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How Is Fine Art Transported?

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There are many fragile things in this world; there are many things in the world that hold a great deal of sentiment, emotion, and history, and fine art is one of those things that requires the utmost care. When moving a piece of history from one place to another, be it to a museum or shipped to your home, one must take special precautions so that the art shipping process is seamless and your masterpiece is undamaged. When transporting fine art, there are multiple methods to be used, and which one is employed depends on the confidence of the piece’s safety.

A knowledgable transporter will often use a corrugated box for the art shipping, after wrapping it in high-quality bubble wrap placed between rigid styrofoam. The bubble wrap prevents the painting, or other art pieces, from scratches, dents, and damage from shifting around. However, some artwork may not be able to be wrapped in bubble wrap due to the nature of their make, such as oil paintings. Sometimes, movers may even place a single piece of art in two boxes for extra protection.

If a piece is shipped overseas or exceptionally large, the seller or mover may send it by plane. More often, though, art pieces come by truck. You can opt for a standard service such as FedEx or UPS, but there are plenty of movers out there that if those services aren’t appealing. The ideal for moving fine art is for there to be minimal human handling, to minimize the risk of dropping or damaging the piece. When boxed, movers use sturdy packing tape to ensure the box doesn’t open during transport and shipping labels to alert movers that they need to handle the piece with care.

On certain occasions, the piece can be wrapped in something protective like a heavy blanket so that the artwork can be brought directly to you without needing to be unboxed. On the opposite extreme, a transporter might use custom-designed crates for packaging an extremely valuable or oddly shaped piece where a box might not offer the amount of protection needed for transport and discretion.

Keeping the boxes inconspicuous is vital to avoid art theft, and transporters will do what it takes to ship fine art as swiftly and unassumingly as possible. Art shipping is a cautious task, but with the right packaging materials and a reliable transporter, your piece of fine art will come to its destination safe and sound.

If you need your fine art transported, get your free quote today!

Is there a Big Art Painting Transportation Problem?

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Although it might be common to think that the most significant risk to art collectors is theft, the real danger is having it damaged when on the road. That’s where most claims in art come from: damage or loss in transit.

Of course, there are reasons for moving art. Institutions, artists and dealers use art shipping for loans to major exhibitions, commissions if it’s a business, or sending artwork as gifts. Art is on the move all the time, whether it’s across the country, overseas or to a gallery nearby. Wherever it’s needed, transportation is necessary.

Art shipping comes with many risks. They could be anything from improper packaging, leaving marks, to forklifts puncturing crates to sculptures loose in the back of a truck without proper packaging or improperly secured and damaged for good. Table legs can even make holes in painting while on the move.

When artwork is sitting safely on display on a wall or stand, it’s fine. It’s when it’s handled and starts to move that the complications happen and art is most exposed and vulnerable. Even works by famous artists have come to harm, such as a lost Picasso or a gashed Rembrandt. Very high-value pieces can quickly become valueless.

Sometimes art can go “on approval” to collectors to be reviewed in-person. If the collector sends back unwanted artwork without proper care, it can result in a loss of a buyer/seller relationship and any further sales.

There are no standard procedures or overarching regulators for art transportation. Making sure it gets there means taking an active part in choosing how it will go.

Handling and packing are critical to making sure it arrives intact. Because so many mistakes can happen, even a quick drop, it comes down to experience and knowing the hazards. That’s why so many buyers, sellers, artists and organizations use a professional service.

If you live in New Mexico, Pak Mail is a knowledgeable, professional and dedicated art shipping service right in Santa Fe.

Professionals are friendly and highly-trained experts in packing and shipping to ensure your items get there safely and without concerns. Pak Mail has served millions of satisfied customers and ships 35,000 paintings each year.

Pak Mail offers specialty packing with certified staff who assess dimensions and fragility and create custom solutions for items such as antiques, fine art, furniture, auction items and china and glass.

Pak Mail also works in partnership with truck, air and ocean transport companies, which means it can ship almost any item to anywhere in the world. Transport specialists work with less-than-truckload services, small packages and specialized carriers and look after all paperwork, confirmations and tracking to get artwork where it needs to go and in the condition in which it needs to arrive.

