Your kid's art

Given the economy, we - like everyone else we know - are cutting back on gifts this year. Our kids are making gifts for their cousins and family, instead of buying things. The greatest thing of all is that these gifts will be remembered far longer than an iTunes card. I've been greatly admiring of late some art done by my two boys. This art is the best stuff that we own. Above is a masterpiece done by Isaac Anderson. I'm sure you feel the same way about your kid's work. Gotta love love. Happy holidays everyone. --John Anderson

Art Shit

When we entered the term "Art Shit" in Google Images, this is what we found. So is it shit art or just art shit? You be the judge...

Mac Premo

We've known Mac ever since he came to work for us after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design. He's an incredible artist and animator. These days, he finds himself in his Brooklyn studio, making better and better things with his hands.







What else does he have to do, now that his beloved Yankees are not in the hunt for the first time since 1996?

Peanuts! Popcorn! Art!

With a name like Premo, you betcha it's good. To see more, go to his website macpremo.com.

Damien gone wild with the Golden Calf of C-A-S-H

We're sure that most people reading this know who Damien Hirst is. What they don't know, and neither do we, is how he makes so much $$$ with pickled sharks and bulls and diamond-studded skulls in the middle of this economic meltdown.

You probably heard in his latest sale go-round that Sir Damien skipped sharing the wealth with his art dealers altogether, and decided to sell the work directly to his adoring public via Sotheby's. Here's how the sale went, as reported by the Associated Press:

A sale of pickled sharks, butterfly paintings and other pieces by provocative British artist Damien Hirst has raised $198 million, silencing his doubters and defying the global economic gloom.

Sotheby's auction house said the total for the two-day sale was a record for an auction of works by a single artist.

The turmoil engulfing global financial markets did nothing to dampen prices as more than 600 prospective buyers packed the showroom for each of the three auction sessions.

"The Kingdom," a tiger shark preserved in formaldehyde, sold for $17 million in the first session Monday evening. "The Golden Calf" - an embalmed calf with golden hooves and horns - fetched $18.5 million.

We've always puzzled over the issue about how much Hirst's success is attributable to branding versus the actual artwork. Maybe the two are one. Love to hear what you think about all this.

We also wanted to share with you his platinum skull, embedded with 8601 diamonds sale for $100 million cash last year. Is Damien the guy from that movie, all grown up?