Lee Rosenbaum's cultural commentary

Eric Shiner, new director of the Andy Warhol MuseumEric Shiner, acting director of the Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, has now had the "acting" designation removed from his title.In getting the nod to succeed Tom Sokolowski, who resigned the Warhol's directorship, effective at the end of last year, Shiner had the inside track for the top spot, thanks to his insider status as … [Read more...] about Eric Shiner Named Warhol Museum’s Director UPDATED

Tennessee Supreme Court building in Nashville, site of recent Court of Appeals oral arguments on Fisk's Stieglitz CollectionI recently obtained the voice recording of the entire 42 minutes of oral arguments by opposing lawyers in the never-ending Stieglitz Collection case, now under consideration by the Tennessee Court of Appeals. Both sides---Fisk University and the Tennessee … [Read more...] about Fisk/Stieglitz Court of Appeals Arguments: How Crystal Bridges Could Have Withdrawn from Its $30-Million Deal

Michael Kimmelman, critic-of-all-tradesI guess we'll have to suspend disbelief. But NY Times culture editor Jonathan Landman's memo announcing the appointment of the paper's chief art critic, Michael Kimmelman, to the position of the paper's "chief architecture critic" (replacing Nicolai Ouroussoff) brought to mind the Metropolitan Museum's recent announcement of its new … [Read more...] about Michael Kimmelman’s Travels: Music to Art to…ARCHITECTURE???

Detail from installation of "Fifty Days at Iliam," 1978, Philadelphia Museum of ArtIn his fine (but preliminary) obituary for Cy Twombly, who died Tuesday at 83, the NY Times' Randy Kennedy wrote:He [Twombly]...mostly ignored his critics, who questioned constantly whether his work deserved a place at the forefront of 20th-century abstraction, though he lived long enough to see … [Read more...] about Cy Twombly, the Inscrutable (but haunting) Scrawler, Dies UPDATED

AAMD's Dan Monroe's proliferating signature (on letter to Brandeis University)Only a month into his presidency of the Association of Art Museum Directors, Dan Monroe, director of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA, has fired off another missive to a president of an institution of higher learning. But this time (as distinguished from the recent condemnation of Randolph … [Read more...] about AAMD on Brandeis: (Self-)Congratulation and Applause (plus more on Fisk/Stieglitz)

Malcolm Bell, professor emeritus of Greek art at the University of Virginia and co-director of the American excavations at MorgantinaWe interrupt your urgent business at the beach, swimming pool, tennis courts and golf course to offer you a diversion from today's Wall Street Journal---archaeologist Malcolm Bell's deeply informed but sure-to-be-controversial review of Jason … [Read more...] about Malcolm Bell’s Ringing Critique of “Chasing Aphrodite” in the WSJ

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has quietly launched a completely revamped website, in conjunction with its launch today in the Bentonville, AR, of its membership drive.Here's the card being proffered to "Original Members" who sign up at the tents in the town square (or online, for those of us who can't make it in person):Eat your heart out, New York! Asher B. … [Read more...] about Crystal Bridges Museum Update: The Mysterious Disappearing Collection

Brandeis University President Frederick LawrenceWhat a difference a new president makes!Thanks in part to personal conversations initiated by Brandeis University President Frederick Lawrence, who assumed his post Jan. 1, an agreement has now been struck between Brandeis University and the three board members of the university's Rose Art Museum who had filed a lawsuit in July … [Read more...] about Rose Art Museum Flash: Brandeis President Lawrence Discusses Amicable Legal Settlement, Future Museum Plans

Randolph College President John KleinThe Association of Art Museum Directors has now posted online the link to its June 22 letter to Randolph College President John Klein, reaffirming AAMD's previous censure of deaccessions (past and possibly future) by the Maier Museum of Art, Lynchburg, VA, to raise funds for the college's general financial needs.Now Klein has responded to … [Read more...] about Fighting Words: Randolph College Responds to AAMD’s Censure

Signature of Dan Monroe, AAMD's new president, affixed to letter sent to Randolph College's president condemning Maier Museum's past and (possibly) future deaccessionsBack in October 2007, the Association of Art Museum Directors condemned Randolph College's plan to sell four artworks from its Maier Museum, with proceeds to be used for general university purposes. (The Maier is … [Read more...] about AAMD Reaffirms Condemnation of Maier Museum Art Disposals, After Visits to Randolph College

Yikes! It's GROWING! The view from the webcam of the Philly BarnesThe Barnes Foundation, which plans to close its Merion galleries on Sunday, in anticipation of its eventual move to Philadelphia, today announced (in an e-mail, not on its website) that it had raised "more than $200 million," which, in the foundation's words, "fulfills campaign promises to fund both the new home … [Read more...] about $200-Million Illusion: Barnes’ Fundraising “Success” Depended on Halving Its Endowment Goal CLARIFIED

Most Wanted: Vermeer, "The Concert," 1658-1660 It seems like a longshot. But Jason Felch's and Ralph Frammolino's "Chasing Aphrodite" Twitter page now tantalizes us with the following: Coming tomorrow: a story in the LA Times about how the arrest of #whiteybulger could help crack the biggest art heist in history.That could only be the 1990 theft of 13 artworks from the … [Read more...] about Bulger/Gardner? Speculation on Whether Arrest of Fugitive Mobster Will Solve Boston Art Heist

Tom Armstrong, left, and artist Mark di Suvero (whose work Tom showed at the Whitney), attending a 2008 luncheon at Storm King Art Center, Mountainville, NYPhoto: NY Social DiaryI feel I ought to write a proper appreciation of Thomas N. Armstrong III, the former director of the Whitney Museum, who died on Monday at age 78. It was under his leadership, from 1974 to 1990, when, … [Read more...] about Tom Armstrong, 78: Whitney’s Former Director Gave It a Forward-Looking Focus

Ai Weiwei on Metropolitan Museum's roof gardenPhoto from the website of upcoming film, Ai Weiwei: Never SorryI've been away from the computer all day, for personal reasons---my own diagnosis this morning of "patellofemoral syndrome" (aka "bum knee"); my friend's need for me to accompany her to an afternoon hospital appointment. So I'm now just catching up with the cheering news … [Read more...] about Ai Weiwei Is Released (but his freedom of expression isn’t) UPDATED

Yesterday was a banner day for the Walton clan. The family business, Wal-Mart, had a huge win when the U.S. Supreme Court threw out a huge class-action suit on behalf of female employees who had claimed discrimination on both pay and promotions.In less momentous news (unless you're an art enthusiast), Alice Walton's Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, scheduled to open on … [Read more...] about New Yorker Corker: “Crystal Bridges Has Earned the Respect of the Museum Establishment”