A Thrift-Shop Jackson Pollock Masterpiece?

Ex-Trucker Claims She Scored A Multimillion-Dollar Painting For $5

(CBS)  Ten years after buying it, Teri tried to get the art establishment to certify her painting. She went to the International Foundation for Art Research, or IFAR, a highly-regarded art organization. An IFAR team of Pollock experts studied the canvas and said it "is not by the hand of Jackson Pollock," although there were some "strong similarities to authentic works" by Pollock.

Teri hasn't been able to prove where the painting came from. All she has is a sales slip from Dot's Thrift Shop. Dot is dead, her shop was torn down, and no one knows where Dot got the painting from. There's no paper trail of ownership, what's known in the art world as a "provenance."

"Provenance is one clue that lets you track a work of art’s history," explains Katy Siegel, a professor of art history at Hunter College in New York and a curator at the National Academy Museum.

"Without a provenance, you're without a provenance. And it doesn’t necessarily mean that the work is a fake. But it means you have to look to other factors, and it makes it less easy," Siegel says.

What also makes authenticating Pollocks less easy is that, over the years, they have turned up in unusual places. A collector named Allan Stone bought one genuine Pollock that was found in an East Hampton, Long Island, garbage dump. A car dealer had used the backside of the canvas to make a sign.

"Everybody knew that Pollock dumped a lot of his unsuccessful things in, in the dump in, in East Hampton. You know, in those days, they weren’t, they weren’t worth anything really, you know?" Stone said in the documentary.

And, a few months ago, 32 potential Pollocks turned up in the attic of Herbert Matter, a friend and contemporary of the artist. Some leading experts say they’re genuine.

But the art establishment shows no inclination to accept Teri's painting, even with the fingerprints.

"The art world doesn't understand fingerprints any more than it understands DNA. So, you’re asking them to take what they don’t understand. You say: 'Is there a match?' 'I don’t, I don’t know what a, I don’t know what a match means.' They don’t know what a match means," art lawyer Ron Spencer explained in the documentary.

"They don't understand fingerprint evidence, that's been around for over a hundred years? That if somebody steals his car or whatever, they’re gonna find the thief by fingerprints on the door handle? He’ll accept those fingerprints, right?" Teri says.

Katy Siegel, the art history professor, says some connoisseurs do accept forensic science. "This is a case, I think, where you can’t set up some sort of dichotomy or opposition between science and art, or you know, nice working class truck driver versus snotty, fancy art historians," she says.

"That’s certainly the way Teri Horton sees it," Cooper remarks. "She sort of views the art world as snobbish and elitist and they don’t want to include her in on it."

"The art world is attached to, you know, wealth and, you know, rich people who own art," Siegel explains. "What you don’t have is art historians who want to keep her out. I would love it if that was, turns out to be a Pollock. You know, that would be fantastic."

In all the years Teri has struggled over her painting, she has never seen Pollock's studio. So 60 Minutes took her out to Long Island, where Helen Harrison, the museum director, showed her the place where Pollock did most of his work, including—Teri believes—the painting she bought for $5.

"It almost makes you wanna cry," Teri says. "And I choked that back because I thought 'This is dumb.' So, then I walked into the room. And then I got angry."

Why?

"Not at Pollock. But how dare they tell me that it’s not authentic?" Teri says. "They laugh at me and say 'You don’t know what you’re talking about.' And I say, well, one of these days, I just want to say 'Neener-neener-neener, I told you so.'"

[boredwell]

poo-pooing art peeps.ive known them have been around them.What makes a painting worth $50mil.though i luv jackson it's definitly not worth that amount.NO WAY.master artist aside, very rich connoissieurs and curator/art historians feed on one another.it's an artistphere.domain.seigneurship.call it what you will.they are all in collusion.i luv art and artist but not enough to BELIEVE that Picasso warhol even Rembrant worth that..ah, these cognocienti.#2.provenance.important.yes.hoving's remark "i just don't FEEL it" is a bunch of egoistical BS.another mr poo-poo.hypothethsis.his first paintings start out more controlled, neaterh.he steps back.looks at it.decides the paint should be more fluid, less restrained.even sloppy.giveit edginess.stream of consciousness.chaotic energy.angst.i believe that this canvas could be one of his first.experimental.confined.unsatisfying.precursorto the frenetic,emotional ferociouness we see in his work now.Reexamine it.

