Thrifty!

November 23rd, 2009

This score deserved it’s own Thrifty! post.

For all the crappy art I buy, and all the time I spent in art school, and all the time I spend working in art, finally – FINALLY, I found some actual art from an artist I was seriously lecturing about just a few weeks ago.

Welcome to The Brick House Josef Albers, White Line Square IV, 1966.

This is a three color lithograph, and is number 79 in an edition of 125. On the left bottom corner you can see the pencil marking it W L S – IV 79 – 125.

On the right bottom corner it’s signed and marked ’66.

Link
Then on the back it’s embossed with the Gemini G.E.L. ‘chop‘.

I found it at a very out-of-the-way Goodwill in a strip mall in Cathedral City. Framed in a awful gold frame but calling out to me in all it’s modernist glory – for how much? $4.99!

Holler.

One of the first gigs I got out of art school was working for a gallery/print workshop. I got to know a fair bit about printmaking and have a real appreciation for the process and people who do it. Gemini was founded in Los Angeles in 1966 and over the years have done some of the most amazing print projects including my new Albers litho, whose series friends are worth some $$$ dollars.

I’m pretty excited and can’t wait to find a nice safe place to hang it (out of the sun).
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    32 Comments

    1. Jenn Ski on 11/23/2009:

      I'm starting to hate you…grrr

    2. Maaret on 11/23/2009:

      wow, unbelievable! What a find!!!

    3. brismod on 11/23/2009:

      $4.99? You must be the luckiest op-shop shopper.

    4. Tony Paul on 11/23/2009:

      WOW
      now *that* has got to be the best find ever!
      a few years ago on Ebay I bought an artists book by Michael Snow (a great canadian artist I spent two years writing about for my masters degree)for about 30$ CDN. The seller was including a free "poster". The poster was actually a limited edition print from 1970, called "Manual", signed "SNOW '70 : artists proof". Now it's framed in my entrance.
      I also bought a painting for 500€, which seems a bit expensive, but it's from the late 16th century, and the frame is a period 17th century frame. It does help to have some training in art, and I totally understand your pleasure. Albers is great!! GO Josef!!

    5. friesinacone on 11/23/2009:

      OMG. my heart raced a little for you. cuz i know that feeling oh-so-well when you spot a beauty in amongst the junk. nicely done.

    6. FoundVintageStyle on 11/23/2009:

      oh my- that gives us all hope and the determination to forge ahead through the crap waiting for our day to come!

      (although I did score a Verner Panton Mira-X textile square at Value Village for 2.99 once)

    7. The Wife of an Artist on 11/23/2009:

      What an amazing find! I'm so jealous!

    8. Cole on 11/23/2009:

      Wow, thats the best thrift store find I've seen…you are the luckiest person in the world and I'm so jealous that my thrift stores suck so much compared to yours.

    9. jamie on 11/23/2009:

      (speechless)

    10. modfrugal on 11/23/2009:

      I think there should be a thrifting hall of fame to honor this score. nice…so very nice.

    11. Tracy on 11/23/2009:

      score! (another reason to hate you.) well done.

    12. Jules on 11/23/2009:

      Stunned.

    13. Lisa on 11/23/2009:

      Fantastic!

    14. Kate on 11/23/2009:

      pretty sure this goes down in thrifting history, forevs

    15. This Thrifted Life on 11/23/2009:

      Wow, what a score!

    16. Fiona on 11/23/2009:

      And yours is so much nicer than the $6500 one :)

    17. megan on 11/23/2009:

      bitch.

      i'm convinced the thrift stores in CA MUST only contain well designed, rare, vintage goodies in perfect condition.

      this is your best score yet. i'm sick with jealously. we could never go thrifting together as it would result in some serious passive aggressiveness.

      …i guess i'm happy for you.

    18. Sophie @ Century Finds on 11/23/2009:

      You have to be kidding me!
      *Thunk*
      (That was the sound of me fainting).

    19. Bri Ana on 11/23/2009:

      Basically the height of thrifting nirvana (though in my dreams it's a Jasper John's numeral…)

      Here's the full info, if you want:
      http://www.nga.gov/fcgi-bin/gemini.pl?transaction=1698261&item=4&command=record

      Given that I'm a dealer who specializes in Gemini artists, this is especially pleasing to me… Congrats!

    20. ingrida on 11/23/2009:

      This has to be the most amazing thrift store find EVER. You are the luckiest lady alive.
      WOW!

    21. lisa mertins on 11/23/2009:

      LUCKY! combined with savvy. congratulations!

    22. my little apartment on 11/23/2009:

      NICE ONE DUDE.

    23. Kristine on 11/23/2009:

      Score! You are a thrifty goddess!

    24. modern thrift head on 11/23/2009:

      WOWWEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

    25. Vicki @ Piccolo Takes All on 11/23/2009:

      Unbelievable. Do you have an idea as to where it will hang?

    26. susie on 11/24/2009:

      I went to a lecture at the Getty earlier in the year with the founders of Gemini GEL. They told the story of the making of the Alber's edition. An amazing and hysterical story that included multiple flights across the country to get the colors from Albers and swatches on cardboard.

      An awesome find!

    27. Juli on 11/25/2009:

      now that is a killer find!

    28. THE BRICK HOUSE on 11/26/2009:

      OMG susie. Rad!

    29. eva ravenstein on 11/26/2009:

      wow!!!

    30. erin@designcrisis on 11/29/2009:

      whaaaaaaaaaat?!

      no fair.

    31. Tami on 11/29/2009:

      Nice.

    32. Scott on 12/01/2009:

      Congrats! This is the type of thrift score I *dream* about!

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