each continent shows the various races populating it. The faces selected will express our beautiful uniqueness and unity, with special attention to indigenous peoples.
The open ocean spaces between the continents allow visitors to enter the earth's interior. Mythological etchings and icons from many cultural and historical periods-from the cave man to the foot print of the first man on the moon-will be inside the continents. The chamber will honor the highest aspirations of man.
Earth mothers representing our four primary races are seated where earth meets sky. As the tree trunk rises from the earth, stylized human figures spiral upward reaching the heavens. Our greatest desire, is for our viewers, thinking on this tree to see we are intimately and inseparably connected with the fabric of nature and that WHEN ANY ONE MAN, ANIMAL OR TREE IS HARMED, ALL MEN SUFFER.
Lincoln Fox
Sculptor, Tree of Life Foundation"
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Biography from the Archives of askART: A sculptor in traditional style of Indian figures, Lincoln Fox combines his interest in Indian culture with his belief in the sacredness of the spirits of human beings. His subjects include Shaman with Bear skull Headdress, Shaman with Owl, Bird Vision, and Hopi Snake Priest. One of his largest pieces is The Dream of Flight, 14-feet long and cantilevered 30 degrees so that it appears to fly above the ground at the Albuquerque, New Mexico Airport.
Fox was born in Morrilton, Arkansas, and settled in 1971 in Alto, New Mexico. As a youngster, he was disinterested in school, but did well once he began studying art in college. He focused on studying works of famous sculptors that he admired.
In 1966, he earned a BFA from the University of Texas at Austin, studying with Charles Umlaf. He then studied with Heri Barscht at the University of Dallas, earning an MA degree, and in 1968, he received an MFA from the University of Kansas at Lawrence, where Elden Teftt was his teacher.
He found that once he added an element of distortion to the figures he depicted that he had arrived at the method and style most satisfactory to him. "Exaggeration and distortion make the art exciting. After that discovery, I had twice as much fun. I let things happen". (Samuels 192).
Biography from The Adobe Fine Art: After living in New Mexico for over twenty years, Lincoln and his wife, Rachelle, moved to the Western Slope of Colorado in 1990. Orchards, vineyards and ranches surround his studio, in a valley of snow-capped mountains. The area's beauty and tranquility provide inspiration for his creativity.
Lincoln holds two master's degrees, and continues private studies in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Mid-East, and Africa.
He has been honored with one-man shows at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the Kennedy Galleries in New York City, and many museums and galleries across the nation. Lincoln has been a member of the National Sculpture Society in New York since 1982.
Some of his sculpture commissions include a 17' piece for the Albuquerque International Airport; an 18' piece for the Fine Arts Museum of Albuquerque; a 23' piece for a university in Texas; and a 14' piece near Montgomery, Alabama, dedicated by President George Bush.
The Global Family Tree of Life, sanctioned by the United Nations (U.N.E.P.), is four stories tall. The Japanese prefecture of Aishi commissioned a 32-foot study, cast in metal-reinforced F.R.P. to be shown at their International Park Festival, held in Nagoya, Japan.
Lincoln's powerful modeling reveals the "breath of life" in his work.
Sources include:
Who's Who in American Art, 2003-2004
Peggy and Harold Samuels, Contemporary Western Artists
Donald Martin Reynolds, Masters of American Sculpture
More interesting info on where we came from. About 1 year ago, I had my DNA testing done by 23andme and was astounded at the results, particularly in the number of relatives I had. The story that unfolded was a far cry from what my Mon and Dad had told me of my roots. It was the best money that I have ever spent getting the testing done.
Over the past 25 years, scientists have supported the view that modern humans left Africa around 50,000 years ago, spreading to different parts of the world by replacing resident human species like the Neanderthals. However, rapid advances in genetic sequencing have opened up a whole new window into the past, suggesting that human history is much more complicated.
In fact, genetic studies in the last few years have revealed that since our African exodus, humans have moved and mixed a lot more than previously thought – particularly over the last 10,000 years.
The Technology
Our ability to sequence DNA has increased dramatically since the human genome was first sequenced 15 years ago . In its most basic form, genetic analysis involves comparing DNA from different sets of people, whether between people with or without a particular type of cancer, or individuals from different regions of the world.
The human genome is 3 billion letters long, but as people differ at just one letter in every thousand, on average, we don’t have to look at them all. Instead, we can compare people where we know there are these differences, known as genetic markers. Millions of these markers have been discovered and, together with a genetic sequencing technology that allows us to cheaply look at these markers in lots of people, there has been an explosion in the data available to geneticists.
But while these analyses have shed light on different genetic associations , they have been unable to fully explain the genetic architecture of disease. It is becoming increasingly clear that rare genetic variants with small effects are likely to play a key role in genetic susceptibility to disease. And, because they are rare, finding these variants requires a whole-genome’s worth of sequence.
For that reason, the last ten years has also seen huge innovation in the technology available to read every letter of a genome. Today’s genome sequencing technologies typically work by breaking up DNA into billions of little pieces and then sequencing each of them separately but simultaneously in order to combine them into a full genome.
