Anthony Meyer with man's best friend (Parcours 2009)
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Philippe Ratton & Daniel Hourde' Fang Exhibit 2006
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​(Parcours des Mondes 2009)  Wayne Heathcote Gallery.  Wayne is on the computer and Bruce Frank talks to a customer.
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(Parcours des Mondes 2012?) rue de Seine as a girl on a scooter runs over the foot of an African runner.
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(Exterior Galerie Meyer 2013?)  Michael Auliso next to a Maori Artist with full moko tattooing who was collaborating with Anthony Meyer

(Parcours des Mondes 2015)  Alex Arthur and Thomas Murray (right) outside his gallery on Rue des Beaux-Arts.
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(Parcours des Mondes 2013? ) Brussels dealer Alain Guisson (RIP) (left) with his colleague (darn, forget his name).
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(Parcours des Mondes 2010? ) Edith Flak, Daniel Hourde' (center) possibly just returning from a Parachute jump, and son Charles Hourde'.

​(Parcours des Mondes 2009)  La Palette:  Udo Horstmann with Didier Claes (right) and Colette Ghysels (back right).
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​(Parcours des Mondes 2009? ) Eugenia getting the job done.
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(Parcours des Mondes 2010)  Michael Auliso, with bad hair (center).  A French security agent clears a requested photo with French President Jacques Chirac as he exists Galerie Christian Deydier on rue de Seine.  I was surprised he only had one agent with him who was also his driver!  After all, I was an unknown variable and so were the contents of my bag. 
    (Photograph by Sam Singer)
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(Parcours des Mondes 2010)  Michael Auliso with French President Jacques Chirac on rue de Seine.  
(Photograph by Sam Singer)

(Parcours des Mondes 2010) Auliso and Chirac head for lunch at the Alcazar in the armored Citroen.  Not!
​(Photograph by Sam Singer)

(Parcours des Mondes 2015)  Julian Flak
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(Parcours des Mondes 2006)  Opening night of Kevin Conru's Oceanic Shield Exhibition.  John Friede standing in the entrance.  Kirby Lewis is sitting on the curb.  I still remember the charged excitement and anticipation of this exhibit!
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(Parcours des Mondes 2015) The tin can zombie aliens just landed.   Clank.. clank-- bang... bang.  Part of a mobile art exhibit by Galerie Vallois that I never quite understood.   

(Parcours des Mondes 2015)  Cafe' on rue Bonaparte.  A customer enjoying her Yoruba Ibeji.  Photo by Anita Schroeder.

This is the first review of the San Francisco Tribal Art Show after its significant transformation.   We're fortunate the show happened "before" the Wuhan Virus could shut it down.  The new show promoters made several BIG changes.  They made the show one day shorter with the opening happening on Friday at 2pm instead of Thursday evening.  Most importantly, they made the bold decision to combine TWO shows into one!  Their Native American Art show, which normally occurred a week after the Tribal show in Marin, was combined WITH the tribal show this year.   This meant that many Tribal Art dealers were purged from the show both voluntarily and involuntarily.  Dealers not returning this year include, Chris Boylan, Wayne Heathcote, Michael Auliso, Zena Kruzick, Tad Dale, Morgan Oaks Gallery, and Laurent Dodier.   Dodier was the last of the French dealers to try to capitalize on the show but ultimately gave up on the American market too.  Back in 2006 the show was just the opposite.  It was at its zenith with over half of the exhibitors at Fort Mason coming from Europe.   Those were the days when the there were mega American Collectors driving the market though.  

Regarding dealer sales at the show, nobody told me they sold great but Vicki Shiba said she was surprised and pleased with sales.   Saturday was the most crowded day and there was some buzz and energy.   People were not only drawn by the art and exhibitors but also by the two special exhibits, "The Casper Project" in the foyer and the Native American blanket exhibit "Variations on a Loom".   For most people it is enough for them to have an art experience without the need to buy or collect.   Some dealers told me if they had not sold to other dealers, that they wouldn't have had any sales.  So there is a kind of alchemy that takes places from all the dealers assembling in one place which is certainly positive.  But it is not so for everyone.  A  New York exhibitor told me the high booth rent, plus travel and hotel expenses, make it difficult to break even.   So we may even see fewer East Coast exhibitors in the future?
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From my observations the number of visitors under age 40 years is less than 10 percent.  It is a testimony how this market has been drastically reshaped by a devastating generational shift.  Over the last 12 years the entire marketplace has contracted largely due to changes in attitudes and behaviors of the "Millennial generation" (born between 1981-1996).  They don’t care about having an old fashioned “Art Experience" or about the art their parents or grandparents collected.  Unlike past generations, what they value is electronic devices, social media likes, climate change,  and “woke culture”... 

