The Art of Photography

Collecting art is kind of like falling in love. It all starts with a little spark.

So to capture some of the excitement from the Fall photography auctions at Sotheby’s this week (which brought in over $12 million), Notes on a Party hosted an intimate art event at the private home of Demetra Marcus on Wednesday night. With our co-host Margo Spiritus, we invited world renowned photographer George Tice and Susan Spiritus of the Susan Spiritus Gallery to speak at the first Young Collectors Salon about the art of photography.

“Buy what you love,” was the advice from Spiritus whose philosophy on collecting has served her well both in her 30 year career advising private collectors, corporate clients and museums, and in her own personal collection which includes work from Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus, Imogen Cunningham, Andre Kertesz and many of the artists whose careers she helped to launch.

Spiritus began the presentation with an amusing story about her first encounter with Tice nearly three decades ago. After approaching Tice to participate in a one-man show that would launch her new gallery, the photographer agreed on one condition - that the young gallery owner buy all of his work upfront. She agreed and went on to sell every last piece. Artist and gallerist have been working together ever since.

Considered one of the best known American photographers in the world with prints in the MOMA, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Met, Tice shared a few stories of his own from his early days in the Navy and later answered questions about his new limited edition platinum prints which were unveiled for the first time for our guests.

Young collectors and notable names from the worlds of fashion, art, design and media were in attendance: Jennifer Zuccarini of Kiki de Montparnasse, Melissa Skoog of Prada, Rebecca Sternthal of Gagosian Gallery, Ian Alteveer of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Melanie Charlton Fascitelli of Clos-ette, Michal Oberlander of Style.com, Kelcey Kintner of the mama bird diaries and her husband Rick Folbaum, anchor on Fox News.

Guests were able to preview and purchase artwork by both emerging and established artists including Roman Loranc, Julie Blackmon, Dave Anderson, Hiroshi Watanabe, Gunnar Plake, Susan Burnstine and Camille Seaman whose haunting photographs of melting glaciers in Antarctica sparked many conversations.

Events and cuisine company, Williamson Calvert created the menu of elegantly presented hors d’oeuvres such as Black Misson Figs Wrapped with Hudson Valley Smoked Duck Breast and Baby Arugula as well as Grilled Shrimp with Cashew Butter and Thai Basil. Navan, a new Moet Hennessy brand, sponsored the bar and created delicious Vanilla Martinis made with Navan Vanilla infused cognac, Chopin Vodka and fresh lime juice.

To visit the Susan Spiritus Gallery (3929 Birch Street, Newport Beach, CA), please call 949-474-4321 to make an appointment or visit the web site to view artists’ work online.

To purchase a book by George Tice such as Patterson II or Urban Landscapes, click here

The Young Collectors Salon is part of a series of events that will be hosted by Notes on a Party for our readers and advertising partners. To find out more about upcoming events, join our database by becoming a subscriber (sign up on home page - top right).