Lining Up to Buy Anonymous Art

Ognibene got his black-and-white piece, inspiring him to clap for himself and smile widely. The cashier yelled out the artist's name to the line of buyers. "Number 45, sold! Lu Zhang."

"No idea who that is," Ognibene said. "I'm going to have to go home and do some research."

Zhang, 24, is a Baltimore-based artist who primarily makes intricate pen-and-ink drawings on paper. She said she was "flattered" that someone would stand on line for nearly 10 hours to buy her work.

Putting the Brakes on Chopper

Neiman Marcus has pulled the plug on an exhibition of a motorcycle in its Chevy Chase store. The "Sirens of TI" bike, created by the Frederick-based Metropolitan Choppers, was supposed to be on display tomorrow through June 21.

Metal artist Scott Cawood sculpted Sirens of TI into a busty and spike-heel-wearing deity. Treasure Island Casino in Las Vegas commissioned the work and the hotel displayed it this spring.

"While local store PR thought the bike exhibit tied into a Father's Day promo . . . corporate in Dallas feared the wrath and repercussion of the Chevy Chase gray hairs," said Metropolitan Choppers spokesman James Walczy in an e-mail.

Not so, says Patti Cumming, the Mazza Gallerie store's spokeswoman. Neiman Marcus never signed a contract and the bike display didn't fit its schedule or merchandising plans, she said.

"We have modern art in the store, 48 pieces," Cumming said. "We're not scared of art."