ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

VISUAL

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

The New AI Slop: Nature As Supernatural Images

My guess is that there are thousands of A.I. accounts, commenting on one another to drum up attention. When the gambit works, it draws real fans of this kind of content. Who in turn are joined by another group clicking in to gawp at rubes interacting with fake stuff or to try to warn people it is A.I. -...

Outside Some High-Profile Sales (Banana Anyone?) Art Auction Market Is Down 40 Percent This Season

The auction market "continues to sag behind its 2022 sales records, when a pent-up supply of masterpieces during the pandemic pushed the fall sales to $3.2 billion." - The New York Times

Valencia’s Artists And Cultural Institutions Dig Out After Floods

In Spain, regional governments are responsible for disaster management, including heritage protection. The co-operation between the central government and Valencia’s to respond to the catastrophe has come under heavy scrutiny, with accusations of negligence on both sides. - The Art Newspaper

A Graphic Novel About Elon Musk Is Having A Very Hard Time Finding A US Or UK Publisher

France? Sure, France published the book. But, the book’s author says, “I’m told that there was interest from various international publishers at the recent Frankfurt book fair, but there was concern over possible legal consequences.” - The Observer (UK)

Lessons The Art World Is Learning At Auction, Post-Election

"Some analysts expected that Donald J. Trump’s victory in the presidential election would cast a glow over the art market after seeing the prices of some stocks, cryptocurrencies and the dollar lift shortly after his win.” And yet, no. - The New York Times

How Much Input Did Barbara Hepworth Have In The Casting Processes For Her Sculptures?

In newly revealed letters, "the instructions make it clear how deeply involved Hepworth was in the casting procedure, caring not just about the final look of the metal, but also the precise angle of balance.” (Which might seem obvious? But, you know, woman.) - The Observer (UK)

The Banana Piece Is A Disgusting Display Of Cynicism And Wealth Management

“I don’t think Cattelan’s ‘prank’ was ever in good faith. The Italian artist swims in the same swamp as those he pretends to parody. The murkier the waters, the more they thrive.” - Hyperallergic

Our Free Newsletter

Join our 30,000 subscribers

Latest

Don't Miss

function my_excerpt_length($length){ return 200; } add_filter('excerpt_length', 'my_excerpt_length');