From my perch the transition has been sad to watch.  But the great news is there is always fresh old material coming to market and the timing and buying opportunity is amazing.  I analyzed a raft of old receipts from over the years and my data shows that prices from 2008 have come down 40-70 percent for the "middle market"!  I know since I swim there.  This is not true for the very high end though and will remain so.  My point is that I'm screaming from the roof top saying "There has NEVER been a better time to buy or begin collecting with such historically low prices.  Mega Investor Warren Buffet keeps making billions on the contrarian philosophy: “Be Fearful When Others Are Greedy and Greedy When Others Are Fearful”.  

Opening night around the food court.
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Dave Deroche (Piedmont CA) with an Austral Island Ceremonial scoop.
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Louis Nierjing (Maastricht Netherlands) Always great Himalayan Material. 

Opening Night.  Photo was taken in Mark Eglinton's impressive booth at the front of the show  (Left to right:  Woods Davy,  Fily Keita,  Mark Eglinton)
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​Mark Eglinton (NY)
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(Mark Eglinton)  Fang Mask
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Galen Lowe Art & Antiques-  Seattle

Galen Lowe Continued
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(showcase view) Mark & Carolyn Blackburn's booth just off the food court.  It was their first time as dealers in San Francisco.  Great material.  Note the Hawaiian Mirror!  
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 My first impressions of the everything beaded “Casper Project Exhibit” was tacky, audacious, but ambitious.  The exhibit was heavy in Ak 47 rifles represented in AK beaded tapestries and wire beaded AK rifle sculptures galore.   Since San Francisco is so fervently anti-gun, I thought politically it could go over like a lead balloon in the community?  The exhibit wasn't just militaria themed objects, there were beaded animal skulls and bones to round things out.   You can read more about the artist "Ralph Ziman" and the exhibit Here which was presented by the Rendon Gallery in Los Angeles.  The project embodies the contrast of a legacy of oppression in South Africa with the rainbow of culture within this artistry.   By the end of the show I had changed my opinion 180 degrees.   The armored 11 ton military vehicle with 95% beadwork covering, was quite amazing, especially since it contained 70 million glass beads!

The Casper Exhibit Cont.
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Joe Loux- San Francisco

Mark Johnson Asian Art- Los Angeles

Difficult lighting conditions.  Howard Nowes (Art for Eternity) and Sebastian Fernandez (Fernandez Leventhal Gallery).
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Erik Farrow Fine Art Gallery-  A nice shield wall
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Erik Farrow and Joshua Dimondstein (right).  Not the most flattering photo but surely a keeper.
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Splendors of the World- Hawaii.  I like the way Jerry Bock mounted his Fijian Totokia Clubs!

Opening Night.  Thomas Murray, Crystal and a staffer (far right)
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Bryan Reeves Tribal Gathering London
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Michael Hamson with wall display of Vanuatu War Clubs
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Michael Hamson wall display of Polynesian Fijian Clubs
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Interior Tribalmania Gallery.  Michael Auliso with Carlo Bella (Rt) from Pace Primitive Gallery in New York

Joshua Dimondstein
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Propably the greatest thing about the show is running into fabulous old friends.  That's Morris Abram (MB Abram Galleries) and his lady doing some shopping.
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Marc Assayag Tribal Art (Tookalook) debuting his new book on Yam masks "The Stars Are Eyes"
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Vicki Shiba's booth.  She is posing with collector/ dealer Michael Campbell as I recall.
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The show has morphed dramatically from years ago and is constantly changing.  I would say the current composition of art  roughly breaks down to 30% tribal, 30% Native American with the balance divided between, Asian Art, Pre-Columbian,  Textiles, Jewelry and Contemporary Native crafts.   Well,  I might be being "generous" saying a third of the show is now Tribal Art?

Chinalai Tribal Antiques.  They have been exhibiting at the show for a long time.
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  Brian Nault Tribal Art- Oklahoma.   Pende Figure with good movement and scale.  Everyone should know that Brian is a skilled craftsman and an excellent stand/ base maker.
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Peter Boyd- Seattle.  Always high quality select African Art.

This year the series kicked off with expert Anthony Meyer from Paris speaking.  His lecture was titled "Tribal Art: Past Present & Future".

Lecture series in the back of the show.  Thomas Murry discussing his new book "Rarities Himalayas to Hawaii".

