Portrait of the mega-collector: Robert Cuoghi, "Megas Dakis," 2007"There's a darkness in our zeitgeist today," a theatrical producer is quoted saying on the front page of today's NY Times "Arts" section, in an article that surveys the dour landscape of today's new musicals.That's as good a description as any for the mood of the New Museum's Skin Fruit (to June 6)---a disturbing … [Read more...] about Dakis Fracas: Aftertaste from a Creepy, Worthy Show
Archives for 2010
“Art of the Steal’s” Philly Premiere: Lita Solis-Cohen, Guest Blogger
Jay Raymond, a former teacher and student at the Barnes Foundation, who is featured in "The Art of the Steal," wields the megaphone at the movie's Philadelphia premiere.I didn't make it to the Philadelphia premiere of the anti-move movie about the Barnes Foundation, "The Art of the Steal" (which I've reviewed here and here). But I did the next-best thing: I got Lita … [Read more...] about “Art of the Steal’s” Philly Premiere: Lita Solis-Cohen, Guest Blogger
New Museum’s Collector Controversy (continued): “Skin Fruit,” the Symposium
Andro Wekua, "Sneakers 1," 2008, Dakis Joannou Collection (at the New Museum)The New Museum isn't merely pushing the envelope by mounting its Dakis Joannou exhibition, drawn from the private collection of its trustee and curated by the collector/trustee's friend, artist Jeff Koons (who told me that Joannou owns more of his works than any other collector). It is now also trying … [Read more...] about New Museum’s Collector Controversy (continued): “Skin Fruit,” the Symposium
Ott Blot: Flawed “Art of the Steal” Misses the Fatal Moment
Montgomery County Courthouse, Norristown, PA In Part I of my review of "The Art of the Steal," the new anti-move movie about the Barnes Foundation, I detailed some of the unfortunate gaffes and omissions that compromised the film's credibility. But I left out the most important thing that Don Argott's film left out. The documentary placed undue emphasis on a late and … [Read more...] about Ott Blot: Flawed “Art of the Steal” Misses the Fatal Moment
NY Phil, Met Opera: Where’s a Great Conductor When We Really Need One?
Last night at the Metropolitan Opera, I witnessed something that I've never seen in some 40 years of regularly attending performances there. I usually perch in the more-bang-for-the-buck Dress Circle boxes, which sometimes gives me back strain from twisting sideways but also gives me a birds-eye view of the orchestra. At the curtain call for Verdi's rarity, Attila, the members … [Read more...] about NY Phil, Met Opera: Where’s a Great Conductor When We Really Need One?
BlogBack: Nancy Herman on the Neighbors’ Views About the Barnes
Image from the Barnes Foundation's webcam at Philadelphia construction siteNancy Herman, a neighbor of the Barnes Foundation in Merion, informs me that author John Anderson will not be speaking at tonight's Philadelphia movie premiere of "The Art of the Steal," as previously expected. She said he'll be at the Ritz 5 theater tomorrow night. (But will everyone make it in this … [Read more...] about BlogBack: Nancy Herman on the Neighbors’ Views About the Barnes
Awards Ceremony: Philippe de Montebello Gets Gold Medal in the Humanities Olympics
Philippe de Montebello, former director of the Metropolitan Museum, added another medal to his trophy case yesterday when he became only the fourth person ever to have received both the National Medal of the Arts and the National Humanities Medal. The other double-medalists were philanthropist Paul Mellon and authors Eudora Welty and John Updike. Yesterday, he picked up the … [Read more...] about Awards Ceremony: Philippe de Montebello Gets Gold Medal in the Humanities Olympics
“The Art of the Steal”: Barnes Documentary’s Gaffes and Gaps
Director Don Argott, left, and executive producer Lenny Feinberg, right, discussing "The Art of the Steal" after its screening at the New York Film Festival With today's commercial opening of Don Argott's much anticipated documentary examining the upcoming relocation of the Barnes Foundation from Merion to Philadelphia, it's time for CultureGrrl's two-part movie review. … [Read more...] about “The Art of the Steal”: Barnes Documentary’s Gaffes and Gaps
