Kennicott’s Ken: The Washington Post’s New/Old Art Critic Does Egypt

Philip Kennicott, Blake Gopnik's successor as Washington Post art critic

No sooner did I post my CultureGrrl Video capturing Blake Gopnik's lament on the state of art criticism---its growing focus on art issues and controversies, rather than just plain art---than the Washington Post, where Blake had served with distinction until recently, named Gopnik's successor as art critic---Philip Kennicott, who has long been the WaPo's culture writer. He will still write on other topics, while reviewing art. This just formalizes a role that he had already assumed: Back in February, Kennicott had described himself, on his blog, as "filling in" as the Post's art critic.

Kennicott recently returned from a week in Cairo, where he got "a look at the trials, tribulations and general absurdities of all things Zahi Hawass," as he reports on his blog. I've mercifully averted my own gaze from Hawass recently, as things got more and more bizarre: A court sentenced him to a year in jail, a fine, and removal from his Minister of Antiquities post; then he was allowed to keep his government post, even though convicted, pending appeal of the case (which involves a dispute over the rights to manage the Egyptian Museum's bookstore).

What's more, he launched his own clothing line to further the Cult of Zahi and, he says, to raise money for charity. But Kate Taylor of the NY Times reports that half the profits will go to two executives of Arts and Exhibitions International, the organizer of the traveling King Tut show. In yet another fundraising gambit, Hawass established a new manufacturing unit that has just turned out its first batch of exact-scale replicas of ancient Egyptian objects, to be sold for the benefit of the Ministry of Antiquities---130 sculptures "depicting the unique collection of King Tutankhamun," as described by Nevine El-Aref in Al-Ahram.

Kennicott raises much more serious issues regarding Hawass in the first of his planned Egyptian dispatches:

Abd El Halim Nur El-Din, former head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (the organization that was recently transformed into the ministry Hawass leads), says that Hawass' management style makes it impossible for him to lead the ministry effectively.

"Zahi never listens to anyone, he never visits the archaeological sites, he only meets with the media and with stars," he says of a man who has squired President Obama around the pyramids and supped with actor Omar Sharif. Nur El-Din also repeats allegations that have circulated widely here: that antiquities have gone missing after VIPs were given Hawass-led tours and that priceless objects have been discovered in the possession of Egypt's former top leadership.

These are highly damaging accusations, the reliability of which should be carefully assessed by checking with other on-the-record and/or unimpeachable sources. Kennicott gives us this:

Hawass, in an interview, doesn't respond to specific allegations, but says he is honest and has consistently supported both the protection and repatriation of Egyptian antiquities. He also says his critics are guilty of incompetence or malfeasance.

Let's go back to Gopnik: Now at Newsweek (and also writing a blog pointedly titled, Blake Gopnik on Art), Blake will be one of the speakers at next week's Smithsonian public forum inspired by the National Portrait Gallery's hot-button "Hide/Seek" show. That symposium---Flashpoints and Fault Lines: Museum Curation and Controversy, Apr. 26-27---now looks to be a snooze fest, not a slugfest: Some 20 of the 29 invited speakers (listed at the above "Flashpoints" link) are connected with the Smithsonian in one way or another; almost all the other participants are heads of museums or of museum professional organizations, with two former chairmen of the National Endowment for the Arts thrown in. Gopnik and New Republic art critic Jed Perl are two notable outsiders from the arts-management establishment.

The NPG's director, Martin Sullivan, who wasn't included (scroll down) on the partial list of speakers that the Smithsonian had sent me last week, is scheduled to appear in the "Concluding Thoughts" session. (You've already gotten a good preview of his thoughts, in my report on the recent "Hide/Seek" panel on which he and I participated.) Most of next week's fireworks will have to come from the audience. You can view a live webcast of the entire forum, here.

Speaking of art issues and controversies (as I frequently do), I have formally accepted my invitation to speak on the "Investigating the Arts" panel, June 10, at the national conference of Investigative Reporters and Editors in Orlando. This probing group is still in formation, but it looks like I'll be joined by distinguished gumshoes from major newspapers.

Since that trip is out-of-pocket, my warm thanks go out to CultureGrrl Repeat Donors 162, 163, and 164 from Valatie, NY, Cincinnati and San Jose, who rose to my challenge (scroll down) to send me to Orlando. This puts me a bit less than one-third of the way there. (That's just for hotel; I'm using frequent flyer miles!)

I hope CultureGrrl's loyal readers will consider clicking my "Donate" button and that museums and galleries will follow the welcome lead of the Toledo Museum of Art, by placing ads for your exhibitions, catalogues and/or merchandise offerings (but please, no Hawass Hats!).