By the way..... A special shout out to Marcus Raccanello Tribal Art.   Sorry I didn't get to say hi and swing by your booth, but here is a website plug: https://www.raccanellotribalart.com/
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Trotta-Bono.  When I spoke to Ted he had a smile on his face and told me he and Ana had moved to Santa Fe Ne Mexico.  I was thrilled for them.  I bet they won't miss the high taxes in New York?

This massive Northwest Coast Feast Ladle was amazing!  Trotta Bono Continued
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This show has a long rich history and was held the week After the Tribal Art Show in Marin County (about 30 Miles North of San Francisco).  I'm going to reserve judgement if it was a good idea to combine the two shows.  I'm nostalgic for the old days at the show when it was crammed with the best American and European dealers in the world.  
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Clear Sky Gallery- Sonoma CA 
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Unknown Exhibitor.  Nice pieces but I took photos without noting who it is?  
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.John Molloy Gallery.  John is on the right visiting with another exhibitor.
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Exhibit of Southwest Native American weavings featuring the collection of JB Moore.  In addition to the Casper Project exhibit, this was another high traffic draw for the show.  I'm told that Saturday was pretty crowded and buzzing with bodies.  ​

Michael Hamson Oceanic Art

When I asked Michael about the fair his answer was:  "It was a very good show for me.  I really tried hard this year to go after pieces never on the market and succeeded in finding a few great things— like the Marquesas figure collected in 1833/34 by American missionaries.  Then I found a great Lower Sepik figure from a gentlemen in the UK whose grandfather was a surgeon on a ship to New Guinea in 1909.  Then from one of my ads in the NY Times I found a superb small Maori head that I traced back to Oldman buying in 1909, etc.

 I sold 35 pieces in total but just over half were pre-sold leading up to the exhibition.  As usual I produce the catalog and once I have the PDF version of it a few weeks before the show I send it out to my best clients to give them the first shot.  Sure this leads to some disappointed people walking in the gallery but my loyalty is to my existing clients who do business with me year in and year out.

   Overall I think the attendance was good, on par with the last few years.  I thought there was good energy and a fair amount of excitement—partly because of my Marquesas figure.  I did business with not only my normal clients but nine new ones—so that is a good sign.   I didn’t get around to too many other galleries—maybe seven or eight—but I thought the level of quality was high as always.  So all in all I think the Parcours showed there is still strength, enthusiasm and interest in the oceanic art market."
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Yann Ferrandin
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Michel Thieme

(Galerie Serge Schoffel) Orisha Yoruba Exhibit

Finch & Co. 
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Galerie Flak
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Dimondstein Tribal Arts
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Galerie Bacquart
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Chris Boylan- Sydney
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Street Scenes 
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Bruce Frank
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Galerie Franck Marcelin
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Another great Parcours has wrapped up and that means my annual review.  Since I was unable to attend this year, I'm grateful to Anita Schroeder and Patrick Morgan for taking photos and doing field so I can share them with you.  Thus my commentary will be limited but is gleaned from conversations and dealer interviews.   Their were many thematic exhibitions, dealer book releases and 6 exciting lectures hosted by the organization.  The names I'm told who had exceptional pieces and exhibits include:  Bernard Dulon, Dalton Domare, Michael Hamson, Lance Entwistle, Charles Hourde' to name a few.  
Enjoy.

  

​Galerie David Serra- Barcelona Spain
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Galerie Eric Hertault

​Bernard De Grunne
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(Galerie Alain Bovis)  Thematic exhibit:  "In Praise of Folly"
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Rue Visconti
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Dalton Somare'

Charles-Wesley Hourde'

Erik Farrow
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(Montagut Gallery) Always with a high impact exterior.
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Galerie Abla et Alain Lecomte

(Lucas Ratton)  Fine Baule Couple

???  This Dutch dealer alledgedly stole a Parcours Banner for their gallery, but it didn't go unnoticed.  Its widely thought that all of their pieces were reproductions.  They even had a five volume book set for sale too...  Nonparticipating dealers are called "pirates".

Kevin Conru.  For the fair Kevin announced his new book: "Sepik Ramu Art".
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Galerie Patrick Frolic
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Collectors Sam and Sharon Singer
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Adrian Schlag- Tribal Art Classics
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​Laurent Dodier (left), exhibiting together at Galerie Meyer (Anthony Meyer right)
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Exterior Entwistle Gallery

Wayne Heathcote Gallery
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Olivier Larroque
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Joe de Buck Tribal Arts
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Jonathan Hope
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Galerie Dartevelle
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"Na Mea Makamae".  Nice selection of Hawaiian Artifacts from this gallery in Kona HI
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"James Stephenson African Art" with a noteworthy Kongo or Yombe Figure

​"James Stephenson African Art"
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"Joshua Dimondstein"  Nice group of shields with a striking Maasai example in the center.
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"Thomas Murray"  Selection of Philippine pieces including an old Bulul seated figure.