Contact us or get your free quote here!

What is the Safest way to Ship Art?

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When art shipping your utmost goal obviously is to see that the art reaches its destination safe and in immaculate condition. People whose business is shipping art agree it requires wisdom and planning. Their advice is that you take your time and learn all you can about the various methods of artwork shipping.

When it comes to shipping small and midsize artworks, there are normally two options: you can do it yourself or you can hire professional art movers who are specialists in shipping fine art.

Consider Shipping Artwork Yourself

If you decide to do your own art shipping, you should be aware of the different methods of artwork handling and shipping. It’s good and wise also to consider getting advice from experienced, professional movers. Be mindful that each piece of art you own is unique and demands an individual approach to its packing and shipping.

Fine Art Shippers, a New York-based father and son branded firm specializing in handling and shipping fine art, gives three important things to consider if you go the do-it-yourself route:

  • always purchase insurance;
  • use only the best packing materials to protect your art during transit;
  • pack your artwork early and never wait until the last minute.

If you need professional advice on how to ship artwork safely, experienced art movers should be sought. They will help you avoid costly mistakes.

Shipping Art Using Professional Movers Is the Safest

You want to avoid costly mistakes and not worry about your art piece as it moves from one point to another point. You don’t want to be kicking yourself somewhere down the line for doing a poor job of preparing and not giving proper attention to handling and shipping.
So the safest way to ship art is obvious, isn’t it?

Hire a professional mover and shipper. It’s the safest, wisest way to ship that precious article. Here are some reasons why using professional art movers is the safest way to go:

  • professional art movers have all the answers to your questions and can relieve you of any doubts you may be harboring.
  • professional movers will guarantee the highest level of care and protection to even the most delicate items.
  • professional movers will diligently explain the paperwork involved before you give it your signature.
  • professional art movers are affordable and easy on your budget.

In conclusion, professional art movers know what they are doing when it comes to art shipping. They know how best to handle paintings, antiques, and other valuables and collectibles before they are shipped. Make it easy on yourself and use a professional company. It is the safest way to ship art.

What Makes Artwork Valuable, and How Is it Shipped?

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It’s very difficult for an untrained person to understand the value of a piece of artwork just by looking at it. What seems pleasing to the eye could be worth very little, while some very simple or chaotic pieces could command extremely high price tags. The more valuable fine art pieces require specific and careful consideration when shipping. Shipping fine art is a specialty that should be left to professionals.

What determines the price of a piece of art?

Like all goods that are bought and sold, the price is determined by supply and demand. Some artists are in very high demand by collectors, and a single person can only paint so many pieces on their own. Bear in mind that a person wanting to own a piece of artwork can only purchase ones that are currently for sale, which is sometimes only one at any given time or even none.

What makes the works of a given artist more in-demand or valuable? Some of the determining factors are the exhibition history of the artist’s works, the price history of the prior sales of their artwork, the career and fame of the artist and the size of the piece. The artist might also raise the price of a piece if there were some high production costs involved in creating it.

The place where you buy a piece of art also affects its value. If you attend an exhibit at one of the world’s most renowned galleries or museums, the price is bound to be much higher. Other factors are current buying trends and tastes. If a particular artist’s style seems to be the current trend in the market, their art can go at a higher price tag. If an artist is seen as the next possible celebrity on-the-rise, many people might seek out their art in anticipation of a big return on investment, and the rising demand will drive up the price.

For artists who have been deceased for decades or centuries, their place in art history plays a large role in the value of their works. Collectors also place higher value on works that are easily recognizable as such when they’re hanging on the wall.

How is art shipped?

If you have to transport some treasured paintings, your method of art shipping has to be taken into consideration. Your artwork could be worth millions, but if it arrives in tatters, it becomes practically worthless.

When shipping valuables, especially art, you must anticipate that mistakes and mishaps are likely to happen and plan to protect your art when these things occur. When shipping artwork, it is advisable to hire professionals who are experienced in art shipping. If your artwork is framed, you may need to have a custom-built wooden crate to house the art and wrap it in bubble wrap to protect the glass and delicate frame from bumps and motion in the vehicle.

