Abu Dhabi Boys (lead singer, Frankie Gehry)Left to Right: Lee Tabler, CEO of Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development and Investment Company; Richard Armstrong, director, Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation; architect Frank Gehry; Juan Ignacio Vidarte, Guggenheim's chief officer for global strategies and director, Guggenheim Bilbao; Frederick Henry, Guggenheim trusteeI've had occasion in … [Read more...] about Richard Armstrong Goes Global: My Interview with the Guggenheim’s New Director
Archives for February 2009
Emily Jacir at the Guggenheim: From Poetic to Polemic
Emily Jacir takes aim, misses the markEmily Jacir's work has always moved me with its understated, poetically symbolic approach to empathetically documenting the plight of Palestinians. In my Wall Street Journal review of the 2004 Whitney Biennial (which displayed Where We Come From), I included her among three artists whom I particularly admired. And in my CultureGrrl review … [Read more...] about Emily Jacir at the Guggenheim: From Poetic to Polemic
Blogger Bailout: The CultureGrrl Economic Stimulus Button UPDATED
Before I decide to bail out, here's a chance to bail me out:Bloggers were omitted from the federal economic stimulus package. And my CultureGrrl Ad Drive has, thus far, not been a roaring success. But some dedicated readers who have nothing to advertise have assured me that they'd gladly support the blog.So for those of you who would like to help keep CultureGrrl thumping the … [Read more...] about Blogger Bailout: The CultureGrrl Economic Stimulus Button UPDATED
BlogBacks: Readers’ Prose on the Rose
Brandeis University's proposal to close or repurpose its Rose Art Museum, selling works from the collection, has occasioned much comment from artworld luminaries who are Brandeis alums, as well as from many CultureGrrl readers. Here are some notes that I've received:Donald Knaub, former director of both the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, and the Ulrich … [Read more...] about BlogBacks: Readers’ Prose on the Rose
Philly Fling: My Peeks at Cézanne, Eakins, Kelly
Like the sign says, this much anticipated show doesn't open at the Philadelphia Museum of Art till Feb. 26, but I got a sneak preview of what will likely be its introductory artwork by peering through a crack in the door:The painting itself wasn't yet installed, just a mock-up. But you all know who we're looking at: He's the Museum of Modern Art's iconic "Bather" by Cézanne, … [Read more...] about Philly Fling: My Peeks at Cézanne, Eakins, Kelly
Arts Win Stimulus Bill Inclusion: $50 Million for NEA; Funds Available for Museums, Theaters, Art Centers (3 UPDATES)
Robert Lynch, President of Americans for the ArtsCulture Power!A huge effort by arts advocates, including more than 80,000 e-mails (not counting faxes and phone calls) to members of Congress generated by the Arts Action Center of Americans for the Arts, has paid off:Although my source (not Robert Lynch, above) did not want to be identified (because nothing is final until the … [Read more...] about Arts Win Stimulus Bill Inclusion: $50 Million for NEA; Funds Available for Museums, Theaters, Art Centers (3 UPDATES)
Blog Slogger: Pulitzer Prize for Online Content (ArtsJournal excluded)
I'll admit it was a low-percentage play.When I told you I was applying for an award that I wasn't going to get, I wasn't kidding: It was the Pulitzer Prize.I decided to take a flyer because, for the first time in its history, the Pulitzer opened its doors this year to mere bloggers. That's right, fellow pajama journalists, you too might have won the gold (above), had you … [Read more...] about Blog Slogger: Pulitzer Prize for Online Content (ArtsJournal excluded)
State of the Arts in Congress: An Update
Congressman George Miller, D-CAAt least someone is stepping up to the plate:Thanks to Richard Kessler's Dewey 21C blog, I learned today that Rep. George Miller, D-CA, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, plans to hold hearings this spring "to examine how the arts benefit the nation's economy and schools---and what can be done to improve support for the arts and … [Read more...] about State of the Arts in Congress: An Update
BlogBacks on the NEA and NEH Leadership Vacuum
Two readers have weighed in with critical responses to Federal Arts Leadership: Vacuum At the Top. While it's not my habit to rebut BlogBacks (so as not to discourage disagreement), I do need to briefly answer the second one.First, Victoria Hutter, acting director of communications for the National Endowment for the Arts, writes:I found your posting uniformed and misleading in … [Read more...] about BlogBacks on the NEA and NEH Leadership Vacuum
Rose Art Museum’s Town Hall Meeting: Videos, Photos and the Rose’s Roses
In case you missed the live webcast, some YouTube videos have been posted from Tuesday night's packed town hall meeting, held at Brandeis University's Rose Art Museum, where the community provided reactions and recommendations concerning the possible repurposing of the Rose and sale of its art. The Boston Globe's report of that meeting is here.This video clip contains some of … [Read more...] about Rose Art Museum’s Town Hall Meeting: Videos, Photos and the Rose’s Roses
Federal Arts Leadership: A Vacuum at the Top
Patrice Walker Powell, NEA's acting chairman, left (photo by Kevin Allen)Carole Watson, NEH's acting chairman, right Part of the reason why culture is getting short shrift during this economically and politically sensitive moment may be the continuing vacuum of leadership at the top of the federal arts and humanties hierarchy. Notwithstanding the opinion of Obama arts … [Read more...] about Federal Arts Leadership: A Vacuum at the Top
Art Politico: My Interview with Bill Ivey, Leader of President Obama’s Arts Transition Team
Bill Ivey, arts operativeTwo weeks ago, I chatted during an NYU conference break with Bill Ivey, a former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, who is President Obama's team leader for the three federal cultural agencies---NEA, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Ivey is currently director of Vanderbilt … [Read more...] about Art Politico: My Interview with Bill Ivey, Leader of President Obama’s Arts Transition Team
Live 6:30 P.M. Webcast: Watch the Rose Art Museum’s Town Hall Meeting
You can watch the live webcast of the Rose Art Museum's town hall meeting here.[UPDATE: It's concluded. But you can view videos and photos from the event, here.] … [Read more...] about Live 6:30 P.M. Webcast: Watch the Rose Art Museum’s Town Hall Meeting
The Roses of the Rose: Donors’ Family Members Protest
Bertha and Edward Rose, founding donors of the Rose Art MuseumI have just obtained from a member of the Rose family an e-mailed message sent on Jan. 27 to Michael Rush, director of the Rose Art Museum, by Jane Moss, whose grandfather was a first cousin of Edward Rose. With his wife Bertha, Edward was a founding donor of the eponymous museum that opened at Brandeis University in … [Read more...] about The Roses of the Rose: Donors’ Family Members Protest
Stimulus Calculus: Final Bill May Subtract the Arts UPDATED
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-OK: No stimulus funds for the arts or "zero-gravity chairs"As the mega-billion economic stimulus package nears a vote in the Senate (with the final version to be determined by private House-Senate negotiation), it's beginning to look like the arts will be among many worthy supplicants sacrificed to placate Republican critics of wasteful spending. Both bills … [Read more...] about Stimulus Calculus: Final Bill May Subtract the Arts UPDATED