Gary Arseneau

ARTIST, CREATOR OF ORIGINAL LITHOGRAPHS, SCHOLAR & AUTHOR

Friday, August 15, 2008

Art of John Lennon FAKES & FRAUD at the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum

August 16, 2008 (Updated 5-30-09)

New monograph, link to: Posthumous Forgeries, falsely attributed to John L...

Note: Footnotes are enclosed with { }.





















"54.
WATCH THE HOLES, YOKO 1979
Sold-Out
Edition A very loving drawing-John
holding Yoko's hand, helping, guiding her
through the pitfalls of life. Always there for
her, 'watching out' for her."
(Page 24, Subtitled: "Dakota days," in the John Lennon catalogue,
Published by Pacific Edge Gallery
540 S. Coast Hwy., #112 - Laguna Beach CA 92651- 2479 - www.lennonart.com)

The "Coming Together through the art of John Lennon" exhibition opening to the general public on August 16, 2008 at the Waukesha County Historical & Society Museum contains at least five, and probably six, non-disclosed posthumous -fakes-, with counterfeit John Lennon chop-mark/ signatures, misrepresented as original works of visual art ie., lithographs and serigraphs.

John Lennon only created one lithograph titled the "frontspiece" during his lifetime.

One of those five and possibly six non-disclosed posthumous fakes (three of them are
additionally documented below) with a counterfeit John Lennon chop-mark/signature is the so-called serigraph{1} titled "Watch the Holes, Yoko" with a given date of "1969" and the subtitle: "Dakota days."{2}

Footnote: 1) Page 71, #24 in the John Lennon catalogue, Published by Pacific Edge Gallery 540 S. Coast Hwy., #112 - Laguna Beach CA 92651-2479 - www.lennonart.com
Footnote: 2)
Page 24, John Lennon catalogue

The problem is John Lennon never created a serigraph in his life. This non-disclosed colorized fake was posthumously reproduced and authorized by Yoko Ono after 1986 some six years or more after John Lennon death in 1980.

U.S. CUSTOMS
Under May 2006 U.S. Customs' Informed Compliance regulations, original prints like serigraphs "must be wholly executed by hand by the artist"{3} and "excludes mechanical and photomechanical reproduction."{4}

Footnote: 3) U.S. Customs’ May 2006 Works of Art, Collector's Pieces Antiques, and Other Cultural Property - An Informed Compliance Publication. ” In part, it states: "The expression "original engravings, prints and lithographs" means impressions produced directly, in black and white or in color, of one or of several plates wholly executed by hand by the artist, irrespective of the process or of the material employed by him, but excluding any mechanical or photomechanical process."
Footnote: 4) Ibid

What proof is there that they are posthumous fakes?













Page 1
,
Excerpt from the John Lennon catalogue, Published by Pacific Edge Gallery
540 S. Coast Hwy., #112 - Laguna Beach CA 92651- 2479 - www.lennonart.com)


PUBLISHED AFTER 1986
On page 1 of Pacific Edge Gallery's published John Lennon catalogue, Yoko Ono's business associate Pacific Edge Gallery published the following statement: "During 1986, Yoko Ono Lennon decided to share John's artistic genius with the public by publishing the first in a series of prints entitled, 'This is My Story Both Humble and True,' followed with 'Bag One Continued...," "Dakota Days," "Karuizawa Series" and "ai: Japan Through John Lennon Eyes."

John Lennon died in 1980. The dead don't have artistic genius.

WHAT IS A FAKE?
Therefore, with Yoko Ono and her business associate Pacific Edge Gallery's published admission that this so-called "1979 - Watch the Holes, Yoko" from the
"Dakota days" series was actually "published" after 1986, that would make this so-called serigraph "something that is not what it purports to be"{5} which is one legal definition of -fake-.

Footnote: 5) P. 617 Seventh Edition of Black's Law Dictionary

U.S. COPYRIGHT LAW
Under U.S. Copyright Law 103, the "copyright in a compilation or derivative work extends only to the material contributed by the author of such work"{6} and under U.S. Copyright Law 106a, the "Right of Attribution - shall not apply to a reproduction."{7}


Footnote: 6) www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#101
Footnote: 7) Ibid


In other words, anything posthumously reproduced from John Lennon's drawings, much less during his lifetime would be at best reproductions that are not attributable to him.