If you are transporting unframed artwork, make sure no hands or skin directly touch the art. Wear cotton gloves, and wrap the art in acid-free tissue paper. It’s also good to wrap the art in plastic to protect from moisture or water damage. Sandwich the art between pieces of cardboard and tape them securely shut. If the artwork is being transported with other household belongings, mark it clearly as fragile.

Contact us or get your free quote here.

The Life of Georgia O’Keeffe 45 Minutes from Santa Fe

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American artist Georgia O’Keeffe is widely referred to as the “Mother of American Modernism.” She painted oil canvasses that depict everything from flowers to skyscrapers to the landscape north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The love she developed for the American Southwest created a genre of timeless and unique works.

What does O’Keefe have to do with Pakmail? First of all, we simply love art and everything the Santa Fe art world has to offer. But also because Pakmail is one of the largest art shippers in Santa Fe.

O’Keefe enjoyed art from an early age. She was influenced by her grandmothers and sisters, who were talented painters in their own right.

Born in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on November 15, 1887, O’Keeffe started formal training as an artist in 1905. She attended the prestigious School of the Art Institution of Chicago and then moved on to the Arts Students League of Chicago. But because she felt formal classes did little to enhance her skills, she quit school and focused on working as a commercial illustrator. She also taught art classes to students around the country.

After O’Keeffe married photographer and art dealer Alfred Stieglitz, her career received a serious boost. Her works were seen at a number of early 20th Century exhibits. Over the years, her oil paintings continued to garner praise and publicity. She was introduced to a number of influential artists including John Marin, Paul Strand, and Arthur Dove, who was impressed by her vibrancy and eye for experimentation. Stieglitz notably took hundreds of nude pics of O’Keefe, which created a high level of public interest.

She had a few New York solo exhibitions that featured the skyscraper works City Night (1926) and Shelton Hotel, New York No. 1 (1926). In a profession dominated by men, she became one of the most successful artists in the United States. Considered a pioneer, she paved the way for other up and coming female artists.

It was in New Mexico where other inspirations began to take shape. It was there where she developed a love for abstract art. During this period she released some of her better-known works Black Iris (1926) and Oriental Poppies (1928).

Georgia O’Keeffe in Santa Fe found her footing. Inspired by the local Navajo people and the breathtaking landscapes, she created a number of iconic works that featured animal skulls: Black Cross, New Mexico (1929), Cow’s Skull: Red, White, and Blue (1931) and countless others. Not only did O’Keefe receive critical success, but her paintings also fetched a pretty penny. Many of her works sold for five-figure.

Of all the inspirational places O’Keeffe enjoyed during her time in New Mexico, she had a particular fondness for Ghost Ranch in Abiquiú. In fact, she ended up buying two homes there. Over the years, O’Keeffe spent her time collecting a number of rocks, bones, and other types of artifacts. Her exploration of the local mountain regions served as inspiration for the Lawrence Tree oil painting.

Along with longtime friend Rebecca Strand, O’Keeffe visited Taos, New Mexico. Fellow artist Mable Dodge Luhan provided her with a studio. During her time in Taos, she painted the San Francisco de Asis Mission Church at Ranchos de Taos. She also used a rather unique perspective with her paintings by capturing them partially silhouetted by the sky.

By the late 1930s, O’Keeffe was one of the most sought-after artists in the world. Her paintings caught the attention of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (Today the Dole Foods Company). N.W. Ayer & Son, who managed advertisements for Hawaiian Pineapple commissioned her to create pineapple artwork for an upcoming campaign. After visiting Hawaii, she painted a 1939 oil canvass Pineapple Bud. This was seen as a shot in the arm for O’Keeffe’s career. Although her works received critical acclaim, some in the art world believed the constant New Mexico focus was making her artwork stale.

Additionally, O’Keeffe was commissioned by Elizabeth Arden to create a mural for a New York City exercise salon. She accepted another commission to paint a mural for Radio City Music Hall.