Out of Africa … and Back
In addition to their use in medical genetics, these data are providing us with an increasingly sophisticated view of human history. When living things die, their DNA doesn’t disappear immediately; it slowly degrades over time. This means that the DNA of long dead people can still be found in fossils and skeletons, but it will be have been broken down into small pieces, perfect for modern sequencing technologies.
Map of early human migrations. Homo sapiens (red), Neanderthals (yellow-green), early hominids (yellow). ( Public Domain )
Take the “out of Africa” theory as an example. Based on archaeology and limited genetics , the established view was that humans left Africa at some point within the last 100,000 years, spreading out to eventually inhabit the rest of the world, replacing older resident species of humans. While more advanced genetics has confirmed this to be roughly the case, it has also shown that it is not the full story.
Ancient DNA sequenced from fossils has taught us that, following the initial expansion out of Africa, the ancestors of non-Africans lived side-by-side and interbred with Neanderthals some 37,000 to 42,000 years ago, rather than just pushing them out . We also know that the ancestors of some Asian groups interbred with a different group of archaic human – known only from their DNA – called the Denisovans.
Comparison of Neanderthal and Modern human skulls from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History ( CC BY-SA 2.0 )
Ancient DNA also allows us to directly view the genomes of past populations. For example, we now know that in Europe, the farming revolution some 8,000 years ago was accompanied by the movement of people and was not just the spread of a clever idea. There was a subsequent mass migration of people into central Europe from the Russian Steppe which potentially brought Indo-European languages into the continent. A recent genetic study found that the ability of modern Europeans to digest the lactose in milk into adulthood may be traced to these migrants from Russia. It also traced blue eyes in modern Europeans back to European hunter gatherers of the Mesolithic period (10,000-5,000BC), while light skin may have come from migrants from the Middle East.
Further ancient population mixing happened in Africa when a significant movement of Eurasian people spread back into the continent within the last 3,000 years. In fact, one study estimated that between 4-7% of most African genomes may have come from this gene flow.
Analyses of modern-day human populations have shown that a lot of mixing has happened within the last 2,000 years , with populations moving both within and between continents. For example, during their expansions in the 13th century, the Mongols left a trail of DNA across Asia and into Eastern Europe , and towards the end of the first millennium AD, Arabs brought North and West African DNA into southern Europe . In effect, this means that populations did not extend to the far reaches of the world and remained in isolation. Once settled, these groups continued to share their DNA.
What this tells us is that our history is messy: we are all the product of a tangled bush of genetic relationships between different ancient and modern human groups. Our genes demonstrate that none of us can claim to have ancestry from just a single region or place, as people have been on the move throughout history. Food for thought indeed when migration is so high on the political agenda.
Featured image: A family migrating to western US in 1886. ( CC BY-SA 2.0 )
By: George Busby / The Conversation
Read more: http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-evolution-human-origins/here-s-how-genetics-helped-crack-history-human-migration-005206/page/0/1#ixzz3yM7KlQUT
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Read more: http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-evolution-human-origins/here-s-how-genetics-helped-crack-history-human-migration-005206#ixzz3yM760UDC
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On January 5th, Conexus staff members traveled to Cultural Patina in Fairfax Station, VA to receive one of the most generous and unique donations ever offered to the organization. Dennis Brining and his wife Linda are long time friends and supporters of Conexus. Dennis, now one of the region’s top collectors of Southwestern Art and antiques, donated 15 exquisite bronze sculptures as well as an oil painting to Conexus to be sold at a charity auction with all proceeds to benefit Conexus’ children’s vision programs. The donation is valued at over $40,000! Very specific details about the pieces and their history will be provided in the near future as we prepare for the most appropriate means of sale. Until then, you might like to visit the Cultural Patina website at www.CulturalPatina.com to learn more about Dennis, his gallery, and some of the rare and beautiful pieces in his collection. |
Conexus staff visits Cultural Patina in Fairfax Station, VA to tour the Gallery and receive donated artwork. Pictured left to right: Melissa Perry, Conexus Director of Community Programs and Public Health, Robin Mead, Conexus VP, Development, Gracie Gresham, Conexus Volunteer, Dennis Brining, Cultural Patina, and Tim Gresham, Conexus President and CEO.
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Collector, Dennis Brining, and Conexus President and CEO, Tim Gresham, loading up 15 bronze sculptures for transport back to the Conexus Richmond headquarters.
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The listed western artist Ron Stewart has painted a number of large monumental pieces of art. I have 5 of these large paintings in my collection and will be sharing these with western art lovers. "Down From the Shadows" is the fifth of these that I will be posting. Some background on the piece and on Ron can be found below. https://culturalpatina-2.myshopify.com/admin/products/538115713
The listed western artist Ron Stewart has painted a number of large monumental pieces of art. I have 5 of these large paintings in my collection and will be sharing these with western art lovers. "Autumn Morning"" is the forth of these that I will be posting. Some background on the piece and on Ron can be found below athttps://culturalpatina-2.myshopify.com/admin/products/538128513
The listed western artist Ron Stewart has painted a number of large monumental pieces of art. I have 5 of these large paintings in my collection and will be sharing these with western art lovers. "Canyon Escape" is the first of these that I will be posting. Some background on the piece and on Ron can be found below. https://culturalpatina-2.myshopify.com/admin/products/2163595457
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