Comments on: Jim Steranko is peeved http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:39:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Marz Richards http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-41475 Mon, 22 Jan 2007 19:13:19 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-41475 I contacted this seller PRIOR to his posting what he calls the provenance of the piece. He provides no names to assuage anyone's worry that this piece was initally procured under less-than-legit means when directly and privately questioned. In fact, he got upset that I questioned the sale in the first place. Sad, but it wouldn't be the first time a fan made up an ugly reason to cover poor manners and lack of social grace. I contacted this seller PRIOR to his posting what he calls the provenance of the piece. He provides no names to assuage anyone’s worry that this piece was initally procured under less-than-legit means when directly and privately questioned. In fact, he got upset that I questioned the sale in the first place. Sad, but it wouldn’t be the first time a fan made up an ugly reason to cover poor manners and lack of social grace.

]]> by: John Platt http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-41451 Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:07:19 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-41451 "9. Steranko launched a selfish (but understandable), shameful smear campaign to discredit the provenance of his own art and to interfere with its sale." How can Steranko's actions be both shameful and understandable? If the "provenance" of this art does not include the paperwork about its "auction" by the university, it is not a real provenance. And what happened through the series of "previous owners" in step 4? Is there proof of the claims in point number six? “9. Steranko launched a selfish (but understandable), shameful smear campaign to discredit the provenance of his own art and to interfere with its sale.”

How can Steranko’s actions be both shameful and understandable?

If the “provenance” of this art does not include the paperwork about its “auction” by the university, it is not a real provenance. And what happened through the series of “previous owners” in step 4? Is there proof of the claims in point number six?

]]> by: Verbatim http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-41448 Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:00:53 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-41448 If he thinks that ten percent is non-respectable, what's he going to think about the five percent that the eBay crowd seems willing to give him? If he thinks that ten percent is non-respectable, what’s he going to think about the five percent that the eBay crowd seems willing to give him?

]]> by: Brian Spence http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-41366 Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:02:33 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-41366 This is sad. I misunderstood and thought the university was the organization selling it now. Apparently, they auctioned it off long ago. It's now in the hands of someone who didn't know what they were getting into. Here's what it says in the eBay listing: There has been a campaign launched by the artist against the sale of this art. This should clarify any concerns. However, before we begin, allow us to inform you that this auction was temporarily removed by eBay ONLY because some of the dialogue were not within its guidelines. The dialogue was changed to comply with the parameters established by eBay and was successfully relisted as it is now and has been. Thank you. Now, in response to the artist's smear campaign and pleas. PROVENANCE: 1. Steranko gave away his drawing to a friend in the 1970s. 2. Said friend donated it along with other comic drawings to an institution. 3. After said friend's death, institution auctioned, sold, gave away most of the comic drawings, including FOOM. 4.One of a couple previous owners of the FOOM piece, passed on, leaving it to a friend and current owner. 5. After the piece decorated the wall of gleeful children's bedrooms (having previously thought it was a mere a repro poster until it had to be reframed and then discovered it was the original art board), the current owner, realizing its potential value after the boom of Marvel heroes being turned into extremely popular movies, decided to arrange a photo op with and a re-signing of the valuable art by the artist, Jim Steranko. 6. Steranko, via his agent, now wanted his now valuable art back in his possession and refused to meet or sign until he was assured he could buy/own it again. An attempt for it to be silently and secretly purchased by/via his agent for a non-respectable ten percent of its minimum appraised value was declined by current owner. 7. No mutual benefit could be struck, no hand-shakes given or cigars passed around; the meeting, signing and photo op was declined. Many subsequent emails were exhanged between artist and owner about it, but to no avail. 8. Now the art is up for sale to the general public by the current and legal owner. 9. Steranko launched a selfish (but understandable), shameful smear campaign to discredit the provenance of his own art and to interfere with its sale. 10. We are sorry he feels this way. We are not a charity organization or an auction house. 11. After many individual offers to purchase it from us (and lastly being appraised for a minimum of $45k) have been politely declined, we felt the eBay market is where most collectors can be aware of it, view it and have the opportunity to own it thorugh the practice of a fair, capitalist marketplace. T. Gautier: credited with being the first to adopt as a slogan, the phrase, "Art For Art's Sake" or l'art pour l'art". This is sad. I misunderstood and thought the university was the organization selling it now. Apparently, they auctioned it off long ago. It’s now in the hands of someone who didn’t know what they were getting into. Here’s what it says in the eBay listing:

There has been a campaign launched by the artist against the sale of this art. This should clarify any concerns. However, before we begin, allow us to inform you that this auction was temporarily removed by eBay ONLY because some of the dialogue were not within its guidelines. The dialogue was changed to comply with the parameters established by eBay and was successfully relisted as it is now and has been. Thank you.

Now, in response to the artist’s smear campaign and pleas.

PROVENANCE:
1. Steranko gave away his drawing to a friend in the 1970s.

2. Said friend donated it along with other comic drawings to an institution.

3. After said friend’s death, institution auctioned, sold, gave away most of the comic drawings, including FOOM.

4.One of a couple previous owners of the FOOM piece, passed on, leaving it to a friend and current owner.

5. After the piece decorated the wall of gleeful children’s bedrooms (having previously thought it was a mere a repro poster until it had to be reframed and then discovered it was the original art board), the current owner, realizing its potential value after the boom of Marvel heroes being turned into extremely popular movies, decided to arrange a photo op with and a re-signing of the valuable art by the artist, Jim Steranko.

6. Steranko, via his agent, now wanted his now valuable art back in his possession and refused to meet or sign until he was assured he could buy/own it again. An attempt for it to be silently and secretly purchased by/via his agent for a non-respectable ten percent of its minimum appraised value was declined by current owner.

7. No mutual benefit could be struck, no hand-shakes given or cigars passed around; the meeting, signing and photo op was declined. Many subsequent emails were exhanged between artist and owner about it, but to no avail.

8. Now the art is up for sale to the general public by the current and legal owner.

9. Steranko launched a selfish (but understandable), shameful smear campaign to discredit the provenance of his own art and to interfere with its sale.

10. We are sorry he feels this way. We are not a charity organization or an auction house.

11. After many individual offers to purchase it from us (and lastly being appraised for a minimum of $45k) have been politely declined, we felt the eBay market is where most collectors can be aware of it, view it and have the opportunity to own it thorugh the practice of a fair, capitalist marketplace.

T. Gautier: credited with being the first to adopt as a slogan, the phrase, “Art For Art’s Sake” or l’art pour l’art”.

]]> by: John Platt http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-40968 Sun, 21 Jan 2007 14:54:56 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-40968 I remember going to a big comic art exhibit at FDU about 10-12 years ago. I wonder if this was the same collection? I'll have to try to dig out the program book. I remember going to a big comic art exhibit at FDU about 10-12 years ago. I wonder if this was the same collection? I’ll have to try to dig out the program book.

]]> by: Rafael Kayanan http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-40933 Sun, 21 Jan 2007 13:04:45 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-40933 In fourth grade, this poster arrived in the mail as part of the F.O.O.M. membership packet. I used to have it hanging up on my bedroom wall - what a blast from the past. This is sad - Steranko is right to be very peeved. In fourth grade, this poster arrived in the mail as part of the F.O.O.M. membership packet. I used to have it hanging up on my bedroom wall - what a blast from the past. This is sad - Steranko is right to be very peeved.

]]> by: cary coatney http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-40666 Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:43:49 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-40666 I remember this piece. I don't think this was a cover per se - but a poster that you received with your FOOM membership packet. ~ Coat I remember this piece. I don’t think this was a cover per se - but a poster that you received with your FOOM membership packet.

~

Coat

]]> by: david http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-40295 Fri, 19 Jan 2007 20:45:14 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/01/19/jim-steranko-is-peeved/#comment-40295 "is now being cold on eBay" Being cold on eBay? :P “is now being cold on eBay”

Being cold on eBay? :P

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