[boredwell]

poo-pooing art peeps.ive known them have been around them.What makes a painting worth $50mil.though i luv jackson it's definitly not worth that amount.NO WAY.master artist aside, very rich connoissieurs and curator/art historians feed on one another.it's an artistphere.domain.seigneurship.call it what you will.they are all in collusion.i luv art and artist but not enough to BELIEVE that Picasso warhol even Rembrant worth that..ah, these cognocienti.#2.provenance.important.yes.hoving's remark "i just don't FEEL it" is a bunch of egoistical BS.another mr poo-poo.hypothethsis.his first paintings start out more controlled, neaterh.he steps back.looks at it.decides the paint should be more fluid, less restrained.even sloppy.giveit edginess.almost stream of consciousness.chaotic energy.angst.boredom with tradition.expressive.free.i believe that this canvas could be one of his first.experimental.
confined.and not satisfying.he returns to his shed and BOOM!it hits him.eureka!create something crazy in its freneticim.reexamine ith a clearer, less prejudiced mind. one that jackson would applaud. the brash,unimpeded ferocity of his later work was a progressive process.

[artnairplane]

One of the problems with taking the painting back to the studio as was suggested by some of you is that Pollock is reliably documented as cropping his paintings. It is very likely the case none of the current edges were the original edges as the work was being created.

As to whether the piece is good or bad it isn't really relevant. When you've seen enough of anyones work you sense that there are a couple the artist might like to take back and work on a little more. There are idiosyncratic works (paths never followed to the end) in a body of work as well.

I personally like the fingerprint but the case could use some real forensic science probably focused on the paint if they can get reliable data on other Pollocks, which I bet they can't. Too much is at stake. It would be nice for CBS to link the photo to a larger file.

I stick by the Bio-Morphic drawing also.

[interested6]

If Jackson Pollck painted this painting is his studio there should be a paint print on the floor. Take photos of the painting by its self then on the floor and of the floor seperate. Then put it on a computer. With computer grapics as they are today it can be done. There should be lines in the paint that line up with colors on the floor and the thickness and angle of the colors of paint on both the floor and the painting. It is like a big jig saw puzzle. There may be a few lines, then there may be many. It can be done if it were painted in his studio.
I think it is a shame that the Art World would pass this off so fast. If it is a true Jackson Polluck what a find after all these years. I hope someone takes my recommendation and tries this process. It can be done don't give up Teri, try this to save a Jackson Polluck!!!!
Good Luck,
Cheryl

[interested6]

If Jackson Pollck painted this painting is his studio there should be a paint print on the floor. Take photos of the painting by its self then on the floor and of the floor seperate. Then put it on a computer. With computer grapics as they are today it can be done. There should be lines in the paint that line up with colors on the floor and the thickness and angle of the colors of paint on both the floor and the painting. It is like a big jig saw puzzle. There may be a few lines, then there may be many. It can be done if it were painted in his studio.
I think it is a shame that the Art World would pass this off so fast. If it is a true Jackson Polluck what a find after all these years. I hope someone takes my recommendation and tries this process. It can be done don't give up Teri, try this to save a Jackson Polluck!!!!
Good Luck,
Cheryl

[interested6]

If Jackson Pollck painted this painting is his studio there should be a paint print on the floor. Take photos of the painting by its self then on the floor and of the floor seperate. Then put it on a computer. With computer grapics as they are today it can be done. There should be lines in the paint that line up with colors on the floor and the thickness and angle of the colors of paint on both the floor and the painting. It is like a big jig saw puzzle. There may be a few lines, then there may be many. It can be done if it were painted in his studio.
I think it is a shame that the Art World would pass this off so fast. If it is a true Jackson Polluck what a find after all these years. I hope someone takes my recommendation and tries this process. It can be done don't give up Teri, try this to save a Jackson Polluck!!!!
Good Luck,
Cheryl

[interested6]

If Jackson Pollck painted this painting is his studio there should be a paint print on the floor. Take photos of the painting by its self then on the floor and of the floor seperate. Then put it on a computer. With computer grapics as they are today it can be done. There should be lines in the paint that line up with colors on the floor and the thickness and angle of the colors of paint on both the floor and the painting. It is like a big jig saw puzzle. There may be a few lines, then there may be many. It can be done if it were painted in his studio.
I think it is a shame that the Art World would pass this off so fast. If it is a true Jackson Polluck what a find after all these years. I hope someone takes my recommendation and tries this process. It can be done don't give up Teri, try this to save a Jackson Polluck!!!!
Good Luck,
Cheryl

[interested6]

If Jackson Pollck painted this painting is his studio there should be a paint print on the floor. Take photos of the painting by its self then on the floor and of the floor seperate. Then put it on a computer. With computer grapics as they are today it can be done. There should be lines in the paint that line up with colors on the floor and the thickness and angle of the colors of paint on both the floor and the painting. It is like a big jig saw puzzle. There may be a few lines, then there may be many. It can be done if it were painted in his studio.
I think it is a shame that the Art World would pass this off so fast. If it is a true Jackson Polluck what a find after all these years. I hope someone takes my recommendation and tries this process. It can be done don't give up Teri, try this to save a Jackson Polluck!!!!
Good Luck,
Cheryl

[h_j_cannon]

Everyone is missing the real point, no Jackson Pollack is worth more than $5.

