Cave full of ancient art sells for $2M

As reported at CNN and elsewhere, a Missouri cave filled with ancient artwork was sold at auction for $2.2 million. Trouble is, the deal really pissed off the leaders of the Osage Nation who had previously tried to buy the property.

"It is our ancestors who are buried there in that cave," Andrea Hunter, tribal historic preservation officer for the Osage Nation, explained. "It is our ancestors that created the images that are on the walls and conducted the rituals that took place. It is absolutely the most sacred site that we have. And it rightfully should be in our ownership."

The landmark, known as Picture Cave, contains Native American wall drawings from more than 1,000 years ago. The site was consigned by a family who had owned the property since 1953 and primarily used it for hunting. They approached Selkirk Auctioneers & Appraisers, the firm responsible for the sale, after talks with the tribe failed.

No word what the winning bidder will do with the epic cave, but I think we can all agree not listing it on Airbnb would be a waste and almost certainly anger the gods.

Comments

When chocolate meets art

I heard it's National Chocolate Day, so I thought I'd share this video about Orlando's newest and sweetest attraction.

Hand-Painted Bags That Tell Your Story

Most bags today look like they were produced by bored machines in a dimly lit factory. You can walk into any mall and find rows of identical leather (or “leather-like”) things, all claiming to express individuality. Ironically, though, they all look exactly the same. Then there’s Abby Verano . Her bags are not mere accessories; they’re declarations. Each one is hand-painted, touched by an actual human being with an imagination. Abby doesn’t just sell you something to put your wallet and smartphone in; she sells you a story, a vision, a little revolt against the tyranny of sameness. Her tools are simple — brushes, acrylic paint, bags made from pandan leaves, and creativity. No duplicates. No clones. Just one-of-a-kind art pieces you can carry.

'The Immigrant' by Michael Murphy

Michael Murphy is a master when it comes to optical illusion. His most recent work, The Immigrant , is a three-dimensional composition made of 2,300 black wooden spheres suspended with translucent fibers. When you view the sculpture from the right angle, the seemingly chaotic array of objects suddenly aligns to form an image of Michael's partner Natasha Vladimirova. The imagery was inspired by the contributions immigrants make in enriching the society and economy. Natasha is an immigrant and it is with her help that the artwork was made possible. Michael studied sculpture at Kent State University and received his masters degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The Brooklyn-based artist became famous when he created the first fine art portraits of Barack Obama during his 2007 presidential campaign. His work has been featured in various publications and websites and can be seen in numerous permanent installations around the globe.

finding cain

Search This Blog