Lee Rosenbaum's cultural commentary

Those of you who aren't empty-nesters like me are just coming back to work from your winter-break, ski-or-swim vacations, so I just want to direct your attention to last week's innovation on the CultureGrrl website---the "Donate" button, administered through PayPal, on the right.For further explanation of the fiscal urgency of this blogger bailout, go here. I was gratified by … [Read more...] about The CultureGrrl Fund Drive, Continued

The new Alice Tully Hall [Part Two is here.] Diller Scofidio + Renfro's transformation of Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall is an enticing architectural eyeful to passersby on the outside and a bit of a letdown to concertgoers on the inside. Its deficiencies are basic---comfort, safety, and to my ears, acoustics (although the ears that count most, those of NY Times' chief … [Read more...] about Alice Tully’s Extreme Makeover (Part One): “Wow” Building Disappoints as Concert Hall

I attended yesterday's press preview of Diller Scofidio + Renfro's completely transformed Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center and I expect to attend the inaugural concert on Sunday. After that, I'll have much more to contribute, including an irreverent photo essay (but only if someone feels moved to click my dormant "Donate" button, on the right, sadly untouched all day … [Read more...] about Mulling Tully: Architecture Critics Jump the Gun

Instead showing you this notation from the book of remembrance stationed just outside of the Andrew Wyeth gallery at the Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, PA, I wish I could have shown you an image of the artist's last painting, "Goodbye," which astonished me when I made my pilgrimage almost two weeks ago to the gallery-turned-shrine in Wyeth's hometown:For one weekend, … [Read more...] about Andrew Wyeth’s Last Painting, Fleetingly Displayed: His Elegaic “Goodbye”

While we're on the subject of nasty-looking demolition projects that are prelude to the construction of snazzy new museum facilities, guess which one this is: Let's move to the west for another view:That cheery construction worker, who color-coordinates (sort of) with the artwork behind him, informed me that there's a lot of asbestos in the hulk shown in the first picture, … [Read more...] about Demolition Derby: Another Teardown Preceding a Museum Buildup

Demolition-in-Progress: Site of the new Barnes Foundation building in Philadelphia, formerly home to a juvenile detention centerIn what is perhaps a harbinger of their future relationship as neighbors on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Barnes Foundation are collaborating on a high-powered lecture series, Cézanne, Still Going (scroll down), … [Read more...] about Philadelphia Museum and the Barnes: The Synergy Begins

Richard Armstrong, director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation"I have this private fantasy that the museum casts itself northwards," Richard Armstrong told me during our recent hour-long conversation in the director's office on the 8th floor of the Guggenheim Museum, which he has occupied for the last three months.Northwards? I immediately began seeing visions of the … [Read more...] about The Glocal Guggenheim: Richard Armstrong’s Plans for New York

Abu Dhabi Boys (lead singer, Frankie Gehry)Left to Right: Lee Tabler, CEO of Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development and Investment Company; Richard Armstrong, director, Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation; architect Frank Gehry; Juan Ignacio Vidarte, Guggenheim's chief officer for global strategies and director, Guggenheim Bilbao; Frederick Henry, Guggenheim trusteeI've had occasion in … [Read more...] about Richard Armstrong Goes Global: My Interview with the Guggenheim’s New Director

Emily Jacir takes aim, misses the markEmily Jacir's work has always moved me with its understated, poetically symbolic approach to empathetically documenting the plight of Palestinians. In my Wall Street Journal review of the 2004 Whitney Biennial (which displayed Where We Come From), I included her among three artists whom I particularly admired. And in my CultureGrrl review … [Read more...] about Emily Jacir at the Guggenheim: From Poetic to Polemic

Before I decide to bail out, here's a chance to bail me out:Bloggers were omitted from the federal economic stimulus package. And my CultureGrrl Ad Drive has, thus far, not been a roaring success. But some dedicated readers who have nothing to advertise have assured me that they'd gladly support the blog.So for those of you who would like to help keep CultureGrrl thumping the … [Read more...] about Blogger Bailout: The CultureGrrl Economic Stimulus Button UPDATED

Brandeis University's proposal to close or repurpose its Rose Art Museum, selling works from the collection, has occasioned much comment from artworld luminaries who are Brandeis alums, as well as from many CultureGrrl readers. Here are some notes that I've received:Donald Knaub, former director of both the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, and the Ulrich … [Read more...] about BlogBacks: Readers’ Prose on the Rose

Like the sign says, this much anticipated show doesn't open at the Philadelphia Museum of Art till Feb. 26, but I got a sneak preview of what will likely be its introductory artwork by peering through a crack in the door:The painting itself wasn't yet installed, just a mock-up. But you all know who we're looking at: He's the Museum of Modern Art's iconic "Bather" by Cézanne, … [Read more...] about Philly Fling: My Peeks at Cézanne, Eakins, Kelly

Robert Lynch, President of Americans for the ArtsCulture Power!A huge effort by arts advocates, including more than 80,000 e-mails (not counting faxes and phone calls) to members of Congress generated by the Arts Action Center of Americans for the Arts, has paid off:Although my source (not Robert Lynch, above) did not want to be identified (because nothing is final until the … [Read more...] about Arts Win Stimulus Bill Inclusion: $50 Million for NEA; Funds Available for Museums, Theaters, Art Centers (3 UPDATES)

I'll admit it was a low-percentage play.When I told you I was applying for an award that I wasn't going to get, I wasn't kidding: It was the Pulitzer Prize.I decided to take a flyer because, for the first time in its history, the Pulitzer opened its doors this year to mere bloggers. That's right, fellow pajama journalists, you too might have won the gold (above), had you … [Read more...] about Blog Slogger: Pulitzer Prize for Online Content (ArtsJournal excluded)

Congressman George Miller, D-CAAt least someone is stepping up to the plate:Thanks to Richard Kessler's Dewey 21C blog, I learned today that Rep. George Miller, D-CA, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, plans to hold hearings this spring "to examine how the arts benefit the nation's economy and schools---and what can be done to improve support for the arts and … [Read more...] about State of the Arts in Congress: An Update