LACK OF CONNOISSEURSHIP?
Therefore, is the Waukesha County Historical & Society Museum's promotion, for the price of the $12 admission, of these non-disclosed reproductions and fakes, in this exhibition from an anonymous collector, as a "collection of Lennon’s original drawings, serigraphs, and lithographs," just a lack of connoisseurship{8}?

Footnote: 8) In Paul Duro & Michael Greenhalgh’s published Essential Art History, “connoisseurship” is defined as: “that of the art expert able to distinguish between the authentic and non-authentic, for example between an original and a copy.”

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING RESPONSE
On July 30, 2008 the Waukesha County Historical & Society Museum entire staff was notified by email to these contentious issues of authenticity with these so-called "lithographs" and "serigraphs" in their upcoming John Lennon exhibition. That evening the museum's new director of development and marketing emailed a replied. In part, he wrote: "Only a handful of the pieces that are added to our exhibit are lithographs and serigraphs that are from the estate of John, as managed by Yoko. I appreciate your deeply held belief that this is not a purist effort to preserve the value and integrity of the original, and frankly, I am not as invested as you emotionally."{9}

Footnote: 9)
From: Jim Hahn (jhahn@wchsm.org) Sent: Wed 7/30/08 7:23 PM To: 'gary arseneau' (gwarseneau@hotmail.com)

Additionally in that email reply, Waukesha County Historical & Society Museum director of development and marketing stated: "Rest assured that our pieces will clearly labeled as what they are - original or otherwise." {10}

Footnote: 10) Ibid

MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
In a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published July 4, 2008 "Beatles donors gives Waukesha museum a little help" article by Scott Williams, the reporter writes: "the Maria Sprecher, an exhibits researcher for the museum, said officials have gone to great lengths to verify the collection's authenticity, even making contact with Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono. "They're legitimate - they're real," Sprecher said. "I was rather dumbfounded." {11}

Footnote: 11) http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=769284&format=print

ASSOCIATED PRESS
In an Associated Press published August 13, 2008 "Rare collection of Lennon art on display" article by Carrie Antlfinger, the reporter writes: "So for the first time the public will get to see 27 pencil and pen drawings along with five lithographs and serigraphs — all authenticated — at the Waukesha County Historical Society Museum in suburban Milwaukee."{12}

Footnote: 12) http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jdebftCIL9WvDoWrIJ7AvU6CknXgD..

WAUKESHA COUNTY MUSEUM'S MISSION
And yet, the Waukesha County Historical & Society Museum states on their website, that they are a "not for profit organization, preserving and sharing the history and culture of Waukesha County. We educate and inspire visitors at every stage of learning."{13}

Footnote: 13) http://www.wchsm.org/about.asp

WHAT IS FRAUD?
On page 670 of the Seventh Edition of Black’s Law Dictionary, “fraud” is defined as: “A knowing misrepresentation of the truth or concealment of a material fact to induce another to act to his or her detriment.”

To learn more about the Artwork of John Lennon FRAUD perpetuated for the last twenty-two years by Yoko Ono and her business associates: Pacific Edge Gallery and Legacy Fine Art Productions and with or without intent by others like Waukesha County Historical & Society Museum, link to:

Artwork of John Lennon FRAUD, Dead Artists Don't C...

Artwork of John Lennon FRAUD comes to Southampton...

CONCLUSION
What needs to be accomplished is the full and honest disclosure of reproductions as -reproductions- by the Yoko Ono, her business associates: Legacy Fine Arts & Productions and Pacific Edge Gallery, not to mention Waukesha County Historical & Society Museum. If the Yoko Ono and all other participants, in this fraud, will give full and honest disclosure to these chromist-made (someone hired to create an image for the artist) and/or photo-mechanical reproductions as reproductions, it would allow the public to give informed consent if they chose to purchase one of these -reproductions-.


But if these reproductions are not disclosed as reproductions or the reproductions are not even direct reproductions of the artist’s original artwork because they have been posthumously colorized and/or altered into new compositions with counterfeit signature/chop-marks posthumously applied to create the illusion the artist created them, much less approved them, then they become “something that is not what it purports to be” which is one legal definition of -fake- that may have serious consequences of law for those who chose to misrepresent these reproductions and/or fakes for monetary profit, not to mention the price of admission.

