Comments on: Valentine's Day... with ventricles http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 15:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708874 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708874 This is art: so the stuff is inherently non-utilitarian. Useless. Of no value...oh, wait. It is "worth" what people will pay. No more. No less. But that does not mean that those buyers "know what they are doing": or that they know how to put an accurate dollar value upon the emotional states (if indeed there are any such) evoked in them by the object. Still less does it mean that the artist is pricing (or "valuing"? Ah, that's another question...) her work correctly. Warhol had his ghostwriters say some interesting stuff about the business of art (or was it the art of business?) but OTOH, the ghostwriters are whores, and Warhol claimed (in his ghostwritten Diaries!) that he would sign the occasional fake presented to him for authentication.... Fact is, people ought to buy art if they like it, and they can afford it. As to what the art qua object may be "worth", what's that compared to one's own happiness, in this calculation? Its price upon a sale in the future, however, will serve as a combination of a judgment upon the purchaser's taste, and as a reflection of the tastes & fashions of the time at which it comes up for sale. Where one starts, and the other ends in the determination of price, I cannot say. In any case. This is art: so the stuff is inherently non-utilitarian. Useless. Of no value…oh, wait.

It is “worth” what people will pay. No more. No less.
But that does not mean that those buyers “know what they are doing”: or that they know how to put an accurate dollar value upon the emotional states (if indeed there are any such) evoked in them by the object.
Still less does it mean that the artist is pricing (or “valuing”? Ah, that’s another question…) her work correctly.

Warhol had his ghostwriters say some interesting stuff about the business of art (or was it the art of business?)
but OTOH, the ghostwriters are whores, and Warhol claimed (in his ghostwritten Diaries!) that he would sign the occasional fake presented to him for authentication….

Fact is, people ought to buy art if they like it, and they can afford it.
As to what the art qua object may be “worth”, what’s that compared to one’s own happiness, in this calculation?

Its price upon a sale in the future, however, will serve as a combination of a judgment upon the purchaser’s taste, and as a reflection of the tastes & fashions of the time at which it comes up for sale. Where one starts, and the other ends in the determination of price, I cannot say. In any case.

]]> By: Felton http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708884 Felton Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708884 Does she have a heart of gold? I mean, for sale, like this one? :-D Does she have a heart of gold?

I mean, for sale, like this one? :-D

]]> By: magpie bessie http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-709670 magpie bessie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-709670 Yay! I am so glad that Ms. Skemp wrote in to defend herself against the haters! Folks, artists need to make money at their art; otherwise they can not create the art(this is especially true of jewelers who use precious materials to make art). If you like a world where folks imagine, create and share beautiful(and ugly and wonderful and frightening and transcendent, etc) things, then you need to support the artists who make them. Yay! I am so glad that Ms. Skemp wrote in to defend herself against the haters! Folks, artists need to make money at their art; otherwise they can not create the art(this is especially true of jewelers who use precious materials to make art). If you like a world where folks imagine, create and share beautiful(and ugly and wonderful and frightening and transcendent, etc) things, then you need to support the artists who make them.

]]> By: nanuq http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708713 nanuq Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708713 Does it beat? Does it beat?

]]> By: Felix Mitchell http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-709227 Felix Mitchell Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-709227 Maxilmillian: Do you have any proof these are mass produced? If so she is breaking the rules of etsy which only allows hand made items. It looks like hers is a knock-off of this design: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2735/4113920861_a9fb1afa74_m.jpg Maxilmillian: Do you have any proof these are mass produced? If so she is breaking the rules of etsy which only allows hand made items.

It looks like hers is a knock-off of this design: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2735/4113920861_a9fb1afa74_m.jpg

]]> By: IamInnocent http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708723 IamInnocent Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708723 It beats Hallmark. It beats Hallmark.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708983 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708983 You can also find a (much more affordable) version of the anatomical heart necklace here: http://www.goodeggshop.com/item.php?item_id=442 The cost is $47 as opposed to $236. You can also find a (much more affordable) version of the anatomical heart necklace here:

http://www.goodeggshop.com/item.php?item_id=442

The cost is $47 as opposed to $236.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-709495 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-709495 I am the artist and I will say that my work is not mass produced. I carve an original wax then cast them and finish them. One other jeweler helps me with the finishing, but each piece is hand made in Chicago. I sell a more modest version which does not open for $47. There is a lot of attention paid to detail and each piece is meticulously finished. Next I plan on working on some very fantastical brain pieces and then lacy entomology stuff. I will say that for what I charge, the materials are very expensive and it takes me a lot of time, so there is actual value- as opposed to a painting which has little actual value in terms of materials. I stand behind the work and the prices. Thanks for looking. www.peggyskemp.com I am the artist and I will say that my work is not mass produced. I carve an original wax then cast them and finish them. One other jeweler helps me with the finishing, but each piece is hand made in Chicago. I sell a more modest version which does not open for $47. There is a lot of attention paid to detail and each piece is meticulously finished. Next I plan on working on some very fantastical brain pieces and then lacy entomology stuff. I will say that for what I charge, the materials are very expensive and it takes me a lot of time, so there is actual value- as opposed to a painting which has little actual value in terms of materials. I stand behind the work and the prices. Thanks for looking. http://www.peggyskemp.com

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-709499 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-709499 Also, its not a knock-off. That picture in comment #20 is a picture I took of the very first one that I made, then I had someone take a more presentable photograph. Also, its not a knock-off. That picture in comment #20 is a picture I took of the very first one that I made, then I had someone take a more presentable photograph.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708740 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708740 <i>No detail has gone ignored... (save actual blood).</i> <p> Well, they just lost Creepy-chan's business then, didn't they. No detail has gone ignored… (save actual blood).

