Velveteria

The Velveteria Epicenter of Art Fighting Cultural Deprivation, or Velveteria (and formerly the Velveteria: The Museum of Velvet Paintings) is a museum located in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to velvet paintings. Originally opened in 2005 in Portland, Oregon, the establishment houses hundreds of paintings from Caren Anderson and Carl Baldwin's personal collection of over 2,000 pieces, and is reportedly the only one of its kind.[1] The Velveteria closed in Portland in January 2010 due to financial difficulties and the couple's relocation to Southern California. It was reopened in Chinatown, Los Angeles in 2013.

Velveteria: The Museum of Velvet Paintings
Neon sign for Velveteria in 2006
EstablishedDecember 2005 (2005-12) (Portland, Oregon); December 2013 (2013-12) (Los Angeles, California)
LocationPortland, Oregon: 518 NE 28th Avenue (2005–2008); 2448 E. Burnside Street (2008–2010)
Los Angeles, California: 711 New High Street (2013–present)
WebsiteOfficial website

History
Outside view of Velveteria in Portland, Oregon in 2009

The museum was established by Caren Anderson and Carl Baldwin, California natives residing in Portland.[1] It opened in 2005 at 518 NE 28th Avenue with a $3 admission price.[2][3]

During the month of May 2008, a collection of works were showcased at Powell's Books.[4] The museum relocated to a larger space, located at 2448 East Burnside Street, in 2008, and increased the admission price to $5.[5] However, rental costs were more than three times higher and in January 2010, Velveteria closed when Anderson and Baldwin relocated to Southern California.[1] According to Anderson and Baldwin, they "never made any real money" from Velveteria, a name they trademarked. The couple wrote a book about the museum, titled Black Velvet Masterpieces: Highlights from the Collection of the Velveteria Museum.[1]

In December, 2013, Velveteria re-opened as the Velveteria Epicenter of Art Fighting Cultural Deprivation in Los Angeles.[6] The cost of admission is $10 as of 2017. In 2019, the Velveteria was facing financial difficulties again.[7]

Description
Example of handwritten commentary provided by owners Caren Anderson and Carl Baldwin

Velveteria was originally located in an "incongruously bland-looking storefront" on East Burnside Street.[1] Leading to the museum were "hot-pink crushed" velvet curtains. The entrance had a sign describing the museum as "a life-changing experience! Without crawling over broken glass or walking on hot coals!"[1] The museum housed 400 velvet paintings from the couple's personal collection of more than 2,000 pieces.[1] No items were for sale.[4] The first location included a "Nudes Room".[3] Some works were displayed within a black light room.[4] Handwritten comments from the couple were displayed throughout the museum.[1]

Works depict blessed virgins, landscapes, sad clowns and "voluptuous" nude women.[1][5] Unicorn Combover portrayed a unicorn whose mane morphed into a woman's hairdo.[1] The museum included a shrine to Michael Jackson; other portrait pieces depicted Anderson Cooper, Jesus, Abraham Lincoln and Elvis Presley.[1][4]

Reception

Velveteria was featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in September 2006,[8] Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations in January 2007,[9] and CBS News Sunday Morning and MSN's Appetite for Life with Andrew Zimmern in 2009.[1][10][11] In 2010, Kristi Turnquist of The Oregonian wrote that Anderson and Baldwin personified the "Keep Portland Weird" slogan and that the museum was "evidence of the city's quirky creativity".[1] Anderson admitted to being tired of this association.[1]

See also

References
  1. Turnquist, Kristi (January 4, 2010). "It's curtains for the Velveteria velvet painting museum". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Advance Publications. ISSN 8750-1317. Archived from the original on October 13, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  2. Pramis, Joshua (October 10, 2008). "The world's strangest museums: Bunnies, bad art, and Burt Reynolds — a showcase of the quirkiest passions". NBC News. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  3. Bao, Sandra; Sainsbury, Brendan; Ohlsen, Becky; Lee, John (April 1, 2008). Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Lonely Planet. pp. 231–232. ISBN 9781742203676. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  4. Frazier, Joseph B. (May 11, 2008). "Offbeat freakier side snugly at home in Portland". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2012.
  5. Palmerlee, Danny (March 1, 2009). Pacific Northwest Trips: 52 Themed Itineraries, 1009 Local Places to See. Lonely Planet. p. 79. ISBN 9781742203942. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  6. Hix, Lisa. "Velvet Underdogs: In Praise of the Paintings the Art World Loves to Hate". Collectors Weekly.
  7. Stuart, Gwynedd (2019-02-06). "L.A.'s Velvet Painting Museum Is Hanging on for Dear Life in Chinatown". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
  8. "Velveteria with Tom Green on the Tonight Show". Velveteria. September 14, 2010. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  9. "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations: Pacific NW". Velveteria. March 2, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2012. Note: Season 3, Episode 4.
  10. "Velveteria on CBS Sunday Morning with Bill Geist". Velveteria. February 19, 2009. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  11. "MSN's "Appetite for Life" with Andrew Zimmern". Velveteria. May 27, 2009. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
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