Press
Cultivated Counsel - A Master Class on Making the Most of the Dallas Art Fair
“In April, collectors near and far will make the annual pilgrimage to the Dallas Art Fair, using the opportunity to enjoy the well-heeled likeminded scene, check in with their favorite exhibitors, and, most importantly, expand their collections with contemporary artworks. Facing nearly 100 exhibitors representing hundreds of artists can be intimidating; however, the diverse collectors on these pages––Nancy Rogers, Megan and Carson Hall, and Geoff Green––offer guidance on how best to simplify the experience, relax, and purchase wisely.”
Young collectors to watch: The next Roses, Rachofskys and Hoffmans
Ask the average 30-something what his or her priorities are and inevitably it is clothes, cars, the house, the kids and vacation. But for these young marrieds, the musts include art. It is non-negotiable. Meet four couples who are building their collections — and why by CHRISTINA GEYER / portraits by MEI-CHUN JAU. Posted by fdluxe on Sunday, March 30, 2014
Megan and Carson HallTHE DAY JOBS
Megan is a registered dietitian specializing in pediatrics and Carson is an art adviser and private art dealer.
THE FIRST PIECE
A 1960s Roy Lichtenstein Seascape print
THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE
“All of our art is valuable for different reasons,” Megan says. “There is a story behind each one. The John Holt Smith painting is valuable because Carson commissioned it from the artist for me as a Christmas present. The Kenneth Noland painting is very valuable because we fell in love with it and bought it on the spot. Carson knew it was an opportunity we could not let pass.”
HOW THEY DECIDE
Having conversations about the work, envisioning it in their home and then studying the work.
WHAT DRIVES THEM
“Typically,” says Megan, “a fever to own a specific work, once we see it, starts things off. Next, we utilize Carson’s market knowledge and artist familiarity to decide if this is the right acquisition for our collection.”
FAVORITE ARTISTS
Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Helen Frankenthaler, Kenneth Noland, Willem de Kooning, Adolph Gottlieb, Teresita Fernández
MOST RECENT PIECE
A Kenneth Noland Circle on paper, the third work of Noland’s that the couple owns
THE HOLY GRAIL
For Carson: Mark Rothko’s White Center from 1950. For Megan: an Andy Warhol Diamond Dust Shoes silkscreen.
HOW THEY EDUCATE THE CHILDREN
“We have a 6-year-old and a 2-year-old. We mostly talk to them about the colors, the lines and what they like best about the art. The most delicate pieces are strategically placed. Just like anything that is precious in your home, they learn not to touch.”
WHY YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD INVEST “Not only does it enrich your life,” says Megan, “but if done correctly, it can also significantly increase your alternative asset base.”
