LAS VEGAS, May 22, 2001/ FW/ --- Steve Martin reminds me of a Magritte painting; a ‘fine suit’ without a wrinkle yet as formally casual as a bright green apple, a color he wears well. What is the meaning, the message of this Renaissance man? A glimpse of this ‘private’ albeit ‘public’ man can be seen through The Private Collection of Steve Martin a selection of art he has graciously loaned to the Bellagio Fine Art Gallery in Las Vegas, including a few pictures he has donated to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

I was allowed the privilege of viewing this collection with a ‘crowd’ of maybe a dozen people. Quietly, I slowly viewed each artwork as Martin waxed eloquently in my ear, describing each piece, speaking about the artists, their creations and sometimes imparting his feelings about the work. Adam Gopnik, an award winning art writer and critic for The New Yorker magazine wrote the audio tour scripts. Steve Martin was not actually there, I was listening to him on a device much like a cell phone. Whoever visits the exhibit, in a sense has a private guided tour by Steve Martin the writer, the appreciator of fine art and a quintessential observer of life. His narration comes through with sincerity and the joy of having the custodianship of this collection. Added to the descriptions is a subtle touch of background music from the time period or mood of each piece.

Prior to arriving at the Bellagio Hotel, I drove through my new town, Las Vegas, past the Claes Oldenburg ‘in-reverse’ structures; miniature Egyptian Pyramids, mini New York skyscrapers, the smaller than life Eiffel Tower etc. I was wondering, “Why have I moved to this town, this cultural mystery to me? Will this exhibit give me an answer?” and “What was the first painting Steve Martin purchased for his private collection?” As I walked into the Bellagio Fine Art Gallery, smack in front of my nose was Steve Martin’s “My First Painting” Ship at Sea, nd, by James Gale Tyler. It is a mysterious ship with the moon reflecting on the water. Steve Martin purchased it for $750 when he was 21 years old, and as he states, “and today, adjusted for inflation, it’s worth $750.” He shows that we can all start somewhere, it is the love of art that makes one collect, not necessarily the almighty dollar and snooty sophistication.

I identified with this, as my own collecting has been done on a comparative ‘shoe-string’ budget, yet I enjoy and absorb my pictures as I wander through my home and office daily. Every evening when I fall asleep I glance up at the painting of a young woman sitting in a small wooden boat, the moon is reflecting on the water. She was painted by my Dad’s mother in 1898. Some Feng Shui books say in order to draw romance into your life you should have a picture with a moon in your bedroom - another purpose for art in your life.

I had a second question for Mr. Martin, “What piece do you treasure most?” It actually turned out to be two small drawings by Georges Seurat the 19th century French painter, Woman Reading, c. 1883 and Man Sitting Reading on a Terrace, c. 1884. These precious, understated drawings, done with sticky crayon are haunting. Martin states, “If there were a fire in this gallery, and you wanted to save only one thing from the collection, save these.’ He first saw these drawings in the National Gallery in London. I pondered as to whether these drawings had the most exciting provenance? Who had previously owned the Hopper’s or Picasso’s in his collection? Did any of his pictures have a history of subterfuge?

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