VISUAL

Why Impressionists Were So Fascinated With Gardens

One answer lies in the sheer ubiquity and sensory intensity of gardens by the second half of the 19th century, when impressionism came into being. Social change that made leisure gardens accessible to all (no longer just kings and aristocrats). - The Conversation

Cleveland Museum Of Art Launches $600M Campaign To Sustain Its Future

“Visitors rightly expect exceptional exhibitions, meaningful educational experiences, digital access, welcoming spaces, and opportunities for deeper engagement. Those expectations require sustained investment. That challenge is particularly significant for an institution that remains committed to free general admission for all.” - ARTnews

Scientists May Have Discovered A New Way To Spot Counterfeit Van Goghs

“By analyzing the surfaces of eight Vincent van Gogh paintings, surface metrology indeed confirmed the veracity of one long-contested but recently confirmed Van Gogh specimen — and correctly flagged another that’s been debunked.” - Artnet

Why Pace Gallery Imploded

According to several people familiar with the call, Glimcher spent much of the meeting explaining why Pace had reached this point. The gallery had grown too large. Costs had risen too high. The model no longer worked. - ARTnews

Survey: Nearly Half Of Mid-Career Women Are Considering Leaving The Arts

While the inaugural survey revealed gaps in leadership roles and pay for women, this edition offers a more detailed picture of the structural pressures determining who is—and, crucially, who isn’t—able to build a sustainable long-term career in the arts. - Artnet

A New Penn Station We Won’t Dread Walking Into?

PTT's plan features a design by PAU and HOK that references the original beaux-arts station – unceremoniously demolished in the 1960s – and retains Madison Square Garden (MSG) on the site. - Dezeen

How Gaudí’s Design Keeps Sagrada Familia Standing Tall Without Flying Buttresses

The great Barcelona architect despised flying buttresses, especially in 20th-century neo-Gothic architecture, calling them “crutches” for a building that couldn’t support its own weight. To keep the walls and towers of his masterpiece church standing tall, he relied on an even older architectural feature, one that dates back to antiquity. - BBC

Archaeologists Find Intact 18th Century Ship Off Norway

In addition to the well-preserved ceramics, researchers found barrels of grain and an array of high-end European-made goods ranging from chandeliers to stemmed glasses. They also discovered a box filled with mysterious substances, possibly coffee, tea, cocoa or medicine. - Smithsonian

Museum With World’s Largest Collection Of Kahlo And Rivera Paintings Reopens After Long, Unexplained Closure

“Set in lush gardens patrolled by peacocks and ... dogs, the (Museo Dolores Olmedo in Mexico City) closed in 2020 during the coronavirus outbreak. It remained shuttered, with little explanation, long after the pandemic abated. Then on May 30, it reopened — in time, the management said, for the World Cup.” - The New York Times

The Latest Design For Rebuilding New York’s Penn Station Is Actually Very Good

Justin Davidson: “The latest version of this perpetual top priority just might dispel the curse of inertia — because it should dramatically alleviate crowds, delays, and misery, and because it comes with architecture we can treasure rather than tolerate.” - Curbed (MSN)

Sotheby’s Tried To Quietly Sell A Pollock For $50M. It Didn’t Go Well

According to one source familiar with the effort, Sotheby’s could not find enough bidders to get the auction off the ground. The auction was ultimately called off, though it remains unclear whether the painting was returned to Glimcher, sold privately, or remains with Sotheby’s. - ARTnews

Minneapolis Gets A Massive Land Art Mural

Franco-Swiss artist Saype “said he decided to pick Minneapolis for the project during the federal immigration enforcement surge after seeing neighbors helping each other.” - Minnesota Public Radio

Why Is Philly’s Gem Of A Bridge So Badly Neglected?

“The University Avenue Bridge was designed and built as a prime specimen of the City Beautiful aesthetic. … Today, the bridge that connects West Philadelphia and Grays Ferry is a monument to decrepitude.” - Philadelphia Inquirer

The UK’s Heirloom Ceramics Sector Is In Deep Trouble

“The UK ceramics sector employs 20,000 people, half of them in the West Midlands, and is regarded as an indispensable to the economy” - but repeated blows are breaking even the ceramics for the defense sector. - The Guardian (UK)

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