​"Thomas Murray"

Johathan Fogel- Tribal Art Magazine
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SPECIAL PHOTO EXHIBIT:  Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher bring their stunning photography exhibition to the 2019 Tribal show. Select pieces are highlights from a popular exhibition recently at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California. Covering the past 15 years of Beckwith and Fisher’s work in 48 African countries, African Twilight: Vanishing Rituals & Ceremonies is a celebration of Africa’s artistry, boundless creativity, and cultural diversity. Photographers Beckwith and Fisher will give several talks at the fair and sign copies of their just-released book, also called African Twilight. Their photographs, video installation and presentations are not to be missed, and many are on offer.

Beckwith and Fisher will attend the exhibit and give three talks, followed by a book signing. Talks are Friday, February 8th, Saturday the 9th,and Sunday the 10th, all at 12 p.m. Admission is free to fairgoers. A unique collection of signed African Twilight photographs and traditional African jewelry will be available as well.

​African Twilight: Vanishing Rituals & Ceremonies

​African Twilight: Vanishing Rituals & Ceremonies
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Dave DeRoche

"Dave DeRoche" In the center is an intriguing Chinese Scholar's Stone.

Dancing Threads from New Mexico with an impressive Sumatran Ship Cloth above "Palepai"
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Aboriginal Art Gallery

​Aboriginal Art Gallery
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​Mark Johnson Tribal Art

​Mark Johnson Tribal Art

​Mark Johnson Tribal Art
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The Zentner Collection- Emeryville CA.  Fine selection of Japanese and Asian Antiques.

​The Zentner Collection- Emeryville CA
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​Louis Nierijnck Tribal Art Nepal- Maastricht Netherlands

​Louis Nierijnck Tribal Art Nepal- Maastricht Netherlands

(Trotta-Bono, New York)  A noteworthy pair of 19th Century Iroquois Masks. 

Michael Hamson, Oceanic Art

​Michael Hamson, Oceanic Art

(Michael Hamson, Oceanic Art)  A Trobriand Island Massim Shield
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(Galerie Dodier- Paris) Laurent Dodier.  He is the only French dealer exhibiting at the fair now and only one of a handful of European dealers left.  Twelve years ago this show was over SIXTY PERCENT European dealers and there were barriers to entry for American dealers!  So much has profoundly changed since then.

​(Galerie Dodier- Paris)  

(Galerie Dodier- Paris) ​

(Galerie Dodier- Paris)  Standing in the background is Laurent's Partner who is also named Laurent.

(Galerie Dodier- Paris) A selection of New Guinea Abelam and Asmat Art on the outside wall.
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​(Splendors of the World - Hawaii), Jerry Boch

A cocktail party one evening for "Young Tribal Art Collectors Group" hosted by Dave Deroche and Cole Harrell.

"Young Tribal Art Collectors Group", Cole Harrell with another organizer.  ​

"Young Tribal Art Collectors Group" , Cole Harrell with Carolyn Yacco (sp)  Left

"Young Tribal Art Collectors Group" ​  Continued...

​ "Young Tribal Art Collectors Group" ​  Continued...
I was enthusiastic and delighted to learn of the event, espcially since there are so FEW new collectors for Tribal Artifacts.
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Morgan Oakes Tribal- San Francisco

​Art For Eternity - Howard Nowes & Fernandez Leventhal Gallery.

​Art For Eternity - Howard Nowes & Fernandez Leventhal Gallery

​Art For Eternity - Howard Nowes & Fernandez Leventhal Gallery

​Art For Eternity - Howard Nowes & Fernandez Leventhal Gallery
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​Mark Eglinton Tribal Art

​(Mark Eglinton Tribal Art) A Bena Lulua figure and a small Songye Fetish.

(Mark Eglinton Tribal Art) A lovely Luba/ Hemba figure

​(Mark Eglinton Tribal Art- NY)  Quite an impressive Luba Bowl Bearer Figure (far left)

(Mark Eglinton Tribal Art- New York)

​(Mark Eglinton Tribal Art- New York)

​(Mark Eglinton Tribal Art- New York)
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Tribal Gathering London- Brian Reeves

Brian Reeves

Brian Reeves

Left to Right:  Brian Reeves, Louis ​Nierijnck, and Taylor Dale.
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(DS Fine Art) A Large Trobriand Island Massim Pig totem sculpture .

Tribalmania Gallery, Half Moon Bay- Michael Auliso

​ Michael Auliso

​Wenhua Liu / China Travel & Art

Peter Boyd's Booth of African Art near the foyer entrance.

