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Recently installed in the rotunda of the reopened National Academy, New York: John Chamberlain, "Tasteylingus," 2010, courtesy of the late artist and Gagosian Gallery While we're on the subject of recently deceased famous artists, we also take note of the passing last Wednesday of sculptor John Chamberlain, 84. His demise occasioned an unseemly classified-obit war in the NY … [Read more...] about Battle of the Classified Obits: Pace vs. Gagosian on John Chamberlain

Helen FrankenthalerPhoto © Chris FelverHelen Frankenthaler, 83, who died today after a long illness, was never a comfortable artworld fit. Her unabashed commitment to subtle beauty and ethereal lyricism set her apart from the rough-and-tumble Abstract Expressionist circles in which she gracefully moved. She stayed her artistic course throughout, with steadfast disregard of new … [Read more...] about “A Search for Truth and Beauty”: Helen Frankenthaler, Dead at 83 UPDATED

Crystal's Chris Crossed? The Bentonville museum's soon-to-depart founding curator, Chris Crosman Now that we've all dutifully returned to our computers after quaffing eggnog and eating latkes (not a good pairing) during the concurrent Christian and Jewish seasonal celebrations, it's time for us to stop opening presents and start opening the saved tabs on our web browsers. … [Read more...] about Catch-Up Times: NYT’s Roberta Smith on Crystal Bridges Museum

Ivan Puopolo, reportier for the "Strada" program of Finnish Broadcast Company's YLE TV1, standing on the presumed site of the proposed Guggenheim HelsinkiThe City of Helsinki yesterday reported that the feasibility study for the proposed Guggenheim Helsinki will be completed by Dec. 30, as scheduled. But it will not be publicly released until Jan. 10. So what kind of museum … [Read more...] about Guggenheim Helsinki: The View from Finland (plus my second Finnish TV gig)

Miniature replica of a Wal-Mart shopping cart (left) and Sam Walton's 1979 Ford pickup truck---part of a display on life in Northwest Arkansas at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American ArtFar be it for me to become a champion of Alice Walton (on whom I've been notably hard in the past) or of Wal-Mart (where I don't shop). But Bloomberg View's Jeffrey Goldberg has gone off the … [Read more...] about Crystal Bridges vs. Wal-Mart Workers: Jeffrey Goldberg’s Irrational Either/Or

Pat Steir, "Lovely Day Waterfall," 2009 [Part I is here.] I try to enjoy art wherever I find it, and I did get a welcome aesthetic charge yesterday from gazing at Pat Steir's lyrical "Lovely Day Waterfall." But it wasn't such a "lovely day" for me, because of where I was situated for a good part of the afternoon---the waiting room of an outpatient facility (above) for … [Read more...] about The Art of Sloan Kettering—Part II

Construction webcam shot of the newly named Jorge M. Pérez Art Museum of Miami-Dade CountyI've been pondering the controversy surrounding the Miami Art Museum's infelicitous renaming as the [take long breath] Jorge M. Pérez Art Museum of Miami-Dade County. The balancing act between private fundraising and public purpose is a difficult one, fraught with sensitive issues. But … [Read more...] about The Name Game at Miami Art Museum: Fundraising Tool or Vanity Insanity?

This is it, art-lings.Notwithstanding the dubious ego boost of being featured on Finnish television (with Part II, on the proposed Helsinki Guggenheim, airing today), I've come to an obvious, long overdue conclusion: There's not enough financial support out there from you---CultureGrrl's devoted readers---to justify continuing this five-and-a-half-year experiment in trying to … [Read more...] about Reader Support: CultureGrrl’s Urgent End-of-Year Appeal

Felcholino and their Getty tell-all, "Chasing Aphrodite"[UPDATE: David Bomford, in response to my direct query, said that he is not in talks with the Courtauld, as suggested by Felcholino's source.]Felcholino (Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino), of Chasing Aphrodite fame, apparently still have their "Deep Throat(s)" at the J. Paul Getty Trust, ready and eager to spill the beans … [Read more...] about Off “Chasing Aphrodite’s” Facebook Wall: Tales from the Getty/Cuno Staff Meeting UPDATED

Michael BrandJames Cuno, president of the J. Paul Getty Trust, is scheduled to meet with the Getty Museum's staff this morning to discuss "the transition and moving forward," as Getty spokesperson Julie Jaskol confirmed this morning, responding to my query (which was prompted by this Chasing Aphrodite tweet). Yesterday, the Getty's press office stonewalled my efforts to get … [Read more...] about Explaining the Bomford Bombshell: My Q&A with Michael Brand, Getty Museum’s Ex-Director

Stanford's Big Catch: Jackson Pollock, "Lucifer," 1947, Harry W. and Mary Margaret Anderson CollectionStanford is on a major arts binge.The university's previously amorphous plans have now been somewhat fleshed out for its new facility to house 121 works from the legendary 20th-century American art collection of Harry W. ("Hunk") and Mary Margaret ("Moo") Anderson. As announced … [Read more...] about Chunk of the “Hunk”: Stanford Names Ennead as Architect for $30.5-Million Anderson Collection Facility UPDATED

David BomfordMore instability has hit the J. Paul Getty Museum. A bombshell from its press office exploded in my inbox this afternoon: David Bomford, the museum's acting director for almost two years (and associate director before that), is leaving on Feb. 1, to "return to London where he plans to pursue research, scholarship and writing," according to the Getty's press … [Read more...] about News Flash: David Bomford to Leave Getty; James Cuno to Assume Acting Directorship

Paddy JohnsonWe learned this in our libel-law course at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism:If you repeat someone else's libel, you too can be sued for libel. That doesn't mean the libel suit has merit or that the person bringing the suit will win. There are lots of legal defenses against the charge that you have damaged someone's reputation or livelihood. … [Read more...] about Paddy Johnson of “Art Fag City” Blog (and 10 others) Sued by Controversial Art Authenticator

Scene of my Blogger-on-the-Street interview: Between me, Ivan and the lamppostI've gotten the chance to do a lot of radio work (thanks to my five and a half years of blog-slogging), but ever since my 2007 BBC television debut, I've been waiting in vain for TV stations to clamor for my commentary.At last, it's finally happened!Okay, so it wasn't an American TV station. I had to … [Read more...] about The Importance of Art Blogging: CultureGrrl’s Finnish Television Debut (with video)

James Levine, the Metropolitan Opera's music director, plagued with back injuries (the painful effect of which I witnessed while attending his nonetheless powerful performance of Wagner's "Die Walküre" last April), has come to terms with the obvious: He needs an extended rehabilitation period before he can commit to the rigors of conducting at the Met. In a statement … [Read more...] about James Levine Withdraws from Met Conducting through 2012-13 Season