Think of it as analogous to The Doors' two versions of "Light My Fire": There's the short version, suitable for top-40 radio play, and then there's the mind-blowing longer version. If you were up at about 8:30 this morning and tuned in to WQXR, New York's public classical radio station, you heard the drive-time cut of my conversation with Kerry Nolan about the hot-button … [Read more...] about Dakis Fracas: L-o-n-g Version of My WQXR Commentary, Now Online
Coming Tomorrow: My WQXR Radio Commentary on the Dakis Fracas
If all goes according to plan, you'll be able to hear me tomorrow morning in an "Arts File" segment on WQXR, New York's public classical music station. I'll be commenting on the New Museum's Skin Fruit exhibition and the controversy surrounding it. The news peg is this Saturday's symposium on the relationship between private collectors and museums.Preparing for … [Read more...] about Coming Tomorrow: My WQXR Radio Commentary on the Dakis Fracas
Court Challenge to the MoMA Monster: Alleged “Failure to Comply” with Requirements UPDATED
Michael Sillerman, attorney for the planned MoMA/Hines tower (pictured behind him), speaking on its behalf at a NY City Planning Commission hearingMore bad news for MoMA: In a Feb. 24 petition filed in New York State Supreme Court, the West 54-55th Street Block Association, long-time opponents of the planned 1,050-foot-tall, Jean Nouvel-designed mixed-use tower in their … [Read more...] about Court Challenge to the MoMA Monster: Alleged “Failure to Comply” with Requirements UPDATED
MoMA’s Jennifer Russell Moves to the Met as Associate Director
Jennifer RussellYou can tell the quality of a museum director in large measure by the quality of the appointments that he or she makes. Tom Campbell has just made a first-rate, seasoned choice in his appointment of the second of his two associate directors. This just in from the Metropolitan Museum:Jennifer Russell will return to the [Metropolitan] Museum as associate director … [Read more...] about MoMA’s Jennifer Russell Moves to the Met as Associate Director
Abstract Expressionism, The Postage Stamp
I don't know about you, but I think I'm going to pre-order these.This Thursday, the Albright-Knox Gallery, Buffalo, will host the first-day-of-issue ceremony for the U.S. Postal Service's new commemorative stamps---Abstract Expressionists (above).Here's the USPS description of action postage:In celebration of the Abstract Expressionist artists of the 20th Century, [USPS] art … [Read more...] about Abstract Expressionism, The Postage Stamp
Back to the Future: From 2010 Whitney Biennial to 1912 Salon d’Automne
Jean Metzinger, "Tea Time," 1911In the course of my posts on the Whitney Museum's current survey of new, I promised to take you to the Philadelphia Museum of Art's evocation of a past exhibition of the new---the 1912 Salon d'Automne in Paris. That installation is the centerpiece of the museum's current permanent-collection show, Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris (to Apr. … [Read more...] about Back to the Future: From 2010 Whitney Biennial to 1912 Salon d’Automne
Update on Crichton Cache at Christie’s: No Guarantees
© Michael Crichton, photographed by Jonathan ExleyAfter I put CultureGrrl to bed for the weekend, I received the answers to questions that I had sent to Christie's regarding its upcoming sales of works from the estate of the late author Michael Crichton (discussed here: Christie's Beats Sotheby's in the Market-Share Game for 2009). I had speculated in Friday's post about … [Read more...] about Update on Crichton Cache at Christie’s: No Guarantees
Julián Zugazagoitia Named Nelson-Atkins Museum’s New Director UPDATED
Julián Zugazagoitia, current director of El Museo del Barrio, New York Repeat after me: "HOO-lian SZU-ga-sa-GOY-tee-ah." Julián Zugazagoitia, 46, will succeed Marc Wilson (much easier to pronounce), the venerable veteran director of the Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City, on Sept. 1. That leaves a three-month interregnum: Marc announced June 1 as his retirement … [Read more...] about Julián Zugazagoitia Named Nelson-Atkins Museum’s New Director UPDATED
Hammer Time: Christie’s Beats Sotheby’s in the Market-Share Game for 2009
Sotheby's two-year stock chart (stock price on top; trading volume on bottom)For those who like to keep score in the epic battle between the Big Two auction houses, the results are now in.With publicly traded Sotheby's having issued its 2009 annual report on Monday, we can at last do an apples-to-apples comparison with privately held Christie's to determine market share for … [Read more...] about Hammer Time: Christie’s Beats Sotheby’s in the Market-Share Game for 2009
Dakis Fracas: Lisa Phillips and Massimiliano Gioni on Doing the Right Thing
LEFT PHOTO: Lisa Phillips, the New Museum's director, at Joannou press preview. (In background, a rear view of Andro Wekua, "Wait to Wait," 2006)RIGHT PHOTO: Massimiliano Gioni, right, director of special exhibitions, discussing the showGuest curator Jeff Koons and featured collector Dakis Joannou were, as expected, notably absent from Tuesday's press preview for the New … [Read more...] about Dakis Fracas: Lisa Phillips and Massimiliano Gioni on Doing the Right Thing
Dakis Fracas: Aftertaste from a Creepy, Worthy Show
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
“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?