arts
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Rowand art gallery vandalized; personal art collection to be auctioned
Update: The Joe Rowand Art Gallery was vandalized Saturday, Nov. 26, according to a Chapel Hill police report. Two large flower pots were broken, the business' banner sign was torn and the building was spray painted. Damage is valued at $1,100. No arrests have been made. The report is here. policereport.pdf
The Indy redacted some personal information for privacy reasons.
After declaring personal bankruptcy last year, Joe Rowand, former president of the now-defunct Somerhill Gallery, is auctioning 164 pieces from his own art collection Dec. 2–3 at Leland Little Auction and Estate Sales in Hillsborough.
Rowand filed for individual bankruptcy around the time Somerhill declared Chapter 7. The gallery owed artists hundreds of thousands of dollars for their work; this included some pieces that had been sold several years ago but for which the artists were not paid a commission. Meanwhile, according to court records, Rowand was drawing a $15,000 monthly salary from the gallery.
Ironically, Rowand’s personal cache, available online at llauctions.com, contains works by two artists listed as creditors in the Somerhill bankruptcy: Ginny Stanford of California, whom Somerhill owed $13,000, and John Beerman of Hillsborough, $40,000. These assets are not part of the gallery, and thus separate from any corporate legal proceedings.
Now legally absolved of his Somerhill debt through bankruptcy, (although since he didn’t pay the artists, one could question whether he has met the ethical obligation), Rowand has a new gallery on Legion Road in Chapel Hill.
Friday, November 11, 2011
He’s back.
Joe Rowand, who owes artists thousands of dollars after declaring bankruptcy last year, is opening his new gallery, tomorrow in Chapel Hill.
Over the past several years, Roward pulled down a $15,000 monthly salary while his previous enterprise, Somerhill Gallery, owed artists at least $270,000 in commissions on works that had been sold but for which they were never paid.
And in some cases, the artists said, they were told by the gallery that their pieces had not sold when in fact, they had.
Last year Somerhill declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy and closed; its debts included $200,000 in back rent and another $200,000 to the estate of the late philanthropist Rolf Rosenthal.
Most of the Somerhill artists are still waiting to be paid. An auction held in September 2010 generated $91,560 according to court documents, but the proceeds went first to major creditors, including banks and Scientific Properties, the gallery’s landlord.
But what Rowand is doing—starting a new business—is legal, according to Sara Conti, an attorney who had sought damages on behalf of the artists. As long as Rowand doesn’t use the Somerhill name or sell works that were protected in the bankruptcy filing, he can launch a new gallery.
The Indy called Rowand today and asked if any proceeds from the new business could go toward paying debts to Somerhill artists. He said it he was on a ladder installing light bulbs. Asked if he could speak later by phone, he said he did not want to comment.
The Joe Rowand Art Gallery hosts its grand opening tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located at 1713 Legion Road, down the street from Crooks Atrium Café.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Spring is in the air. Heaps of little creatures are prepping for debut, from bitty bunnies to budding bulbs and... lucky little cork gnomes, as the Indy staff has learned.
The news came in an "a-gnome-ymous" letter of Lilliputian proportion, attached to this little guy (or gal?). Locals will start spotting these little cuties beginning March 20, according to the message.
It seems they were inspired in part by last year's garden-gnome spottings across Durham, which were documented on a local blog, as well as here at the Indy website. (In fact, we even placed random gnome in one issue last year!)
Despite the gnome-nappings of last year, the "population is back on the rise," the letter said. And in this case, the letter says, it's actually good luck to take these little corkers home.
The very small gnomes, called "korknisse" are being tracked at the Cork Gnome Home.
Monday, August 30, 2010
- Somerhill.com
Somerhill Gallery President Joe Rowand lives in a 4,500-square-foot mansion filled with fine art on a 22.5-acre estate outfitted with a saltwater swimming pool and separate guest quarters—yet his gallery owes nearly $200,000 in back rent and $277,000 to artists whose work it consigned. somerhillcreditorlist.pdf
And during the gallery’s financial meltdown, Rowand has drawn a $15,000 monthly salary, according to federal bankruptcy court documents. (See pages 4-5 of the document.) motiontopay.pdf
Somerhill declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year, but converted it to Chapter 7 last week.
