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The fundraising campaign to keep "The Gross Clinic" in Philadelphia cannot be considered a roaring success, having fallen far short of its goal during the appointed time. And because of the way yesterday's announcement was handled, coming up with the rest of the money is likely to prove even harder, as Carol Vogel's piece in today's NY Times inadvertently … [Read more...] about More Thoughts on “Gross Clinic”

At a press conference this afternoon, Mayor John Street announced that an agreement of sale has been signed that will keep Thomas Eakins' "The Gross Clinic" in Philadelphia. Nevertheless, the fundraising is far from over: The deadline to come up with the $68 million for the seller, Thomas Jefferson University, has been extended from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31, and Wachovia Bank has … [Read more...] about Score One for Philly Philanthropy: “Gross Clinic” Stays

Although it appears relatively unscathed in this post-recovery photo, Munch's "The Scream," stolen from and then returned to the Munch Museum, Oslo, is stained in one corner. The museum's conservators recently reported that they have not yet determined "whether one will reconstruct the original colors in the stained part of 'The Scream.' One will most probably take a … [Read more...] about Munch Museum’s Report on Thieves’ Damage: It Makes You Want to “Scream”

Yesterday, Joseph Rago, the Wall Street Journal's assistant editorial features editor, added his voice to the print pundits who see blogs as a symptom of the decline and fall of civility and civilization (for others, go here). In "The Blog Mob," his essay on the editorial page, Rago opined: Instant response, with not even a day of delay, impairs rigor. It is also a coagulant … [Read more...] about Another Blog Flogging from the MSM

The architecture critic of the Wall Street Journal responds to Ada Louise Huxtable Meanders in Minneapolis, saying that CultureGrrl misinterpreted as praise her WSJ review of Jean Nouvel's Guthrie Theater: Was I too subtle? Too tongue-in-cheek? Too ironic? Please read the piece again! I thought my description made it clear how off-putting and over-the-top I found it. It's not … [Read more...] about BlogBack: Ada Louise Huxtable on Jean Nouvel’s Guthrie

Those of you who get your Saturday-afternoon opera fix with the Metropolitan Opera's live radio broadcasts have a new option, beginning Dec. 30: The Metropolitan Opera Goes to the Movies. Theaters around the country will present the live broadcasts on high definition screens with surround sound. The process of navigating through the various web pages to purchase your tickets is … [Read more...] about Surround Yourself With Renée Fleming

Those of you who have heard far too many iterations of Pachelbel's Canon (and who hasn't?) simply must check out today's top-of-the-list Featured Video on YouTube, viewed (at this writing) by 44,665---Rob Paravonian's hilarious Pachelbel Rant: … [Read more...] about YouTube’s Pachelbel Moment

This just in from a press conference held today in Rome by Italian Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli, who said that he recently received the an opinion from his government's legal authorities backing his position: We have documented that these works [the Getty-owned antiquities sought by Italy] were stolen, carried off, clandestinely exported and then acquired by the Getty. … [Read more...] about Getty Vs. Italy: The War of Words Escalates

Jean-Léon Gérôme, "Pool in a Harem," ca. 1876 ©2003 State Hermitage Museum UPDATES: Now the Associated Press has picked up this story, and apparently the recovered painting has now been authenticated. And according to Novosti, the Russian news and information agency, the painting suffered "severe damage." As CultureGrrl previously reported, a painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, "Pool … [Read more...] about Another Hermitage Theft Recovery?

In its Letters to the Editor today, the Philadelphia Inquirer publishes a pithy note by one Michael Donnelly, who says what other Philadelphians are doubtless thinking about the $68-million public fundraising drive to keep the Eakins from leaving town: Here's an idea: Continue to raise the money. Then, ask homeless advocate Sister Mary Scullion, or city schools CEO Paul Vallas, … [Read more...] about “Gross Clinic” or Health Clinics?

You've read about the controversial organizational changes at the Brooklyn Museum: Traditional subject-area departments were eliminated, in favor of two ''teams''---collections and exhibitions. Now's your very own chance to be an exhibitions team player! Recently hit by key staff departures (including: Elizabeth Easton, curator of European painting and sculpture; and Marilyn … [Read more...] about Brooklyn Seeks “Exhibitions Division” Curators; Getty Hires Associate Director for Collections

Christian Kleinbub, assistant professor of art history at Ohio State University, in his second CultureGrrl BlogBack (the first one is here), responds to: Should the "Getty Bronze" Go Back to Italy?: Although an outspoken proponent of the opposite viewpoint, I want to compliment you on the thoughtfulness of your long-awaited post considering the ownership of the Getty … [Read more...] about BlogBack: Christian Kleinbub Takes the Getty’s Side (Again)

UPDATE: For Huxtable's response, go here. With Ada Louise Huxtable's astute appraisal of four major recent architectural projects, the Wall Street Journal has now triple-teamed Minneapolis: Joel Henning last year on Herzog & de Meuron's addition for the Walker Art Center; Lee Rosenbaum (aka CultureGrrl) last July (here and here) on Michael Graves' expansion of the Minneapolis … [Read more...] about Ada Louise Huxtable Meanders in Minneapolis

Jeffrey Snyder, major gifts officer of the Philadelphia Museum, told CultureGrrl today that the $68-million fundraising campaign for Eakins' "The Gross Clinic" is "well over 50% there." That still leaves a lot of cash to raise in one week. So why is Anne d'Harnoncourt, director of the museum, so "optimistic," as quoted in today's Philadelphia Inquirer? She herself has been coy … [Read more...] about “Gross Clinic” Fundraising Update: “Well Over 50 Percent”

Tom Stoppard is the greatest living English-language playwright. Full Stop. I'm sorry, but I will not accept any BlogBacks on this. Not even from Terry. So when I learned that his trilogy, "The Coast of Utopia," was stopping at Lincoln Center, I immediately Telecharged my tickets. And good English major that I still am, I went out and bought the text, which I am now very … [Read more...] about Full Stoppard: What I’m Reading Now