Social Gathering.  Facing camera left to right:  Fred Bachlar Bonhams, Mark Blackburn collector/ dealer, Dave Deroche (standing)

As mentioned in a separate blog post, this was the San Francisco Tribal Art Shows BEST ever exhibits held in the foyer entrance.  Selections from Mark and Carolyn Blackburn's collection "Fiji- Art and Life in the Pacific".  A preview of pieces to be on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in the fall.

Fijian Tapa Cloth- "Fiji Art and Life in the Pacific"
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Galen Lowe Art & Antiques- Seattle.  A fine Japanese wooden pot hook far left.

Rainforest Baskets- Portland.  I'm including photos of their booth to show how much the show has changed.

​Rainforest Baskets- Portland.  Selection of fiber bird masks.

Amyas Naegele Fine Art- New York

​Amyas Naegele Fine Art- New York

​Amyas Naegele Fine Art- New York

Erik Farrow.  Selection of Oceanic and African Weapons.
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Joshua Dimondstein

Diamondstein Tribal Arts
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Chris Boylan Oceanic Art- Sydney

Casey Waller- Caravanseri Ltd.  Fine Asian and Middle Eastern Textiles.
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Vicki Shiba Asian & Tribal Art- Mill Valley

Steven Alpert and Al Farrow (right)
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In Honor of a Warm Friend, Mentor and Cornerstone of the Art Business

Jim & Lin Willis Bruneaf Tribal Art Fair, Brussels Belgium 2010

Jim & Lin Willis San Francisco Tribal Art Show, 2009

Jim Willis with Jacques Germain at his Paris Parcours Gallery 2008

Jim & Lin Willis San Francisco Tribal Art Show 2008

Jim Willis in his Booth at the SF Tribal San Francisco Presidio 2008

​Jim Willis in his Booth at the SF Tribal San Francisco Presidio 2008

Jim & Lin Willis and Michael Auliso in their San Francisco Home After Finishing an Interview 2006

Lin Willis:
​Dearest Friends, I want to thank you very much for reaching out to me with your kind words, condolences and memories of Jim. I am deeply touched. For friends learning this sad news now, we shall all hold special memories.
   I can only add that I am incredibly fortunate to have Jim in my life. He was unique, a bon vivant full of life, curiosity, and engaging the world. We had deepest love for each other. We enjoyed being together 24/7, working as partners, traveling, he taught me so much, including the realm of tribal art. He loved to visit every museum, and we’d seek new, far away destinations every year to explore.
  Jim declared in reflection he had lived a fabulous, enriched, full life with no regrets. He went to work with daily anticipation and excitement, and said not many people could feel that way about a job. He relished all travel, cultures, and art.
    Born in Los Angeles, he studied International Relations at Pomona. Jim had interesting, diverse occupations before his gallery opened in 1972. After college, traveling Europe selling Encyclopedia sets to American military; in Rome with his young family living among famous expat writers and artists; arriving in San Francisco with little funds and driving Yellow Cab; as a ceramicist in a studio next to Peter Voulkos; a bookbinder working on Howl, by Allen Ginsberg for Arion Press;  school teacher, and leading collector art tours to Africa in late seventies; were a few of his careers. He read avidly, being well versed on all subjects. He dealt in contemporary and tribal art and then focused exclusively on tribal. He kept his first African piece bought in 1954. He had the first tribal gallery worldwide to hold thematic exhibitions. We exhibited in art fairs, and he appraised many fine collections. Jim was proud to serve on the Cultural Property Advisory Committee for the White House for 15 years, among other accomplishments.
    We were together over twenty-eight years, and I’d tease I was only his 4th wife. He loved his daughter, three sons, and granddaughter. He had a fascinating family history in depth on both sides. He was a fantastic raconteur of tales and had reflections on all subjects. Jim was a true Renaissance man. He was approachable, and would hit it off with any stranger and they would part having enjoyed their encounter.
       In 1981, he was the first survivor of a deadly spinal tumor and rare lymphoma, yet purchased his home despite that crisis. During health challenges, we grew even closer with love for each other. He was a survivor when given four months with metastasized kidney cancer. He rejoiced in the De Young Museum Celebration of His Life, which three dear friends gave for him. Jim felt it was his memorial and how fortunate for him to be present. He lived and traveled 2-1/2 years more.  
        We had bookings for Paris. We were always full of love and optimism in face of challenges. One can only celebrate a life well lived and follow Jim’s example.
    I thank all of you with much Love from Jim and me, Lin 
  James W. Willis      27 September 1934 – 2 September 2019
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