The gallery, which moved from Chapel Hill to Durham in 2008, is housed in a 9,663-square-foot space on the first floor of the Venable Building, 302 E. Pettigrew St., in Durham. Scientific Properties owns the building. Monthly rent is $17,762, according to court documents; the gallery has not paid rent for almost a year.
Scientific Properties has asked the court to require the gallery pay rent and fees and to vacate the premises. In that document, Scientific Properties cites a monthly debtor report showing that in both May and June, Rowand received $15,583 in salary and an additional $3,384 in health insurance.
The gallery has asked to stay in the Venable Building until it can move to a new space, which is not named in court documents.
Rowand was not available for comment Monday afternoon on the bankruptcy, his salary or the gallery’s move.
Other debts include $200,000 to philanthropist Rolf Rosenthal of Locust Valley, N.Y. He and his wife, Elizabeth, headed a charitable foundation that funded many artistic programs, including episodes of PBS’ American Masters series. Rosenthal died in February 2009.
In May, the monthly debtor report shows that “the gallery sold consigned property for $10,252, yet had not paid the persons who consigned the art.” The gallery hopes to raise $264,000 in a liquidation sale of its assets.
(H/T BullCityRising on the Chapter 7 news.)
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Town of Chapel Hill is calling for the safe return of “our missing little girl” after someone pilfered a $16,000 sculpture from the lawn of the Chapel Hill Museum on Franklin Street.
- Courtesy of the Town of Chapel Hill
- "Landing," a sculpture by Florida-based artist Cecilia Lueza, went missing from the Chapel Hill Museum earlier this month.
“We aren’t interested in pressing charges or anything like that,” he says. “We just would like our little girl back.”
The sculpture, “Landing,” by Florida-based artist Cecilia Lueza, is on loan to Chapel Hill as part of the 2009-2010 Sculpture Visions exhibit, which features several pieces throughout the town.
York says this is the first art theft the town has experienced in six years.
“I’m very disappointed,” he said. “It’s obvious that somebody had to really want it, or at least want it off its stand, because it was attached to a five-inch steel pipe that it looks like somebody sawed through to get it.”
The 6-feet-tall-by-5-feet-wide sculpture was lifted earlier this month and reported to the police last week. It was installed in October and was set to be taken down in three months. Town property insurance will cover the cost if the sculpture does not resurface.
“We just really hope that someone will have a change of heart and bring it back,” York says.
Anyone with information should contact the Public Arts Office at 968-2750 or info@chapelhillarts.org.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Thursday morning, the chairman and commissioner of North Carolina’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission denied the City of Raleigh and Harris Wholesale the advertising exemptions necessary to put Bud Light’s name and logo on the $2.5 million downtown space. The decision would have set a new precedent for the state, which does not allow public buildings to be named for alcoholic products.
“The Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission is not here to condemn alcohol as an industry, but we are here to regulate the alcohol industry,” said Chairman Jonathan Williams after seven representatives of various religious, legal and social organizations spoke against the name. “And it’s a highly competitive industry. The dynamics of opening up this kind of competition in the advertising field would be difficult to contain. For that reason, I am inclined against granting the exemption.”
Williams went on to wish the city well in its search for a new sponsor to replace funds—$300,000 annually—lost with the nixed proposal, calling it “a wonderful project and a wonderful asset for the community.”
As reported in an Independent Weekly story earlier this month, if Raleigh Convention Center, which manages the new venue, cannot find a sponsor, the financial burden will fall to tax payers. The city, meanwhile, might fall behind in its seven-year plan to pay for the space.
“As a taxpayer, I know the cost of increased alcohol advertising is way more than what the city needs to cover its costs,” said Aidil Collins, a coordinator at Youth Empowerment Solutions, an organization that pays teenage students statewide to speak out against alcohol and tobacco marketing in North Carolina.
Just before the hearing drew to a close, Collins led three Raleigh high school students into the meeting room. They took turns holding a massive sign that read, “How will your vote protect me?” and delivering prepared remarks about the potential impact of the exemption.
