Monday, January 23, 2017

My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #554

With the demise first of the Big Apple Circus, and then of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, what could be more poignant than an out-of-work clown? Ladies and gentlemen, in the center ring is my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #554 for January 23, 2017. The drawing is by Mick Stevens.

"We don't have any seltzer bottles."



 January 27, 2017 Update:  The Semifinalists
https://www.research.net/r/554MC

January 30, 2017 Update:  The Finalists
Note that the first caption finalist was not among the ten semifinalists we were asked to vote on. I suspect cartoon editor Bob Mankoff had second thoughts on this one.


February 6, 2017 Update:  I voted for the second caption.


February 20, 2017 Update:  Winning Caption




Note:  Last week, cartoonist Joe Dator found humor in the apocalypse. For me and my caption, it couldn't come soon enough. See the end result of Contest #553.

Clown around with Mick Stevens.

Let's run off together and join the circus. How's my timing?

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Sunday, January 22, 2017

Another Doodle for Hunger by Donald Trump

In yesterday's post we looked at a drawing by Donald Trump currently offered on eBay for $25,000:
Donald Trump, Doodle For Hunger, 2004

Another drawing donated by Mr. Trump to Doodle for Hunger, year unknown but also dedicated to Detroit's Capuchin Food Pantries, was sold on eBay in December for $7,500. The subject is the same, a view of New York City probably from the Hudson River. The skyline is seen head on, the buildings all drawn two-dimensionally so that the sides of none of the buildings are seen. Some color is used to depict people, trees, and yellow cabs. Once again, the piece is signed boldly front and center, which is perfectly appropriate for a celebrity art auction.









eBay Listing Ended December 10, 2016

eBay Item Description



Donald Trump, Doodle For Hunger


Note:  Does anyone know what year this drawing was auctioned and how much it originally sold for?

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Saturday, January 21, 2017

Donald Trump's 2004 Doodle For Hunger

Celebrities not infrequently are asked to donate doodles and drawings to charities and they not infrequently comply. The value of such drawings is usually based not merely on artistic merit, although that certainly should help, but on the perceived desirability of each unique object of celebrity memorabilia. The value would naturally be expected to increase if the celebrity who created it were to become, say, President of the United States.

Ronald Reagan could draw with a confident hand. George W. Bush has devoted much time to painting since leaving office. How does Donald Trump fare?

The St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters held its fifth annual Doodle for Hunger event in 2004 at Tavern on the Green in New York. A drawing donated by Mr. Trump has the real estate developer keeping to a subject with which he has long been associated: the New York City skyline. The neighborhood depicted could be the Upper West Side near the Henry Hudson Parkway. The buildings demonstrate a variety of geometric surface decorations. One building has a crenellated top more like a castle than a skyscraper. On the left are steps which may indicate an elevated plaza. Each building has its own plaza or sidewalk space. These spaces appear to be at markedly different ground levels and they overlap jaggedly in an inconsistent manner, street corners unevenly protruding. There is no real sense of perspective but a reasonable sense of proportion nevertheless. Stick figures standing in front of the buildings are just a little larger than they should be. There are no trees or foliage.

The eBay seller asserts, "This drawing is highly detailed and would have taken President Trump several hours to draw..." Perhaps, but it plausibly could have taken far less time. The drawing was offered on eBay for $55,000 just prior to the Presidential Inauguration. After the Inauguration, the price was reduced to $25,000. Back in 2004, the entire celebrity art auction raised over $250,000.





Donald Trump's signature




The plaque reads "DONALD TRUMP/'You're Fired"/Doodle for Hunger/Capuchin Food Pantry"



eBay Listing Ended January 20, 2017


"The listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available."

No longer available? Look again:
eBay Listing as of January 21, 2017
New questions:
Questions as of January 21, 2017
Image added January 28, 2017


Donald Trump, Doodle For Hunger, 2004

January 23, 2017 Update:  Our shrewd eBay seller apparently found this drawing on eBay in November after Election Day for $2,500 and tried to flip if for $55,000. Certainly this drawing would have appreciated once it was learned that Donald Trump would become the 45th President of the United States, but the current owner is trying to make a ten- to twenty-fold profit on this all after the Election. Whatever the final selling price, the seller bought well and can expect to make a handy profit.



eBay Listing Ended November 21, 2016

eBay Item Description

eBay Bid Historyt






Note:  Is there a catalogue from the 2004 auction? Does anyone know what this originally sold for?
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Friday, January 20, 2017

Hey Dudes: Happy Inauguration from Maurice Sendak

Hey, Dudes!
From current eBay listings, here are two examples of illustrator Maurice Sendak's Happy Inauguration print which personally welcomed Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton to Washington in 1993. Their cat Socks is there too. The First Family is shown with the Capitol Building. They are joined by characters from Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, Really Rosie, and We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy.


A Jubilant Welcome for Our New President and His Family!
From the Children of America, Maurice Sendak, and HarperCollins Publishers
January 20, 1993
eBay Listing as of January 16, 2017


eBay Item Description


A Jubilant Welcome for Our New President and His Family!
From the Children of America, Maurice Sendak, and HarperCollins Publishers
January 20, 1993




June 25, 2022 Update:  I found some better photos of a print signed on the matte.


Signed by Maurice Sendak


Maurice Sendak
AbeBooks listing accessed June 25, 2022
https://www.abebooks.com/art-prints/MAURICE-SENDAK-SIGNED-ART-PRINT-Celebrating/31233040919/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&cm_ite=viewbook_high










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