Search Results for: detroit

Looks like a step in the right direction for defenders of the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts. This just in from Nathan Bomey's live blog of Bankruptcy Court hearings for the Detroit Free Press: BREAKING: Judge [Steven] Rhodes denies creditor attempt to establish independent committee to assess value of the Detroit Institute of Arts. The court "lacks the authority … [Read more...] about Rhodes Rules: Good News for Detroit Institute of Arts

I've learned (from cases like this) that trying to interpret judges' off-the-cuff comments in courtroom hearings is like trying to read tea leaves: They may be tipping their own hands or they may merely be playing devil's advocate, attempting to draw out further insights and greater clarity from the attorneys arguing a case. That said, Judge Steven Rhodes seems to have made … [Read more...] about My Takeaway (so far) From Judge Rhodes’ Detroit Bankruptcy Hearing (and Grand Bargain misgivings)

UPDATE: As I posted this, court arguments regarding the Detroit Institute of Arts' [DIA's] collection had just wrapped up. But this just in from Nathan Bomey's live blog from Judge Steven Rhodes' bankruptcy hearing: "Judge Rhodes said he plans to rule on the DIA art committee motion at 3 p.m. Gov. Snyder and legislative leaders plan to announce a deal today at 3:30 p.m. to … [Read more...] about News Flash: Detroit Free Press Live-Blogging Bankruptcy Hearing on Museum’s Art UPDATED

The Detroit Institute of Arts has just issued the following statement regarding today's announcement by the federal mediator, Chief District Judge Gerald Rosen, that some $330 million has been pledged by local and national foundations (identified at the above link) to support the "Grand Bargain" to prevent sales from the Detroit Institute of Arts' treasured collection to help … [Read more...] about Progress (but no closure) in “Grand Bargain” to Protect Detroit Institute’s Art

Did you have better things to do this Christmas morning than listening to me on NPR? If so, you can now hear me here (starting at 3:08), near the end of the segment on the Detroit Institute of Arts by NPR's Elizabeth Blair, which aired on "Morning Edition." (Click the arrow to the left of the audio bar below.) For the transcript of the full segment (accompanied by another … [Read more...] about My NPR Soundbite on Detroit Institute of Arts’ “Grand Bargain”

If all goes according to plan (and it's already been postponed twice), I should be heard on NPR's "Morning Edition" tomorrow (along with other analysts), providing some commentary on the talks to preserve the art collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts in the face of the city's financial crisis. I was interviewed for this last Tuesday, but I'm sure the producer (and … [Read more...] about Detroit Diatribe: My NPR Commentary Tomorrow on the Art Institute’s Predicament

The "Grand Bargain" is gathering momentum. In comments to the Detroit News editorial board yesterday, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder revealed that he "wouldn't be close-minded" to proposals to allocate state funds towards protecting the Detroit Institute of Arts, "if it were part of settling the case." Similarly, Kalamazoo-based radio station WKZO reported on comments by … [Read more...] about Michigan Governor Suggests State Funds Could Go Towards Detroit Institute Rescue

In what has now become, for me, the most stomach-turning moment in the Detroit Institute of Arts/municipal crisis saga, the Detroit Free Press today has posted an interactive feature (to which I refuse to link) that features images and the purported "fair market values" of 30 highlights from the 2,773 DIA works appraised by Christie's at the behest of Detroit Emergency Manager … [Read more...] about Appraising the Appraisal: Christie’s Sickening Potential Shopping List of Detroit Institute’s Art

The dark "cloud of unknowing" (about which director Graham Beal has previously lamented) regarding deliberations about the Detroit Institute of Arts' fate continues to hang over the museum today, with the delivery of Christie's 150-page appraisal report to Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr. The report provides valuations for more than 2,000 works from the museum's … [Read more...] about Detroit Institute of Arts Comments on Christie’s Appraisal Report CLARIFIED

UPDATE: Detroit Institute's reaction to the report is here. This message from Christie's just hit my inbox: Christie’s has delivered to the Emergency Manager’s Office of the City of Detroit the final report on its two-part project that includes a valuation of City of Detroit (COD)- purchased works of art in the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) collection and recommendations … [Read more...] about Christie’s Submits 150-Page Report on Detroit Institute Art Valuations and Monetization Recommendations UPDATED

While we breathlessly await this week's expected final report from Christie's on its appraisal of some 2,781 works in the Detroit Institute of Art's collection, the legal wars over the city's financial morass are escalating. Matt Helms and Brent Snavely of the Detroit Free Press today report: U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes on Monday allowed appeals of two of his … [Read more...] about Litigation Nation: Bankruptcy Judge Allows Appeals (but Fodor’s puts art-rich Detroit on 2014 “Go List”)

Sometimes winning or losing philanthropic support is a question of how you structure the grant proposal. Foundations approached in recent months by Graham Beal, the Detroit Institute of Arts' director, had all told him the same thing: They would not provide funds towards the $500 million that Detroit's emergency manager, Kevyn Orr, said he wanted the museum to come up with … [Read more...] about Not Just a Pension Subvention: Why “Grand Bargain” to Rescue Detroit Institute of Arts Could Work

In today's 150-page order authorizing Detroit's Chapter 9 bankruptcy, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes gave the beleaguered Detroit Institute of Arts some hope to cling to. As reported by Nathan Bomey, Brent Snavely and Alisa Priddle in the Detroit Free Press: Rhodes expounded on his ruling, saying pensions can be cut because they are contracts and urging the city to be … [Read more...] about Settlement Sentiment: Judge Offers Ray of Hope for Detroit Institute; Christie’s Offers Dicey Art Appraisal

Halloween seems like the ideal time to confront a scary situation that spooks the artworld---the possibility that the Detroit Institute of Arts might be forced to sell masterpieces from its collection to help satisfy its destitute city's creditors. Last week, an important behind-the-scenes player not given to public pronouncements, Richard Levin, the NYC-based lawyer … [Read more...] about Fright Night: Detroit Institute of Arts’ Attorney Shines Light on City’s Murky Bankruptcy Discussions (with video)

Frank Robinson, the retired veteran director of Cornell University's Johnson Museum, whose provocative letter to the NY Times was seriously misconstrued by another ArtsJournal blogger, responds to my post, Detroit Institute Debate: Judith Dobrzynski’s Misunderstanding of Frank Robinson’s Nuanced NY Times Letter: Of course your interpretation of my letter is absolutely correct: … [Read more...] about BlogBack: Frank Robinson Endorses My Interpretation of His NY Times Letter on Detroit Institute