How can someone discern good art from the not so great art?
You can go to art shows, the internet, but most importantly, you have to train your eye on good art. You want to make sure the artists at least went to school. They don’t have to graduate. Jake Morris never went to school, but he went and was trained by [Augusta] Savage and brilliant people in the Harlem Renaissance. Just ensure that the artist is serious, has focus, and has an original mind and vision.
Is there any rush to add thousands of pieces to a collection?
Take your time and buy what you like, but buy something that you can pass down throughout generations. It’s a part of your heritage, your legacy, and you can donate it to museums. I have created major museum collections. I created Lil Jon’s collection. He donated so many things to the DIA Museum of African American Art and other people sell them. One thing about art, if you ever need money, pawn shops will take real art. They’ll take good art, but you don’t have to wait.
I liquidated people from New York, renowned people whom I cannot name. I sold their Tanner and several of their works because they wanted to start fresh and needed money. Luckily, in 1991-92, there were people in Detroit who said, “I’d love to have that Charles Austin or that Charles White.” I sold the collection and it took me a month, but those people were happy because it’s hard to get a Hemi Tang or original Tanner now.