Representatives of the Raleigh Convention Center and City of Raleigh did not speak, though they offered to answer any public questions about the proposal. The convention center’s assistant director, Doug Grissom, did not return phone calls about the decision Thursday morning, though the city did issue a press release looking for new sponsors less than an hour after the decision was delivered.
“This is a very attractive venue that has great appeal to other potential sponsors,” Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker said in the statement. “The City is actively pursuing other name and title opportunities to defray the costs of operating this facility.”
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Durham Rocks, Durham Love Yourself merch available online
For all those Durhamites who take great pride in the Bull City, who love equally its grit and glamour, you can still get your "Durham Rocks" and "Durham Love Yourself" stickers, tees and other merch online.
James and Michelle Lee, former purveyors of the now-defunct Untidy Museum and 305 South Anti-Mall, announced today on Durham's arts e-mail list that the items are available through Cafe Press.
This is not meant as a commercial endorsement, but to many, the initial introduction of the "Durham Love Yourself" tees and stickers years ago spurred a larger, more vocal and collective movement toward Durhamite pride, garnering a lot of attention. (And we know many of our Bull City readers wanted to know how to get their hands on them.) So file this in the "special exception" category.
And while we're on the subject of Durham-oriented clothing, check out this amusing video from Wine Authorities, who made T-shirts that say "Durham: crunchy on the outside, warm and delicious on the inside."
Monday, April 12, 2010
Spoken word artists will compete in a poetry slam tonight at Night Life Comedy Club and Lounge at 5504 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard for a $100 prize.
What's interesting about this event is the topic, the 2010 Census. The census has been controversial this year for several reasons, including doubts about its accuracy, efforts to reach undercounted groups and notably, the inclusion of "Negro" as a race category.
Read the Indy's recent story >>
The even begins at 8:30 p.m. and admission is $1. The slam is sponsored by Best Kept Spoken, a project of Black Poetry Theatre, and the prize money was donated by the Southern Coalition for Social Justice.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Broad Street Cafe gets its permit, gets to keep the rock
From Correspondent Rebekah Cowell, cross-posted from the Indy's Scan blog:
In a packed Durham City Hall Committee Room early this morning, the Durham County Board of Adjustment voted unanimously in favor of issuing a special-use permit to The Broad Street Cafe.
For the past four years, Broad Street has operated as a nightclub in a district that is zoned so that such a special-use permit is necessary to host music after 10 p.m. Less than one year after the first noise complaint was filed by Clarendon Street neighbor Waldo Fenner, who was not present at this morning’s hearing, Broad Street officially received the green light on amping up their regional music bookings in a space that musicians and business owners says is vital to Durham’s art scene.
“Broad Street Cafe is important for more than just music,” says Melissa Thomas, founder of the Durham-based indie label 307 Knox Records. “It provides a great venue space for music, festivals and family events, as well as a place to eat for locals and visitors. This hearing just showed us today how much we all have built in Durham over the past five-plus years.”
Paul Brock, one of four Broad Street owners, says he’s relieved to finally get the permit. “I was very impressed with the board. They were gracious to us, and they asked very smart questions and got a feel for what we are doing,” explains Brock.
Monday, December 14, 2009
An arts gallery will fill the vacant Kerr Drug space on the 100 block of Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, officials announced today.
The space will house a nonprofit group of 25 member artists dubbed Frank, with a lease agreement in place with building owner Michael Brader-Araje.
The artists hope to occupy the 3,400 square foot 109 E. Franklin Street building by early next year. The town along with the Downtown Partnership gave the green light on a $40,000 loan via its Small Art Business Loan Program to fund the project.
Barbara Rich will serve as the director of the gallery, which also plans to feature work from 50 regional and national artists.
The move had long been rumored, and is the latest effort to upgrade foott raffic and revitalize Franklin Street.
Michael Pollan,
Amen, Amen, Amen!! Your comment was excellently put. Thanks so much for writing in! …
by jwaters on Carrboro Commune occupies CVS building (Orange County)
Gannamede,
The building DOES belong to them and all of us, or at least it should. The people's labor …
by jwaters on Carrboro Commune occupies CVS building (Orange County)