“Kim Sajet’s refusal to abide by Trump’s decision (will test) the bounds of presidential authority over the Smithsonian. ... It is not a traditional government agency nor part of the executive branch; hiring and firing decisions have historically been handled by the Smithsonian’s secretary (and not) its Board of Regents.” - The Washington Post (MSN)
“Named A Capsule in Time, the Bangladeshi architect’s partially-sheltered pavilion, made from wood and polycarbonate, comprises four arched timber structures that take on the form of a ‘half-capsule’ and are organised around a central courtyard.” - Dezeen
The British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and The National Gallery have backed a letter calling for an end to the “relentless negativity” around the corporate sponsorship of arts projects. - The Art Newspaper
“The Nazca Archaeological Reserve has been reduced from approximately 2,162 square miles to 1,235 square miles. … The area now excluded from the environmental protections (overlaps) with roughly 300 concessions … owned by informal miners in the process of legitimizing their operations” as gold prices soar. - ARTnews
Since the firing last Friday, leaders at the Institution have been considering whether, in a lawsuit or even in public statements, to challenge a U.S. president on his authority to fire a Smithsonian museum director. So far, the decision has been not to comment publicly in any way. - The New York Times
Inspired by the mid-20th-century discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, an ancient collection of biblical and historical writings, “Scroll” stood 27 feet high and 22 feet wide. Its frame was covered with 54 copper sheets. - The Star Tribune
Artists, curators and critics who have reviewed the recent request for proposals have a more practical worry: America doesn’t have enough quality sculptors or museum-caliber foundries to make this happen on Trump’s speedy timeline. - Politico
“(The museum) in Rio de Janeiro will temporarily reopen some galleries this month, nearly seven years after an electrical fire engulfed the building and destroyed around 90% of its collection. The museum aims to offer a glimpse into its years-long efforts to rebuild and preview ... the full reopening” in 2028. - The Art Newspaper
The tourist was visiting the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang in Xi’an, a city in western China that was the capital during several ancient dynasties, when he “climbed over the guardrail and the protective net and jumped” more than 15 feet into Pit No. 3 on Friday. - ARTnews
Museums in Canada face several challenges to housing and preserving their collections, let alone displaying those items. And overcrowding is becoming a bigger issue, experts say, from what might be a surprising source — Canadians donating way more fine art and artifacts than the museums can possibly use. - CBC
“Six months after the blaze, more people have returned to their homes, or to the land where their homes once stood, and are assessing how to continue. How safe the post-burn areas are is an unresolved question.” - The Guardian (UK)
The Naoshima New Museum of Art “is likely to provide more fuel for global art pilgrims — some six million of them since 2004 — who have flocked to the islands, most taking a couple of trains and a ferry to experience major artworks in unusual settings.” - The New York Times
"Commissioned by Harvard professor Louis Agassiz and taken by Joseph T. Zealy in 1850, the daguerreotypes — an early form of photography exposed on copper plates — show Renty and Delia stripped to the waist.” Now, the images will go to one of their descendants. - Hyperallergic
The dismissal marks the first action Trump has taken against the Smithsonian Institution since an executive order he signed earlier this year that promised to eliminate “divisive narratives” and “anti-American ideology” from the museum and research body, which is partially funded by the federal government. - Washington Post
The news of his move to OpenAI felt something like learning that LeBron James was joining the Miami Heat: Jony Ive had become synonymous with Apple’s success, perhaps second only to Jobs. Now, after a period of independence, he was choosing a new team. - The New Yorker