Whit Crit: The Reviewers Weigh In
How does one describe the agglomeration of new art that has just opened at the Whitney?Is it the "tweak-intensive" Biennial (Holland Cotter of the NY Times), the "Obama Biennial" (Jerry Saltz in NY Magazine) or "the shy Biennial" (Linda Yablonsky for Bloomberg)? Why do critics feel the need to come up with a catch-phrase?I think it's hard to come up with a pithy epithet for … [Read more...] about Whit Crit: The Reviewers Weigh In
Barnes Countdown: “Art of the Steal” Premiere; “Final Year” in Merion
Poster for "The Art of the Steal"The Barnes Foundation's latest E-Newletter, which recently hit my inbox, conveyed this sad message:Join and receive FREE tickets to enjoy the final year [emphasis added] of the Barnes collection in Merion as few can. You will also receive permanent status as a Founding Member of the Barnes on the Parkway.FINAL YEAR in Merion? So soon? (The new … [Read more...] about Barnes Countdown: “Art of the Steal” Premiere; “Final Year” in Merion
Whitney Biennial (and Kentridge at MoMA): Let the Debate Begin
A retrospective of Whitney Biennial catalogues in a display case at the current BiennialI don't want to dyspeptically dismiss the many individual works that didn't speak to me at the Whitney Biennial, but, needless to say, I was astonished by Charlie Finch's rave today on Artnet, in which he brashly announces: "This is not only the greatest of Whitney Biennials, it is the … [Read more...] about Whitney Biennial (and Kentridge at MoMA): Let the Debate Begin
Whit-Split: Biennial Less Than the Sum of Its Parts
Solemn Duo: Francesco Bonami and Gary Carrion-Murayari, co-organizers of this year's Whitney BiennialDuring the remarks at yesterday's press preview for the 2010 Whitney Biennial, the 75th edition of what the museum describes as its "signature exhibition," there seemed to be a lack of chemistry between the two organizers of the show---guest curator Francesco Bonami, the … [Read more...] about Whit-Split: Biennial Less Than the Sum of Its Parts
Biennale to Biennial: Whitney Guest Curator Bonami Organized Venice Display Critics Loved to Hate
Whitney Wizard: Francesco BonamiAs I gird myself to head out to today's press preview for the Whitney Biennial, I have to wonder at the museum's gutsy choice of Francesco Bonami, former senior curator of the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, to curate the show in collaboration with Gary Carrion-Murayari, the Whitney's associate curator.Bonami received a general drubbing for … [Read more...] about Biennale to Biennial: Whitney Guest Curator Bonami Organized Venice Display Critics Loved to Hate
Picasso Smackdown, Philly vs. MoMA: My “Three Musicians” Is Better than Yours!
Michael Taylor, Philadelphia Museum's curator of modern art, hyping its "Three Musicians" at Friday's press preview for new permanent-collection exhibitionLet's get this out of the way: Its exhibition surcharge notwithstanding, the Philadelphia Museum's Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris, opening to the public on Wednesday, is an interesting show but not a great one. Its 56 … [Read more...] about Picasso Smackdown, Philly vs. MoMA: My “Three Musicians” Is Better than Yours!
Olympian Contests with Italy: Met Loses the Silver; Getty Battles for the Bronze (but teams up with Sicily)
Gaetano Armao of the Sicilian Ministry of Culture and Sicilian Identity, left, and David Bomford, acting director, Getty Museum, signing a long-term collaboration agreement on Feb. 9 Photo: Maureen McGlynn © 2010 J. Paul Getty Trust Yesterday's announcement of a new partnership agreement between the Getty Museum and Sicily, an outgrowth of the museum's agreement to return … [Read more...] about Olympian Contests with Italy: Met Loses the Silver; Getty Battles for the Bronze (but teams up with Sicily)