Azinger Appears Overwhelmed By Leroy Neiman's Captain's Portrait

I know what you're thinking. Leroy Neiman still paints?

Unfortunately.

He was commissioned by the PGA of America to capture the current Ryder Cup captains for reasons unknown. Azinger could not look more pleased, don't you think?  The look says, "this will look great in my garage right next to the Leroy Neiman African safari prints that the previous owners left behind."

But Azinger won't have to make room for it, charity will be the uh, beneficiary.

The works of art will be auctioned to benefit the Ali Center and The First Tee of Louisville.

The unveiling was held in the LeRoy Neiman Gallery of the Ali Center, which also features Neiman's famed portrait and other images of Ali.

The Ryder Cup Captains' portraits will move to the Cobalt Artworks Gallery nearby on Louisville's Main Street. Both pieces of original art will be auctioned off by public bidding, which will continue until Sept. 17, 2008, when the portraits will be awarded to the highest bidders during the Ryder Cup Gala Dinner.

Comments

[Dukerson]

"But Azinger won't have to make room for it, charity will be the uh, beneficiary."

Haha.

[Jimmy]

I'm no art expert, but what's so bad about LeRoy Neiman? He's made a pretty good name for himself!

[jim beckner]

Art is art (I assume), so say what you want about Neiman, but in the locker room at Valhalla, behind the attendant's desk, is a LeRoy Neiman original of the locker room attendant. I asked if he knew how much the painting was worth and he said it made no difference to him because it was staying right there, "no way am I going to sell it." It was a great likeness of the fellow, a professional who looks and acts like he came out of central casting (and that is meant as a compliment, not in a disparaging way).

I was told that Neiman often does this, a quick sketch of the locker room attendant or other "staff."

So whether you, or I, like him or not makes little difference to me after I saw the face of that attendant, big smile. That put all of LeRoy Neiman in a great perspective for me.

Jim

[RM]

Leroy Neiman's Burger King placemat series in the early 80's put him in perspective for me. In true fine art circles, Leroy Neiman is not even in the conversation. He is in the company of Peter Max, Alexandra Nichita and Thomas Kincaid, all "popular" artists who have carved out careers with very limited talent, originality and unique vision.

[Smolmania]

Whilst dining on Beluga caviar on the porch at Onwentsia discussing art, Mr. Neiman's name never enters into our conversation. . . dang, gotta work on getting that pinky higher off the teacup.

[Tuna]

RM,

What the hell was a worldly patron of the arts like yourself doing at Burger King?

[RM]

Good one, Smol! And put Linda Hartough on "the list" too.

See ya at Art Chicago next April!

[RM]

Tuna, I was 15. And I am enjoying a Wendy's combo as we speak. And unfortunately, I'm not a patron...I rely on patrons!

[86general]

I loved the effect of motion and the overall drawing style of Leroy Neiman. I HATED the way he colored his paintings.

(As an aside, why do we always pronounce it bas-ackwards. Isn't "Neiman" pronounced "NYE-mun," in German, not "KNEE-mun?")

[rb]

I'd like to see Ali get in between Azinger and Faldo and slap the arrogance out of both of them.

[Tighthead]

86 - if the Allies had lost the last one the pronunciation would be a little better.

[86general]

Tighthead you are always there with the great one liner.