Stiglitz, 20 years her senior, supported her through her ups and downs. However, he began to have serious health problems in his later years. In 1946, he died of a stroke. A few years after the death of her husband, O’Keefe made the permanent move to New Mexico. While she continued to paint, she also traveled the globe seeking out new inspirations for her work. After the distinctive Ladder to the Moon painting (1958), she released several pieces of Cloudscape art inspired by the view from the clouds while in an airplane. In 1960, the Worcester Art Museum hosted the Georgia O’Keeffe: Forty Years of Her Art.

Throughout the 1960s, her works were exhibited at The Whitney Museum of American Art and the Worcester Art Museum. By 1972, O’Keeffe’s eyesight has greatly diminished due to macular degeneration. However, she was still able to paint a series of watercolors and release her autobiography. While a number of art aficionados labeled her works feminist, O’Keefe didn’t see it that way. She scoffed at being known as a “woman artist” and refused to join art organizations that were not all-inclusive.

O’keefe’s last works comprised of pencil and charcoal and were released in 1984. After her retirement, she was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 by Gerald Ford and was awarded the National Medal of Arts by Ronald Reagan in 1985. She also received honorary degrees from Bryn Mawr College and Harvard University.

O’Keeffe’s art, life, and legacy is the stuff of legends. She died in New Mexico in 1986 at the age of 98. Remembered as an independent spirit, O’Keeffe is considered a role model for artists. Her audacity and distinctive style unlocked doors and helped her receive acceptance in an industry that was male-dominated.

The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum was opened in Santa Fe in 1997. It holds a significant number of her works as well as her house and property. Thousands of her paintings are also on display in museums and galleries all over the world. Her home and studio were designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1998.

The U.S. Postal Service honored O’Keeffe with a 32-cent stamp in 1997.

Canyon Road for Christmas Eve – A Local Tradition Featuring Galleries and Family Fun

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One of the city’s most popular seasonal traditions, the Santa Fe Canyon Road Christmas Eve Walk features thousands of little lanterns, known as farolitos in Spanish, that turn the road itself into a virtual work of art. Crafted of paper bags, sand, and tea candles, the farolitos illuminate the courtyards, gardens and historic buildings located along Canyon Road, creating a unique celebration of the area’s art.

Among the businesses lining Canyon Road are diverse galleries that feature art ranging from traditional to contemporary to digital. Here are some galleries that are well worth visiting while strolling the Santa Fe Canyon Road Christmas Eve Walk.

Adobe Gallery

Established more than 40 years ago, Adobe Gallery is dedicated to help build quality Southwest art collections worldwide and educate historic Pueblo pottery collectors. Ranging from antique to contemporary Southwest fine art and Pueblo pottery, Adobe’s collection includes such specialty items as old silver and turquoise jewelry, Hopi kachina/katsina dolls, baskets and Mission oak furniture. The gallery also houses a large selection of books on Southwest Indian Pueblo arts and crafts.

Just a few years ago, Adobe featured mostly Pueblo pottery but by their 10th anniversary had added Hopi katsina dolls, Navajo rugs from the early 1900s, Southwest Indian baskets from the 1800s and pawn jewelry.

Canyon at Palace

Canyon at Palace features fine contemporary works by Santa Fe artists Chuck Volz and Cecelia Robertson. For over two decades, Volz has painted the western landscapes of California and the desert Southwest, focusing on both harmony and contrasts in nature. Also emphasizing nature in her work, Robertson has won awards for both her still life and landscape paintings.

Alan Kessler Gallery

For over three decades, the Alan Kessler Gallery has dealt in fine American Indian art from the Northwest Coast to the Woodlands. One of the gallery’s original founders, Kessler is the author of the work “Collecting Kachina Dolls 1880-1940.”

Canyon Road Contemporary Art

Located in the historic Rios home, Canyon Road Contemporary Art features the works of more than 25 artists. With 3,500 square feet of space, the gallery includes contemporary artwork such as acrylics, ink and pastels; along with fused glass, mixed media and bronze sculptures.

