Michael J. Carey artwork
I have good last minute news that a potential lot offer sale may happen as well as a possible exhibition. And in September 15, 2023, I learned that one of Michael’s sculptures Standing Woman with Flower is now in the collection of Racine Art Museum/Wustum.
Finally though... I am satisfied that I have done as much as I can to preserve Michael’s artwork. The project is now ended. The website will remain online for a few more years. The database of the collection is online and in my archives as well as with the Climate Controlled Storage records.
I retain reproduction rights to the collection as I do not want the work misused. I will no longer be actively promoting or maintaining the work.
I thank all who have helped in this effort and thank all who have brought these works into their homes.
—Suzanne Anderson-Carey
THE LEGACY PROJECT
Following is a record of the Michael J. Carey Artwork legacy project:
Total works in studio or storage at 2017: 323
Total works collected, placed, or gifted after 2017: 63
41 sculptures
18 works on paper
4 prints
Total works remaining as of 7/26/23: 260
Works on Paper: 142
88 unframed works were placed in Climate Controlled Storage in 2017
Of the 54 framed works in the studio in 2017: 3 sold, 18 were gifted, 1 was kept by estate, 6 were removed from the collection, 22 were unframed and will be added to Climate Controlled Storage in 2024, and 4 will remain in the studio.
Still hoping for donation acceptance as I cannot keep these last 4 very large and heavy works.
*Cataloging process completed
Sculpture: 52
41 placed in private collections: 11 sold, 27 gifted, 3 kept by estate
11 available (1 of these is pending). Those 11 will be removed from the collection if unplaced.
*Cataloging process completed
Sculptural Frames: 3
These are not just MJC’s enhanced frames, they are sculptures foremost, frames secondarily.
Found photograph these by Ben Ailes. Thank you Ben.
Requires 2 or three people to move them as they are in travel crates.
Sculpture Commission Records: 3 sets
*Cataloging of images process completed
Prints: 132
In 15 editions of various numbers
All available
*Cataloging process completed
4 sold or gifted
Care of Legacy Collection
Maintenance & Storage
Painting rack for framed pieces built.
Worktable with flat storage built.
Acid-free archival portfolios made for storage of unframed works.
9 Float frames for flat works with paint stick.
3 Prints framed and matted.
Cataloging Process
Photography for print and web completed and archived.
Catalog numbers assigned.
Dimensions, dates.
Provenance, signature.
Collector if sold.
Storage location (including portfolio number).
All above information in database excel files.
Overview Book of Artworks
15 hardcover and 15 softcover books printed.
All but one sent. Pdf master file for print stored.
Website of Collection
Work completed:
Artworks: All inherited work posted except for 3 sculptural frames I can’t move.
Ongoing: Update artworks (caption info if sold).
Content written and posted.
Products CD’s and catalogs posted.
Jazz Skycaps posted.
Prints posted.
Slides of works prior to 1988 bulk scanned. (May add history to site at some point. Scans require extensive cleanup.)
Sales of Collection
11 sculptures sold.
27 sculptures homed
3 sculptures kept
3 prints sold.
1 print gifted.
*Numerous sculptures also sold when Michael was represented by SFMOMA Artists Gallery. These are not included in this total. But I have old records of about 5 such sales.
*Note: I began complete cataloging of the remaining studio work in 2018. From 1983 till then, I was involved in many aspects of Michael’s art — including photography contracting, photography assistance, website design and maintenance, art promotion, public art proposals, and hands-on print production. That helped. I did not catalog earlier artworks nor have close knowledge of sales, collectors, art finances or sales records. If I have mistaken artwork dates, titles, or overlooked any collectors, please accept my apologies.
Many earlier works created before 1988 which are either collected, lost or that Michael destroyed, have slides that have been scanned. There are 135 such images. There are three such images including New Hats that are professionally digitally photographed. Cleaning up the other 135 images and cataloging all of those is a task that I cannot take on.
Shows or Events
1632Gallery 1632 35th Street, Sacramento CA
Folsom Harris Center, Folsom CA
MOCRA Show was canceled when Director retired.
Crocker Art Museum did a studio visit but declined acquisition or donations. They did not have appropriate shows upcoming for the of the work.
2022 East Bay Open Studios
2023 East Bay Open Studios
Note: To sell the work at the East Bay Open Studios, I cannot enter it with Michael’s name... the studio has to be listed in their promotional materials and online as Suzanne Anderson-Carey and show my work. They said it is ok to sell anything in my studio during the sale, but they do not allow it to be promoted. That’s why I send my own email invitation for that.
De Young Salon exhibition
This was suggested so I explored the possibility. Work must be by an artist living and working in the Bay Area and completed within the last 2 years.
Promotional / Outreach
An Overview Book of Artworks
2023: 15 hardcover and 15 softcover books printed. Pdf master file for print stored.
2024: 15softcover books printed and am mailing or delivering.
Gallery Outreach & Visits
Took Overview book to 2 local galleries. Mailed books with individual letters regarding collection, donation, representation, thank you etc. to prospective galleries and institutions as well as to collectors of Michael’s work.