The reputations and legacy of living and past artists, present and future art gallery patrons and the art-buying public deserve the re-establishment of the obvious; that the living presence and participation of the artist to once again be required, as it always should have been, to create the piece of art attributable to the artist if indeed it is attributed to them, much less purported to have been signed by them.

PRINCIPALS:
Kirsten Villegas
Executive Director
Waukesha County Historical & Society Museum
101 West Main Street, Waukesha, WI 53186-4811
(262) 521-2859

Jim Hahn
development and marketing director
Waukesha County
Historical & Society Museum
412-716-1880
jhahn@wchsm.org

Maria Sprecher
Exhibits Researcher
Waukesha County
Historical & Society Museum
(262) 521-2859
ext. 230
msprecher@wchsm.org


ADDENDUM:























"125. SELF-PORTRAIT ON SKIKISHI "
(Page 61, Subtitled: "LYRIC portfolios," in the
John Lennon catalogue, Published by Pacific Edge Gallery
540 S. Coast Hwy., #112 - Laguna Beach CA 92651- 2479 - www.lennonart.com
On page 72, 12. The Hole of My Life is listed under the subtitle: Technique as Serigraphy)

Note: That scribble on the above non-disclosed posthumous fake titled: "Self-Portrait on Skikishi," misrepresented as a serigraph, is Yoko Ono's so-called signature. Remember, John Lennon never created a serigraph in his life.



















"10. PEACE & LOVE 1969
Sold-Out
Edition The Lennons being interviewed
during the 'Bed-In' about thei dreams for world peace."

(Page 5. Subtitled "This is my story both humble and true,"
in the John Lennon catalogue, Published
by Pacific Edge Gallery
540 S. Coast Hwy., #112 - Laguna Beach CA 92651-2479 - www.lennonart.com
On page 71, 12. The Hole of My Life is listed under the subtitle: Technique as Hand-pulled Lithography)

Note: Remember, Yoko Ono published this series after 1986. John Lennon died in 1980.























"12. THE HOLE OF MY LIFE 1977
Sold-Out
Edition 'Flashed before my eyes,' John is looking
through a black hole in astonishment as he sees his life
passing before him. It is reflection on a void that needs to be
filled in everyone's life, no matter how successful or secure.
We all believe the quality of life can be improved. The hole is
symbolic of the void in all our lives.
"

(Page 5. Subtitled "This is my story both humble and true,"
in the John Lennon catalogue, Published
by Pacific Edge Gallery
540 S. Coast Hwy., #112 - Laguna Beach CA 92651-2479 - www.lennonart.com On page 71, 12. The Hole of My Life is listed under the subtitle: Technique as Serigraphy)

Note: This image was part of a WISN slide show for this exhibit. The link is: http://www.wisn.com/slideshow/slideshows/17192226/detail.html
Remember, Yoko Ono published "This is my story both humble and true" series after 1986. John Lennon died in 1980.

9 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is something that has annoyed me for years. John's doodles being colourised by others and sold both as expensive reproductions and on all manner of commercial products. I agree with you that it is both fraud and also demeaning to the original artist who never authorised hs work to be used in these ways.

10:49 PM, August 16, 2008  
Blogger Vincent Vigil said...

To say that these are fakes, is bull! Yoko released these in the 80's, and the whole world know's about it! To say that something is a fake implies that Yoko pulled the wool over someones eyes. NOT TRUE! The original work came from John Lennon's hand, get over it!

9:38 AM, August 17, 2008  
Blogger Gary Arseneau said...

Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth.

To learn more about the 22 year old Artwork of John Lennon -fraud-, link to: http://garyarseneau.blogspot.com/2006/09/artwork-of-john-lennon-fraud.html

Respectfully, I document Yoko Ono and her business partner's willful disregard for the rule of law and the laws of nature and their practice and profit of why let the truth interfere with commerce.

10:24 AM, August 17, 2008  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I saw this exhibit when it came to Boston over amonth ago and it is tinged with fakery. Being a published writer on the Beatles I was armed with facts. One of the things that this group sells is supposedly original lyrics handwritten by John. I stood there with the salesperson while she explained to me and the gathered people about these pieces. I asked her about the displayed lyrics to "Drive My Car". I asked her why would John have hand-written the lyrics to a song that Paul McCartney had written? I also pointed out 3 or 4 other examples of this on display. She had no answer and the gathered group laughed a bit.

