European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 15, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                To or Rumsy browsing it e Jmc club Oak firm Frankfurt two dealers canvass americans in Germany stars and stripes report by Allen Cowan and Chuck Vinch photos by Tracy Baker Selling Art to .  in Germany is big  giants. Lew Mew of Vladimir arts and Josef Mensing of Mensing gallery say their sales to service members Tola More than $2 million annually. The artworks they promote Are popular. But people buying for investment should think again. You can t make Blanket statements about investment potential said Bridget Moore director at Midtown galleries in new York. Art is nol a commodity in that sense. There were artists in the Lato 19th and Early 20lh centuries who were touted As masters and they quickly Sank out of sight. There were unknown artists then whose works now command High prices. The Wisest people buy Art simply because they like it. You just can t speculate in Art Iwlew says he soils 5,000 pieces a year for More than $1 million. He holds 70 auctions at military clubs and runs Booths at 100 bazaars advertising As he largest distributor of Art works to americans in  Mensing cells of Selling 3,300 Oil paintings a year to americans for nearly $1 million. He sets up at bazaars holds painting parties in Homes and occasionally has salesmen going door to door. He advertises hat he owns Europe s largest Art  his main gallery is in Hamm Lynem. Near Dortmund in Northern Germany and that s where he tries to attract his american customers. Mensing advertises heavily in magazines widely distributed Iree to service members claiming his paintings arc investment  Iwlew has been Selling of americans for 10 years Mensing for 25 years. Both enjoy excellent reputations. Neither has any complaints on record. People who come to our shows Trust us Iwlew said. We re proud of  Mensing values his reputation saying ill do anything to keep it irom getting  because of the heavy sales to service members the stars and of apes asked 10 new York dealers and one Art association representative chosen at random to assess Iwlew s and Mensing s Art and sales practices. They read resumes of the artists and looked at catalogues. None had heard of Iwlew but some knew of the artists he represents. One knew of Mensing but none knew of he Arliss listed in his ads and Cala logs however kalindi Calberson assistant director of Paul Kovesdy gallery inc. In Manhattan said just because it s not in the new York Art scene does t mean in s not Art. Sometimes the new York Art world can be pretty  the stars and stripes also asked former Urcla Arl history lecturer and University of Maryland instructor Andrew Langel to review the material Langel who conducts cultural Tours for service members. Also toured Mensing s gallery in Kaiserslautern. He and the new York dealers raised some issues. Their comments Are on the following pages. Tuesday july is 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13