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Reviving George Washington Carver’s Patented Prussian Blue Pigment

His recipe for making blue pigment from the clay soil of Alabama is of one of the few things the great African-American inventor patented. Yet he never commercialized the process. Now, for the art triennial Prospect.6 in New Orleans, Amanda Williams has painted some structures in Carver blue. - CNN

The Doctor Is In: What Is The Health Of That Painting?

Just as it is with a medical doctor, discretion is part of Suzanne Siano’s business model — she does not reveal to anyone what works she has inspected or conserved. Some of the paintings in the Grand Palais booths were familiar to her as former patients, but she was mum on which ones. - The New York Times

Tennessee Museum Asks Visitors To Sign Waiver Before Viewing Show Criticized By Republicans

“By suggesting that some works may be construed as hate speech and requiring visitors to sign a waiver, the sign not only misrepresents the purpose of the exhibit but also undermines the intent of the artists and the curatorial process." - Hyperallergic

Speculators Gave Up On NFTs, But The Art World (Some Of It) Is Still Interested

"In the last two years, even as auction prices have generally come down, 'there’s been a growing recognition for this medium by institutions and museums,' Michael Bouhanna, head of digital art and NFTs at Sotheby’s, said. 'It’s in a more educational phase.'" - The New York Times

Just Too Expensive: Vancouver Art Gallery Abandons Starchitects’ Design For New Building

With the estimated cost of the project having risen by 50% to C$600 million, the museum's board decided to end work on the design by Herzog & de Meuron and to seek a new architect. - CBC

Companies Are Selling Fractional Shares Of Art As Investment. What’s The Point?

So far, Masterworks has been buying up works and selling shares in the asset, often with delayed payment terms, giving time for the Masterworks team to aggressively sell the shares to retail investors. In 2022 it had reportedly bought up $475m worth of art. - The Critic

Turner Prize 2024 Goes To Jasleen Kaur

"Jasleen Kaur has won the 2024 Turner prize for her work animating everyday objects to reflect the pluralities of identity and community. The youngest artist on this year’s shortlist, (she) was nominated for her exhibition Alter Altar, at Tramway in Glasgow, which featured a range of sculptures and soundscapes." - The Guardian

Why Tate Modern Is On The Decline

Tate faces some serious decisions; unless the new government swoops in with increased funding, or visitors magically reappear, Tate will have to decide what kind of cultural institution it wants to be for the next decade. - The Spectator

Ancient Sculpture Of Roman Emperor Will Be Reunited With Its Missing Head

The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek museum in Copenhagen is sending to Turkey a 2,000-year-old head which belongs to a bronze statue of the emperor Septimius Severus. That statue, looted from an Anatolian archaeological site in the 1960s, was returned from the Met Museum last year. - The New York Times

For The First Time, Art Basel Miami Beach Is Led By An Art Dealer

"'I can honestly say to young galleries ... that I too have been wait-listed for Positions,' (ABMB director Bridget Finn) said, referring to a section of the fair earmarked for up-and-coming gallerists. 'I understand, in great depth — financially and psychologically — how fairs are a challenge.'" - The New York Times

The Color Code Of Art In Pre-Colonial Mexico

"Nowadays, we often imagine ancient Mesoamerican art and architecture as colorless ... But just as with Greek and Roman statues, these artifacts were once aglow with bright colors. And not just any bright colors, but carefully chosen palettes and combinations that reflected the social, cultural, and spiritual beliefs of their creators." - Artnet

Staff Threaten Mass Resignation At Slovak National Gallery

As anger grows over interference by the right-wing government's minister of culture, former TV host Martina Šimkovičová, five top curators have resigned following an "intimidating" meeting with the museum's newly-appointed acting director. Another 177 employees have threatened to resign in January. - Euronews

Why Seattle Art Museum Guards Are Going On Strike

We plan to go on strike beginning this Friday, November 29, unless SAM’s Board of Trustees changes course and offers a contract that allows its workers to survive in Seattle. For two years, the Board has refused outright to meet with us, so now we take the argument directly to them. - Hyperallergic

Bronze Cast Of Leonardo’s Only Wax Sculpture Is For Sale For $100 Million

"Silverpoint Holdings, the current owners, are now offering the bronze cast for sale through Art Encounter, a Las Vegas gallery led by father-son duo Rod Maly and Brett Maly, for a price of $100 million — which includes the one-of-a-kind mold used to make it." - Artnet

Climate-Protesting Art Vandals At DC’s National Gallery And National Archives Sentenced To Prison

The leader of the group Declare Emergency, Donald Zepeda, got 24 months for destruction of government property, while group member Jackson Green got 18 months. They must also pay more than $58,000 in restitution. - Artnet

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