[h_j_cannon]

Everyone is missing the real point, no Jackson Pollack is worth more than $5.

[bkglenn1]

I ALSO BOUGHT PAINTINGS AND WATERCOLORS AT THE LOCAL THRIFT STORE. I PAID TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS FOR THESE. I FOUND OUT THEY WERE DONE BY WILLIAM H DRAKE WHO DID THE ILLUSTRATIONS FOR RUDYARD KIPLINGS THE JUNGLE BOOK, I HAVE HAD THESE SINCE 1980, LIKE YOU I KNOW WHAT THESE ARE WORTH, BUT I CAN'T FIND A BUYER. CALL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY INFO. BRENDA GLENN 501-455-1938
E-MAIL IS [e-mail] I HOPE I HEAR FROM YOU OR ANYONE THAT CAN HELP. THANKS

[bkglenn1]

I ALSO BOUGHT PAINTINGS BY WILLAM H DRAKE, HE DID THE ILLUSTRATIONS FOR RUDYARD KIPLINGS" THE JUNGLE BOOK" I PAID TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS IN THE YEAR 1980 AT A THRIFT STORE. I WOULD TO SELL THESE BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT IT. SINCE THAT I HAVE BOUGHT MANY PAINTINGS AND WATERCOLORS, PLEASE CALL ME IF YOU CAN AND HELP ME FIND A BUYER, LIKE YOU I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE WORTH, BRENDA GLENN 501-455-1938
E-MAIL IS [e-mail] I HOPE I HEAR FROM YOU.

[ageneyoung]

What's all this talk I hear about violets on tv? Frankly I think that violets are a very pretty flower. There is absolutely nothing wrong with ...

(pst, hey, that's violence, not violets)

Oh, never mind.

A. Gene Young

[j sims]

/home.earthlink.net/~ronneburg/blue/
a good web site to visit- about lost paintings
thanks jc

[funtimerhk]

On Authentication of a Painting

For the past 7 years we have been trying to further authenticate a painting attributed to Claude Monet. I invite you to review our efforts at www.monet1871.com We are open to suggestions to further authenticate this discovered masterpiece. Your help will be greatly appreciated and rewarded if you can find the buyer. Our site is a definite read for any art enthusiast. Assistance: [e-mail]

[j sims]

i have had my share of rejections.
the best one-
a museum curator visited me
" YOUR PROPOSAL CANT BE TRUE this is 1995 ,they have found all the important paintings, and are in museums"

please visit my website

http://home.earthlink.net/~ronneburg/blue/

all coments welcome
john

[shirlyn3]

There are many black people other there who are well edcuated and established, and believe it or not don't sell or do drugs. They may not get the same opportunities or rights as you, because of their ethnic background, or have had the tools/opportunity to excel or pursue a higher education, but they are hard working and strong. Presently, we are getting more recognition for our accomplishments and what we rightfully deserve and should expect in a democractic country, and if it takes a BLACK DA or a BLACK jury to make it RIGHT...THANK GOD! It had been all WHITE for years so what if the tables turn. Why feel so intimidated or resentful because we are finally being recognized as individuals with rights too? Stop making race and people's background an issue, and stand up for what is right/fair..we are all people trying to survive in the same world.

[kent1o]

Pollack edited carefully before releasing work to the public. He threw a lot of stuff away that simply didn't work out. He could have painted this, but the trouble is it's not very good.

[kent1o]

Pollack edited carefully, but releasing work to the public. He threw lot of stuff away that simply didn't work out. He could have painted this, but the trouble is it's not very good.

[funtimerhk]

On Authentication of a Painting

For the past 7 years we have been trying to further authenticate a painting attributed to Claude Monet. I invite you to review our efforts at www.monet1871.com We are open to suggestions to further authenticate this discovered masterpiece. Your help will be greatly appreciated and rewarded if you can find the buyer. Our site is a definite read for any art enthusiast. Assistance: [e-mail]