If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Read the full description.
More from Rebecca Sheir
Remembering the Subtle Signs of Segregation
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A well-meaning illustration in a children's book sparks controversy over segregation in the nation's capital in the 1930s.
An Extra-Chilly Successor To Hubble
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Come winter, your neck of the woods may be cold. But guess how frigid the James Webb Space Telescope will be when it launches in 2018? 400 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. For real.
From Scott Joplin to Super Mario Bros.: Making Old-Time Piano New Again
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A 20-something pianist is making old-time piano new again... with a little help from Darth Vader and Super Mario Bros.
A Beer'n'Burger Stock Exchange: The Big Board
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A new restaurant is trying to corner the market on neighborhood pubs, with beer prices that fluctuate in real time, based on customer demand.
Keeping It Clean For Nearly 80 Years: The Talented Jim Dandy
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Meet a man who's been dry cleaning for nearly 80 years, with a little bit of stain-removing savvy... and a whole lot of love.
Injera Bread & Shark Meat: Tasting Ethiopia & Jamaica
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What happens when Africa and the Caribbean culinarily collide in the U.S. capital? Dig in and find out!
The House That Beer -- and Pyrophobia -- Built
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After losing a home and two breweries to fire, one German beermaker vowed not to let history repeat itself... and built an extraordinary house that would never go up in smoke.
Keeping the Music Playing... After Losing Your Hearing
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Finding out you have hearing loss might not be music to your ears... but it doesn't mean you have to change your tune.
Giving the House of Representatives a Human Face
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Meet the very first curator of the U.S. House of Representatives collection... 4,000 artifacts strong.
Sound & Vision: Why Deaf People See Differently
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Deaf people don't see better... they see differently.
Related Pieces
Piece Description
Counterfeit Alaska Native art is a growing problem. Although selling forged handicrafts is punishable by law, the FTC reports that each year, phony carvings, masks, dolls and jewelry cost legitimate artists millions of dollars in lost profits. Downtown Anchorage boasts a host of gift shops and galleries advertising so-called "Alaska Native" art. When Rebecca Sheir gets a crash course in how to spot a fake, she hits the streets to see whether the downtown dealers are truly on the up-and-up.
Broadcast History
A modified version of this piece originally aired on "AK," the Alaska Public Radio Network's weekly magazine-style program, on February 16, 2008.
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Colleen Devine
Posted on September 02, 2008 at 08:26 PM | Permalink
Review of Find or Fake?: Counterfeit Native Art
Out of the gate, Rebecca Sheir informs us of her intent to learn how to recognize authentic Native art. This is an investigative story about counterfeit Native art that would serve well as a companion piece for a travel series on Alaska destinations, or simply as a common sense piece for the casual or serious art collector. The listener is immediately drawn into the investigative aspect of the story in a lighthearted way.
The investigation brings to mind the nature of tourist areas--how buyers frequently check their common sense along with their luggage, opting to view their hosts as good-natured, honest folk in order to create a positive, memorable experience--and how this can be used against them.
It's somewhat difficult to sympathize with the deceived buyer who doesn't do a little investigating before purchasing an authentic work of art, particularly if, in the end, the buyer doesn't really question the authenticity in lieu of having created a fond memory. But for those that truly don't want to be deceived, Ms. Sheir gives solid buyer beware advice.