The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, July 19, 1978-Page 17

Novice buyers beware

By MITCH CANTOR
Among the thousands of enthusiasts
who will attend this year's Art Fair,
ther6's no doubt that some unwary
buyers will purchase works on the
lower end of the quality spectrum. In
other words, there will be suckers. '
Most experts agree that purchasing
art can not be done astutely ina matter
of minutes. "Buying any kind of art is a'
process of educating yourself over a
long period of time," according to Bret
Waller, director of the University's
Museum of Art.
However, members of the Univer-
sity's Artists and Craftsmen Guild have
assembled a booklet of hints for
prospective art buyers called
Kaleidoscope: A Guide to the Many
Facets of Art and Crafts. Ann. Roth,
Assistant Director of the Guild, said the
guide is not designed solely for Art Fair
buyers.
"It's a booklet that applies to buying
arts and crafts in any situation," Roth
said of the year-old book. Seven art
media are described in the guide.
Guild member Martha Keller advises
art enthusiasts to use some imagination
in selecting a painting.
"At a street fair, without the ar-
chitectural support and intimate
viewing space of four walls, where
lighting is often harsh and glaring, the

personal nuances of painting are
sometimes lost. The viewer must com-
pensate for this by trying to imagine the
painting in a more personal setting
away from the distractions of the fair,"
Keller said.
Artist I. B. Remsen said those
choosing pottery should consider the
balance of the pot.
"A well-thrown pot is not necessarily
light weight, but it is evenly balanced.
It should turn easily in your hand with
only the slightest heaviness toward the
bottom," Remsen said.
Weaving expert Terry O'Toole said
woven items must be divided into two
groups: functional and decorative.
"When purchasing a functional item
(clothing, purse, rug, etc.), material
durability should be taken into con-
sideration, specifically whether or not
it has been pre-washed, or can be
washed or dry cleaned." O'Toole said.
Guild member Nancy Abbott writes
about batik, cloth which is decorated
using wax and dyes. She cautioned that
some people confuse batik with tie dye.
"Tie dye is also a resist process, but it
is less controlled than batik, where ac-
tual drawing is involved," she said.
"Questions to ask (about batik) ...
are the following: Is it washable? Can it
be hung in the sunlight? Does it still
contain wax? How should it be
cleanned" Abbotitsaid

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