Initially Laurence Selender rented a modest room on East 79 th Street, which is paid little more than 58 thousand dollars a month. He spent here regular exhibitions of famous masters of painting and sculpture, which has always attracted distinguished art critics and collectors. His institution enjoys well-deserved reputation.
In 2005 Selender withdrew aforementioned mansion, and in 2006 left the old premises. October 16 Lawrence Selendera gallery door was sealed by court order. The last exhibition, which the organizer introduced as one of the most significant developments in the art world of New York, is minimized. Art dealer to respond immediately to a series of actions which he initiating former clients who accuse him of fraud and failure to pay on loans taken. Among the plaintiffs - the owner of the luxurious mansion, which gallery owners had long ceased to pay rent. In several statements, states that Selender take work from their owners to participate in the exposition, and then exhibited for sale, without asking permission from the owners. The fact that the work sold, some owners have learned to find them in other galleries or museums.
Son of the famous abstract artist and photographer Relstona Crawford said that Selender sold without his knowledge or consent of at least a dozen of his father's work, whose value may be a half million dollars.
"Lawrence used to say: do something that will benefit the arts, the rest will come of itself, - said John Crawford. - It is anticipated that he would do everything in his power for the development of cultural process. "
Well-known Manhattan art dealer Richard Feigin said that, for the first time he saw the mansion, shot Selenderom for the new gallery, was appalled by the scale of activity and ambition of his colleague.
"The fact that the market for old masters are not very large, and the number of serious collectors can be counted on the fingers", - says Feigin.
Boss Feigin - Frances Beatty said that the work on Selendera art market in the last few years could be compared with the decision to master the pop singer's operatic repertoire, and then build for their performances yet another La Scala.
Rumors of financial problems gallery "Selender O'Reilly" crept in the summer of last year. The rumors were confirmed when the magazine Maine Antique Digest reported on a number of lawsuits vchinennyh Manhattan gallery owners. How should the article, to pay off creditors, he lent 138 500 dollars in June, 525 thousand in July and another 200 thousand in August. As collateral featured 20 works of art. Loan Selenderu provided financial department auction house Sotheby's. " After closing the gallery lawyers "Sotheby's" initiating a lawsuit, arguing that the court has no right to seize or sell those works, which serve as collateral.
In his last interview with Lawrence Selender said that he always paid the price with their customers, pay off this time, and accusations that he created a pyramid scheme - is absurd.
58-year-old Lawrence Selender works on art-market for almost four decades. He gained fame as a specialist in the field of American Art 1900's - 1950. In 2001, he told the London edition of Art Newspaper, that his father, grandfather and two uncles were art dealers. In the same interview he said that he had to go to work in 1969, after the death of his father.
He began working in the gallery "Astor" in Greenwich Village, and then opened his own in Wilton Connecticut. His specialization was furniture and paintings of XIX-XX centuries. In the mid 70's he appeared in Manhattan, where his partner was William O'Reilly. In 1989, they removed the gallery on East 79 th Street. In the mid-90 partners parted ways, but the name is preserved in the name of O'Reilly Galleries.
Former director of the Whitney Museum of American Art Maxwell Anderson characterizes Selendera as a man does not hide the emotion when it comes to art. He did not have enough self-restraint and manners of other art dealers, particularly among those who worked with art objects of the same class as him. But many customers just attracted his directness and sincerity.
Relation to the dealer began to change when he moved to new premises.
Alison Hilding - great-niece of the famous abstract artist Giorgio Cavaillon, submitted to the commission Selenderu one of his works, recalls: "When I went to the house on East 71 th, I thought that Lawrence should be very difficult to pay for their stay in ! "
Even by the standards of the Upper East Side rent for the house seemed too high for an art gallery. In addition to the lease, constitutes 154 thousand dollars, the tenant is liable for payment of property taxes, which added to the score of another 20 thousand dollars a month.
Having entered the mansion, built in the early last century textile magnate, Selender not paid his owner Elaine Rosenberg, a penny, but gave as a pledge sheet Edouard Monet. In court papers, said that its price exceeds $ 10 million.
A few months after moving to a new location Selender asked Rosenberg, a one-year delay in the payment of rent. They agreed on the fact that he will make 14600 dollars a month.
Rosenberg, knowing Selendera more than 15 years, said that his move to the mansion seemed to her quite justified. She believed that he would be able to attract new customers.
Then Rosenberg, seeking to rescue their money, gave Selenderu 200 thousand dollars for the acquisition of Stuart Davis, which he promised to sell for 800 thousand in six months and repay the debt. Selender acquired the work for 400 thousand dollars.
The petition Rosenberg says that Selender sold the work, but has not settled up with her. The defendant contends that the work is not sold.
Among those who confided gallery owners - famous tennis player John Makenro and a number of well-known New York financiers. They gave Selenderu money to invest them into works of art and expected to earn good money. But, not seeing any profits, nor the amounts borrowed, they had to go to court. Then followed the judge's order to close the gallery.
www.nrs.com
19.03.2009, 10:15
Art or artifice?
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