Archives for 2009

Two big Pennsylvania arts-and-government stories are unfolding simultaneously, so I'm going to mash them together in one post:First, the Philadelphia Museum's architecture critic, Inga Saffron, reports that the Barnes Foundation for the first time will make public architectural plans for its planned Philadelphia facility. This will occur on Wednesday morning, when the Barnes … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Mania: Philly Barnes Plans to Be Revealed; Proposed Arts Sales Tax Challenged

Here's my second video from the new CultureGrrl YouTube Channel. It's not appealing (like Glenn Lowry's star turn), but appalling. It's the most inane moment in the insipid installation of the "Lucy's Legacy" show is at New York's new schlockbuster venue, the Discovery Times Square Exhibition Center. You enter a stygian tunnel to get to the famous (and truly impressive) … [Read more...] about MeTube on “Lucy’s Legacy”: Is This Any Way to Treat a 3.2-Million-Year-Old Lady? UPDATED

Ted Gallagher, an attorney with a self-described "strong amateur art historic streak," responds to my two posts (here and here) critiquing the NY Times' cultural coverage:There is a marked preference on the part of the Times' editors for coverage of performing arts over fine arts in the cultural pages. My dream for a new NY Times is that editors nurture long-form art criticism … [Read more...] about BlogBack: Reader Rues NY Times’ Performing Arts Emphasis

I'm not blogging this week. Glenn Lowry is! I've got a new tech toy and (with MoMA's permission) I'm posting a video in which I captured some interesting comments made by the director of the Museum of Modern Art at the conclusion of Tuesday's press breakfast. (Next time, I'll even try to hold the camera steady!) … [Read more...] about MeTube: Glenn Lowry Captured by CultureGrrl at MoMA’s Press Breakfast

If you're curious what I've been doing and thinking about this week (during my blog freeze), you can follow me on my Twitter page. If you miss me (as I do you), you might give a second thought to supporting this blog. … [Read more...] about Non-Blogging Report: What I’m Not Posting About

Yesterday, the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, would have been a no-blogging day for me under any circumstances. As for the rest of this week...close readers of CultureGrrl may remember (scroll down) that at the beginning of last week (Sept. 21), I stated that if I didn't receive THREE donations (of any amount) by Sunday (Sept. 27), I'd take this week off.My warmest thanks go out … [Read more...] about CultureGrrl’s Week Off

It turns out that my analysis of the NY Times' cultural coverage (here and here) was more timely than I knew. In Tuning in Too Late, the NY Times' Public Editor's column today in the "Week in Review" section, Clark Hoyt casts a critical eye on the paper's recent tendency to ignore stories broken by other news organizations (particularly conservative ones) and by blogs. The … [Read more...] about NY Times Public Editor Also Spotlights Balky Coverage of Stories Broken Elsewhere

Jehuda ReinharzPeter Schworm of the Boston Globe has the story:Brandeis University president Jehuda Reinharz, after months of sharp criticism [my link, not theirs] over his financial stewardship and plans to close the university's renowned Rose Art Museum, announced yesterday that he will resign at the end of the academic year.....Reinharz dismissed suggestions that he is … [Read more...] about Brandeis’ Controversial President Deaccessions Himself: Reinharz Resigns UPDATED

[NOTE: The first part of my memo to the new NY Times culture editor, Jon Landman, was picked up yesterday by the Poynter Institute's Romenesko aggregator, which means that it was "cc'd" to media mavens at news organizations around the country. UPDATE: Now this post has been picked up by Romenesko too!]My suggested solution to the flaw in the NY Times' cultural coverage that I … [Read more...] about Memo to Jon Landman: How to Improve the NY Times’ Arts Coverage

It seems that Yosi Sergant, strongly criticized for his participation in a "United We Serve" conference call, didn't last long in his new post as "New Media and Special Projects Advisor, Communications."This just in from Sally Gifford, communications specialist for the National Endowment for the Arts:This afternoon Yosi Sergant submitted his resignation from the National … [Read more...] about News Flash: Yosi Sergant Departs NEA; Landesman Visits Peoria

Jon Landman, NY Times' incoming culture editor[NOTE: The second part of my Landman Memo is here.]What if a tree falls in the forest and the NY Times isn't the first to hear it?When it comes to cultural coverage, that often means that the news didn't happen...at least not on the pages of the NY Times. My guess is that this tendency is intensified by the Times' own … [Read more...] about Memo To Jon Landman: What’s Wrong with the NY Times’ Arts Coverage

It took a while, but the National Endowment for the Arts' staff directory now lists a new title for the embattled Yosi Sergant, whose indiscretions got him bumped from his position as communications director. His new post: New Media and Special Projects Advisor, CommunicationsSo who's the new communications director? Beats me.While they're in the process of filling vacancies, … [Read more...] about News Flash: Yosi Sergant’s New Title at NEA

The final 27-page report of Brandeis University's Committee on the Future of the Rose Art Museum, dated Sept. 18, was released earlier today. You can read it here. Both the Boston Globe and The Justice, the university's student newspaper, today covered the report and the museum's current situation.Bear in mind that the committee is merely advisory. It has recommended retaining … [Read more...] about Brandeis University’s Committee on Rose Art Museum Issues Report

Rocco LandesmanIt took a while, but Rocco Landesman, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, has done the right thing---dissociated himself and his agency from the loose-cannon actions of Yosi Sergant, who lost his position as NEA's communications director over his unauthorized indiscretions. What's more, Landesman explicitly reaffirmed the non-partisan nature of NEA … [Read more...] about News Flash: NEA’s Rocco Landesman Issues Statement on Yosi Sergant, Deposed Communications Director

Andy Warhol Museum, PittsburghThe Andy Warhol Museum is one of the sightseeing stops for participants in this week's G-20 Summit for the top-level discussion of economic issues. It's not on the itinerary of the heads of state, however. It's a lunchtime diversion for their spouses, who will get a chance to savor Pittsburgh's varied cultural riches while the fate of the world is … [Read more...] about Andy Warhol Museum’s Spousal Diplomacy Moment