Mark sifts through his collection
Clackamas student amasses
collection of Nagels
by Von Daniel
“People who have never
bought art before have bought
Nagels.’,’
If you have no idea what
Nagels are you’re missing out.
Collector Mark Walker describes
them as being “totally Califor
nia.”
Walker is nineteen years pld
and a student here at. Clackamas.
His passion is collecting works of
art by Painter-Graphic designer
Patrick Nagel.
Walker got started collecting
just by purchasing one print but
he soon found out that you can’t
have just one “Nagels are addic
tive,” said Walker. He came to
acquiring Nagels by originally
being attracted to the first print
he had come across. Many people
might know it as being the cover
of the Duran Duran Rio album.
Walker was on a trip with his
father to see his sister in Corvallis
when they passed an art gallery.
Walker shouted for his father to
stop the car. Walker then hopped
out and ran into the gallery where
in the window he saw the Print
Texas or “Rio.” The owner of
the gallery was out so Walker
took a business card and called
the gallery when he got home.
Since at the time Walker had no
job or real source of income he
struck a deal with the owner. The
cost of the print was $250 so he
put some money down on it and
sent checks when ever he ac
quired enough money. It was
close to his birthday and Mark
told people that, “If I get
anything but cash I’ll hock it.”
Over a period of three years
Walker has increased his collec
tion to a total of 29 pieces and
hasn’t quit yet. The value of his
collection is approximated at
$5,600 and grows in price all the
time.
Some people would regard
paying between $100 and $600
Mark’s personal favorite,
Photos by Von Daniel
ridiculous for a print, but
Walker justifies this with three
reasons: 1) He treats his collec
tion as an investment 2) The
technical quality of the art is
outstanding. 3) The Smithso
nian Institute and the White
House wouldn’t invest in gar
bage. An example of a good
mark upon a print would be the
third print he acquired. Palm
Springs Life is the name and
Walker purchased it for $63. It
is now worth over $1200.
An unusual thing that has
helped Walker find prints is that
he is in contact with Nagel’s
widow Jennifer Dumas. She is
said to be the inspiration for
what we now know as “The
Nagel Woman.” She is also the
soul copyright owner of all
works not previously published.
It’s a mystery as to how Walker
found her and especially that
they’ve become friends because
Mark says, “she doesn’t talk to
just anyone, I feel lucky talking
to her.”
When Walker decides on a
print that he wants he goes
through a process much like a
private detective would. He
calls local galleries, then calls
Mirage gallery in California
which publishes most all of
Nagel’s works. Next he calls the
name which appears on the
print if there is one and lastly
calls a list of national galleries
which usually keep Nagels in
stock. It isn’t unusual for
Walker to run up quite a phone
bill. The last print he received
cost him a total of $931.00,
$250 of which was the phone
bill. Walker says, “I feel pretty
lucky to own his collection. 29
out of 65 pieces is pretty good.”
He has reached the point where
he buys the prints for pleasure
more than need or because they
are in demand.
“I had no idea I’d have this
many.”
‘Palm Springs Lifi
The rarest and most expensive to purchase.
Page 14
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Clackamas Community College
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D50 Illuminant, 2 degree observer
Density