Freeman Gallery

The recently established Freeman Gallery was founded by Craig Freeman, also the founder of Northwest College of Art and Design in Washington. The gallery features Craig’s artwork, as well as that of his sons Matti and Mikko, among other artists.

Convergence Gallery

Established in 1985, Convergence Gallery was originally located in San Francisco. When owner-artists Bennie and San Merideth visited Santa Fe in 1993, however, they fell in love with the city and relocated there. Featuring a diverse collection of contemporary art, their present gallery is now housed in a historic adobe building.

Gallery 901

With their mission of putting “a piece of original art in every home in America,” Gallery 901 features traditional, modern and contemporary art, including sculpture.

The Matthews Gallery

For nearly 20 years, Matthews Gallery has exhibited American, European and Santa Fe/Taos fine art dating from the 19th to 21st centuries. The gallery’s diverse works range from traditional to modernist to contemporary and include paintings, sculptures and paper art. Forbes and Travel + Leisure are among the publications that have recommended The Matthews Gallery for serious art collectors.

Kat Livingood Photography

Dedicated to her passion for wild animals, Kat Livingood features her fine art photography in her studio located in an old adobe house on Canyon Road. Livingood donates a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of her photos to wildlife sanctuaries.

Manitou Galleries

Featuring contemporary representational paintings, prints, glass, sculptures and fine jewelry, Manitou is among the West’s premier galleries. Visitors who stroll the Santa Fe Canyon Road Christmas Eve Walk will have the privilege of enjoying Manitou’s upcoming Southwestern Synergy exhibition, which runs through December 31.

GiacobbeFritz Fine Art

Located in an 1880s adobe building, GiacobbeFritz is known for their eclectic artwork. Their current featured artist, Del Curfman, is a Native American whose semi-abstract paintings utilize loose brushwork to express the qualities of nature.

Hacho a Mano

Emphasizing handmade artwork in a highly automated world, Hacho a Mano’s goal is to preserve the tradition of craftsmanship. From historical to contemporary, the gallery features works that prove that craft is, indeed, a genuine art form.

Globe Fine Art

Located on a small oasis atop Canyon Road, Globe Fine Art is a secluded gallery that stresses originality. From established to emerging artists, Globe features powerful contemporary artwork, including paintings and glass and steel sculptures.

Hunter Squared Gallery

Featuring works by both national and international artists, Hunter Squared’s collection consists of diverse styles and media. The gallery’s contemporary artwork ranges from abstract to surrealist paintings and sculptures.

Morning Star Gallery

Established 35 years ago, Morning Star Gallery features crafts and artwork from more than 50 Native North American tribes. Morning Star’s diverse collection includes pottery, jewelry and textiles from the Southwest; baskets from California and the Great Basin; beadwork from the Plains and wooden sculptures from the Northeast and the Northwest Coast. The gallery recently added antique New Mexican furniture to their product line.

Modernist Frontier

Featuring works by painters Jono Tew and photographer Cody Brothers, Modernist Frontier displays both artists’ love of contemporary western subjects, especially America’s national parks.

Combining cubism, surrealism and abstract expressionism, Tew’s unique abstract style dominates his paintings.

Brothers’ photography concentrates on what he describes as “the western abandon,” such as dilapidated homes, forgotten churches and abandoned farms.

Sara Novenson Gallery

Uniquely blending New Mexican with Israeli landscapes, contemporary Jewish artist Sara Novenson likens her paintings to prayer. Novenson’s limited editions are personally proofed, hand painted with pastels and gold pigments, signed and numbered.

Sage Creek Gallery

Featuring the works of more than 40 artists, Sage Creek offers their visitors an invitation to “experience the West” through an interactive gallery atmosphere. Ranging from paintings such as “Impending Storm” by Suzanne Baker to the bronze sculpture “Soft Spot” by Kim Kori, Sage Creek’s artwork is housed in a gallery that gives visitors the opportunity to emotionally connect to each piece.

If you’re on the walk, a lot of the stores are open! And we have your art shipping covered to help get your new Christmas present home safe and sound.