4:29 AM, August 21, 2008  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

gary-

dude, i doubt you are brave enough to leave this post here, but you are a nut case, man.

you chase down Dr. Seuss, Rodin sculptures, and Lennon stuff psychotically!!

and the other guy who said he saw this stuff in Boston is also crazy, as the pieces they showed in Wisconsin had NEVER been put on a show before -- they were a private guy's personal stuff that he bought and loaned them to show.

gary - you don't sound AT ALL credible. you say your qualified, but your blog is nothing but dictionary definitions and you never graduated from a top art college or gat any training as a person who can authentificate art.

I love how the museum in canada warned the media about you when they had an sculpture exhibit, so you got no ink there.

i hope people ignore you as the raving lunatic that you are. John loved Yoko - he left his stuff to her -- she can do wahtever the heck she wants like any wife who gets her dead husband's stuff.

you need another hobby. one that you are good at, dude.

2:13 PM, September 11, 2008  
Blogger Gary Arseneau said...

Your comments are "Appealing to personal prejudices rather to reason; attacking an opponent's character rather than the opponent's assertions" which is one legal definition of -ad hominem-.

2:52 PM, September 11, 2008  
Blogger Gary Arseneau said...

This post has been removed by the author.

4:44 PM, September 11, 2008  
Blogger Gary Arseneau said...

This post has been removed by the author.

2:26 AM, September 12, 2008  
Blogger Gary Arseneau said...

FYI

At least twenty-one articles, radio interviews and television stories either published, broadcast or telecast in Canada between 2004 and 2007 concerning my allegations of fraud with the Cantor Foundation's Rodin exhibit touring Canadian museums:

1. September 26, 2004, The Calgary Herald published "Glenbow casts first Rodin stone" article by JOHN GRADON

2. October 16, 2004, Edmonton Sun’s published “Dead men can’t sculpt” article by Michael Platt

3. October 28, 2004, FFWD Weekly published “Glenbow Museum foils Rodin Chaser” article by Wes LaFortune

4. October 30, 2004, Calgary Herald published “Rodin works at Glenbow” by Jane Naclia

5. October 30, 2004, Calgary Herald published “Glenbow brings art master back to life for Rodin show” article by John Gradon

6. February 24, 2005 cbc.ca televised “Rodin’s bronze beauties bring debate” story

7. February 25, 2005, The Halifax Herald Limited published “Is it a real Rodin or a reproduction” article by Elissa Barnard

8. June 24, 2005, Globe and Mail published “Rodin’s cast of hundreds” article by Danielle Egan

9. February 21, 2006, New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal published “Did Rodin pour the moulds for his famous sculptures? Does it really matter?” article by Karen Ruet

10. February, 20, 2006, CBC Radio Morning Show with Host Terry Seguin and his interview with Beaverton Art Gallery director Bernard Riordon

11. February 27, 2006 CBC Radio Morning Show with Host Terry Seguin and his interview with Gary Arseneau

12. May 20, 2006, New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal’s published “The Sculptor, The Thinker and The Chaser; Augustus Rodin’s figures have started to take up their place at the Beaverbrook; so has the familiar refrain that dead men don’t sculpt” article by Karen Rawlines

13. May 29, 2006, The Daily Gleaner published “Rodin on display; Controversy - Florida scholar contends works are reproductions, not originals” article by Mark Taylor

14. August 16, 2006, FPinfomart.ca published “Winnipeg gallery latest caught up in Rodin kerfuffle” article by Kevin Prokosh

15. September 28, 2006, Uptown {Winnipeg} published “The real thing? - Florida gallery owner questions the authenticity of upcoming Rodin exhibit" article by Mike Warkentin

16. September 28, 2006, Winnipeg Free Press published “Heavy Metal” article by Morley Walker

17. November 1, 2006, The Manitoban published “Fake or no fake, Rodin exhibit worth seeing” article by Elyssa Steman

18. December 7, 2006, Winnipeg Free Press published “Does it matter whose hands Rodins?’ article by Lorne Roberts

19. January 31, 2007, Victoria News published ‘Rodin chaser raises fuss over exhibit” article by Andrea Lavigne

20. April 5, 2007, Times Colonist published “Rodin show attracts buzz, questions” article by Grania Litwin

21. April 14, 2007, Times Colonist published “Thoughts about original artwork, Artist cast doubt on Rodin exhibit - Dead people don’t create sculpture” article by Adrian Chamberlain

2:35 AM, September 12, 2008  

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