Well, they just lost Creepy-chan’s business then, didn’t they.

]]> By: moioci http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708744 moioci Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708744 That'd be the left lower pulmonary vein. (There are two on each side.) That’d be the left lower pulmonary vein. (There are two on each side.)

]]> By: MichaelRN http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-709000 MichaelRN Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-709000 The price will most likely drop to a reasonable level with the passing of Valentine's Day. If there's a market for it, competition will eventually drive down the price, too. The price will most likely drop to a reasonable level with the passing of Valentine’s Day. If there’s a market for it, competition will eventually drive down the price, too.

]]> By: zikman http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708748 zikman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708748 I need this, to give to my metal-working, jewelry-making friend. I need this, to give to my metal-working, jewelry-making friend.

]]> By: Lobster http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708752 Lobster Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708752 I'm conflicted on this. I love the irony, but I don't think I love it $236 worth. I’m conflicted on this. I love the irony, but I don’t think I love it $236 worth.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708767 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708767 In an old episode of the Mary Tyler Moore show, Mary's father (a surgeon, IIRC) gives her a heart-shaped pin or locket. She's confused because it's an anatomically correct heart shape. Life imitates art. In an old episode of the Mary Tyler Moore show, Mary’s father (a surgeon, IIRC) gives her a heart-shaped pin or locket. She’s confused because it’s an anatomically correct heart shape. Life imitates art.

]]> By: magpie bessie http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-709025 magpie bessie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-709025 I like it. The concept and execution are fantastic and show a high level of craft and inspiration. If I could afford one I would buy it. I hope that the artist does well with the sales of her work; she deserves every cent. I like it. The concept and execution are fantastic and show a high level of craft and inspiration. If I could afford one I would buy it. I hope that the artist does well with the sales of her work; she deserves every cent.

]]> By: Maximillian http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708797 Maximillian Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708797 Wow, the price jumped $26 and she added more to the store. I guess that when you get attention, the natural response is to jack up the price and get your mass production on. Wow, the price jumped $26 and she added more to the store. I guess that when you get attention, the natural response is to jack up the price and get your mass production on.

]]> By: Steve Schnier http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708798 Steve Schnier Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708798 Yeah. I agree with Lobster. It's very nice, but the price seems a bit high. I'm sure they'll find buyers, but they'd sell many more at a lower price point. Yeah. I agree with Lobster. It’s very nice, but the price seems a bit high. I’m sure they’ll find buyers, but they’d sell many more at a lower price point.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708803 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708803 The "law" of supply and demand in action. The “law” of supply and demand in action.

]]> By: Caroline http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708821 Caroline Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708821 Raising the price is called "supply and demand." If she's selling a lot of them at the higher price, good for her. If she's not selling as many as she'd like, she'll drop the price again. It's a hand-crafted, complex, sculptural piece of silver jewelry, not a corporate mass-produced piece. You want a $10 silver necklace, go to Walmart. A piece like that -- the materials, work, time, quality -- is definitely worth a couple hundred. I want it bad -- I'm in cardiac electrophysiology -- but can't afford it (that's called being a grad student). Oh well. Some things are just worth more than I can afford. Raising the price is called “supply and demand.” If she’s selling a lot of them at the higher price, good for her. If she’s not selling as many as she’d like, she’ll drop the price again.

It’s a hand-crafted, complex, sculptural piece of silver jewelry, not a corporate mass-produced piece. You want a $10 silver necklace, go to Walmart. A piece like that — the materials, work, time, quality — is definitely worth a couple hundred.

I want it bad — I’m in cardiac electrophysiology — but can’t afford it (that’s called being a grad student). Oh well. Some things are just worth more than I can afford.

]]> By: Caroline http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708823 Caroline Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708823 For those looking for a lower price point, the same seller has a half-heart necklace for $80: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=40339940 Same thing, except only the front half of the heart. For those looking for a lower price point, the same seller has a half-heart necklace for $80: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=40339940 Same thing, except only the front half of the heart.

]]> By: Maximillian http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708833 Maximillian Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708833 It's mass produced. She has a supply of them. They aren't 1-offs. She sells them on a bunch of sites, and usually lists 1 at a time to make it feel unique. Bottom line: the price is outrageous. But when you're the only game in town, you can afford to fleece people. It’s mass produced. She has a supply of them. They aren’t 1-offs. She sells them on a bunch of sites, and usually lists 1 at a time to make it feel unique.

Bottom line: the price is outrageous.

But when you’re the only game in town, you can afford to fleece people.

]]> By: Lobster http://boingboing.net/2010/02/09/valentines-day-with.html#comment-708855 Lobster Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-708855 Maximillian, Caroline, you're both right. She isn't an evil person for charging what the market will bear. It could be that it's worth more than I personally would be willing to pay for it. If she is mass-producing them then it seems like a bit of a rip-off but again, if they're selling then the price is right. In the end, I know I'm not going to get one so I'll just appreciate it as a neat idea. Maximillian, Caroline, you’re both right. She isn’t an evil person for charging what the market will bear. It could be that it’s worth more than I personally would be willing to pay for it. If she is mass-producing them then it seems like a bit of a rip-off but again, if they’re selling then the price is right.

In the end, I know I’m not going to get one so I’ll just appreciate it as a neat idea.

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