Galleries and institutions:
Seager Gray Gallery
John Berggruen Gallery
Fresno Museum of Art / Michele Ellis Pracy
Sonoma Art Museum / Linda Keaton
Texas A&M-Commerce / William F. Kuracina
California State Univ / Rachel Clarke
Anglim / Trimble
John Berggruen Gallery
Trish Bransten / Ruth Bransten Gallery
Oakland Museum of CA / René de Guzman
Jack Fischer Gallery
John Natsoulas Center for the Arts
Robert Green Fine Arts
Collectors of Michael’s work:
Michael & Regina Almaguer
Mark & Gail Ashworth
Scott Atthowe
Janice Barger
Ann Dewart
Pat Mahony Getz
Janet Hart
Steve Harwood
Gwenna Howard
Marion & Stan Leff
Shelley Liles McBurney
Marian Parmenter
David and Patricia Schwartz
Maria Schiavone
David Schwartz
Patti Schwartz
Toni Sherman & Don Meyer
Scott A. Shields
Amy Spencer
Joanne Travers
Dave Travis
Michael Verlander
Christopher Wagstaff
Sharon Wilchar
Outreach Notes
Lost Art Salon:
Initial visit and presentation to Lost Art in SF. Visit to our studio June24th.
Phone discussion July 15. Difficulties scope and large format of the collection discussed. Some pending thoughts in discussion but...the timing and logistics and physical demands on are not possible any longer. Good news! Renewed discussions and potential for a lot offer and potential exhibition
Seager Grey Gallery
Visit to gallery, gave catalog. They praised work but not taking in much new work or artists.
Anglim / Trimble
Mailed catalog. Called gallery and spoke to Shannon. He praised work but not taking in much new work or artists. Said I could call back and he might have some suggestions. (Honestly, I have gotten exhausted by suggestions.)
Ruth Bransten Gallery
Mailed catalog. Got a voice message from Trish Bransten. She praised work but was not sure she could help.
Crocker Art Museum
Had a studio visit in 2019 but declined acquisition or donations. They did not have appropriate shows upcoming for the of the work.
Robert Green Fine Arts
Tried him because he has some legacy artists. Visited gallery and left catalog. Praised work but not taking in art.
Grey Loft Gallery
Outreach via email.
Bay Nature Magazine
Outreach via email regarding donation
Nature Conservancy
Outreach via email regarding donation
LewAllen Galleries, Santa Fe
Outreach via email
Unless noted no responses.
Outreach Success:
Mailing of Overview Catalog to a collector resulted in a museum donation
I received an appraisal inquiry regarding a donated piece.
The following work is in a museum collection.
Standing Woman with Flower, c. 1999
RAM: 441 Main Street, Racine, WI
Wustum: 2519 Northwestern Avenue, Racine, WI
Auction Houses
Michaan’s: outreach to online art sales site. Got a reply of interest. They returned my second call and are interested in the folk art collection well as the artwork. They have asked to do a walk through but requested that I be specific about which items I want to auction. That will take me a while and probably indicates they don’t want to handle the complete collection. So, I will have to address that, and it will take some time and more photography. I will call them if and when ready to arrange collectibles and artwork visit.
Clars: outreach to online art sales site
Emailed to Fine Art Specialist with 2 potential sculptures to evaluate for possible auction.
Reply: Estimates are given based on previous auction records by the same artist. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any auction records for Michael Carey’s work. As such we would have to respectfully pass. If you have anything else in your collection that you would like us to review, please let me know.
Bonhams: outreach to online art sales site
Emailed to Fine Art Specialist with 2 potential sculptures to evaluate for possible auction. Same answer as Clars basically.
Avenues and Venues Ruled Out
Saatchi Fine Arts: outreach to online art sales site
Research site online for selling and emailed for specific information.
Received reply: They do not sell any deceased artist’s work, nor do they allow selling it by any second party, family, or heirs.
Artsy: outreach to online art sales site
Research site online for selling and emailed for specific information.
Reply: “Thank you for your interest in selling with Artsy! We are happy to take a closer look at your artworks for sale consideration. To start, we’ll need some more information on the artwork, which you can submit by following these steps: Visit our Sell with Artsy home page and click “Submit an artwork”. Search for your artist. If an artist does not appear, we are not accepting submissions for that artist at this time.
Artfinder: outreach to online art sales
Reply: “Hi Suzanne, many thanks for getting in touch and for advising. Unfortunately, this would still not be permissible as artists are required to either be self-representing on their own, or part of a Gallery, and at this current time they would need to be alive.”
2nd outreach asked how I could become a gallery since I have a resale license etc. and had a design business…but I do not want to do that. Answer: “Unfortunately this would still not be permissible as artists are required to either be self-representing on their own, or part of a Gallery, and at this current time they would need to be alive.”
Masterwork: research guidelines of online art sales site
They sell blue chip art only and even if they did not, they require a $15,000 deposit and then take 60% of sale price. Not a viable solution.
Cost versus Revenue
Since January 2018
Costs to date approx. $54,000
Sales to date approx. $29,400 which has been used for the above costs.
(Sales taxes included in all sales whether or not itemized in sale invoices are none-the-less reported and paid via business Suzanne’s resale account.)
Finally
I have good last minute news that a potential lot offer sale may happen as well as a possible exhibition.
After that... I am satisfied that I have done as much as I can to preserve Michael’s artwork. The project is now ended. The website will remain online for a few more years. The database of the collection is online and in my archives as well as with the Climate Controlled Storage records.
I retain reproduction rights to the collection as I do not want the work misused. I will no longer be actively promoting or maintaining the work.
I thank all who have helped in this effort and thank all who have brought these works into their homes.
—Suzanne Anderson-Carey