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If he wanted to cash in on this, I wonder how much he'd get for it? To my eyes at least it's worth far more than any of the modern art "installations" that some

If he wanted to cash in on this, I wonder how much he'd get for it? To my eyes at least it's worth far more than any of the modern art "installations" that sometimes sell for millions.

matt_morgan 8y ago
Things are worth millions when there's an actual buyer who'll pay millions, and that has a lot to do with things other than than the artwork per se. I could see it ending up in a museum collection, but probably not MoMA e.g., unless he gets famous. Art collectors won't buy it unless he has a body of work that other people can buy, too. Until then he's looking at aviation/industrial model collectors and those values are way lower. EDIT: which is perverse, yes, and I agree with the sentiments in your comment!
- moftz 8y ago
  GE is hosting the article so maybe they bought it off him
Broken_Hippo 8y ago
With art, everything is a crapshoot. The famous artists of the 20th century? Creativity and work meant less than who was in one's network. It is basically the same today. This man is lucky enough to have some press, so if he ever decides to sell it he could probably get a decent price. It probably won't sell for more than art installations without him having displayed it unless he has contacts in industry. He might find himself a niche buyer, though: Boeing, for example, or a number of aircraft hobbyists. Obviously, the company will probably pay more. Hobbyists aren't as likely to have "big money", like so many ordinary art buyers. This may very well limit his income from such things.
- mark-r 8y ago
  I found it interesting that this was hosted on a GE web site. Obviously they were impressed with the detail he put into the engines.
  - Broken_Hippo 8y ago
    That he has any press whatsoever is a grand thing. I honestly know folks that spend as much time promoting themselves as they do working on artwork. I in no way thing that is what this man has done. Now, more specifically, GE or any company as such: Considering the scope of this man's research and skills, they may or may not be interested in the artistic side of his skills. This is a man who has studied engineering, has spent numerous years looking at the details of airplane design, and has constructed delicate, movable parts alongside support bearing parts for that airplane ... out of freaking paper. This project could be the antithesis of art. It could be the most hideous thing you or I have laid eyes on. But nevertheless, it took serious dedication and attention to detail. The man worked with a material to the full potential that he has been able to do and designed parts. I can seriously see why this man would wind up working for GE. The artwork is a secondary but very complimentary skill. Personally, I would absolutely love this man to get that and use it to, in part, fund his artistic career. Imagine if he took his skills and was more free with them. He could make impressive futuristic and surrealistic scenes with these skills. Miniature worlds, movie models, and so on. (Full disclosure: I'm an artist, of the sort that doesn't make much money from my work. If I were rich, I'd fund my own art fun to a larger degree.)

If he wanted to cash in on this, I wonder how much he'd get for it? To my eyes at least it's worth far more than any of the modern art "installations" that sometimes sell for millions.

matt_morgan 8y ago

Things are worth millions when there's an actual buyer who'll pay millions, and that has a lot to do with things other than than the artwork per se. I could see it ending up in a museum collection, but probably not MoMA e.g., unless he gets famous. Art collectors won't buy it unless he has a body of work that other people can buy, too. Until then he's looking at aviation/industrial model collectors and those values are way lower. EDIT: which is perverse, yes, and I agree with the sentiments in your comment!

moftz 8y ago
GE is hosting the article so maybe they bought it off him

Broken_Hippo 8y ago

With art, everything is a crapshoot. The famous artists of the 20th century? Creativity and work meant less than who was in one's network. It is basically the same today. This man is lucky enough to have some press, so if he ever decides to sell it he could probably get a decent price. It probably won't sell for more than art installations without him having displayed it unless he has contacts in industry. He might find himself a niche buyer, though: Boeing, for example, or a number of aircraft hobbyists. Obviously, the company will probably pay more. Hobbyists aren't as likely to have "big money", like so many ordinary art buyers. This may very well limit his income from such things.

mark-r 8y ago
I found it interesting that this was hosted on a GE web site. Obviously they were impressed with the detail he put into the engines.
- Broken_Hippo 8y ago
  That he has any press whatsoever is a grand thing. I honestly know folks that spend as much time promoting themselves as they do working on artwork. I in no way thing that is what this man has done. Now, more specifically, GE or any company as such: Considering the scope of this man's research and skills, they may or may not be interested in the artistic side of his skills. This is a man who has studied engineering, has spent numerous years looking at the details of airplane design, and has constructed delicate, movable parts alongside support bearing parts for that airplane ... out of freaking paper. This project could be the antithesis of art. It could be the most hideous thing you or I have laid eyes on. But nevertheless, it took serious dedication and attention to detail. The man worked with a material to the full potential that he has been able to do and designed parts. I can seriously see why this man would wind up working for GE. The artwork is a secondary but very complimentary skill. Personally, I would absolutely love this man to get that and use it to, in part, fund his artistic career. Imagine if he took his skills and was more free with them. He could make impressive futuristic and surrealistic scenes with these skills. Miniature worlds, movie models, and so on. (Full disclosure: I'm an artist, of the sort that doesn't make much money from my work. If I were rich, I'd fund my own art fun to a larger degree.)