Lee Rosenbaum's cultural commentary

Want to know what I think about the astonishing news (reported this afternoon by the NY Times' Patricia Cohen) that Eli Broad has approached the National Gallery, Washington, about a possible LACMA-trumping agreement for a five-year collaboration? You can hear me debunk that proposal as "kicking the can down the road" on public radio station KCRW's Which Way, L.A.?, tonight … [Read more...] about Coming Soon on KCRW: My “Which Way, L.A.?” Commentary on MOCA/LACMA/USC/NGA

In his Saturday NY Times article about the possible Los Angeles museum merger, Adam Nagourney noted that "there is one person now in a position to block it: Eli Broad." That's because a condition of MOCA's acceptance of the Broad Bailout (scroll to last page), as Eli stated in 2008, was "to keep MOCA independent. Being merged into another institution would destroy the … [Read more...] about MOCA Poker: Will Eli Broad Attempt to Stop LACMA’s Proposed Takeover? Can LACMA Afford MOCA?

In today's NY Times review of the Armory Show, Karen Rosenberg described Warhol Museum director Eric Shiner's close participation in this commercial art extravaganza as "the boundary-blurring of a museum director playing curator at an art fair (and justifying this decision with the old Warholian saw about art and business)." I've already issued some cutting commentary about … [Read more...] about All’s Fair at the Fair: Eric Shiner, Warhol Museum’s Director, Defends Getting Cozy with Commerce

I just got back home from cataract surgery (successful, I think), so I'm not permitted to rub my eyes quite yet. But eye-rubbing was nearly unavoidable when I read this Jori Finkel jaw-dropper on the website of the LA Times: The Los Angeles County Museum of Art has made a formal proposal to acquire the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, which has been struggling … [Read more...] about LACMOCA? Winners and Losers as LACMA-MOCA Museum Merger Sparks Are Reignited

In my last post, pegged to my Crafty Collector article in today's Wall Street Journal, I mentioned that I had interviewed the collector who is the subject of an exhibition now at the Smithsonian's Sackler Gallery (to July 7)---the late psychiatrist and Chinese art specialist Paul Singer. What I didn't tell you was how I got to know him. In September 1978, I published an … [Read more...] about Wilson Wisdom: Sackler Curator on the “Astounding Success Rate” of Amateur Collector Paul Singer (with video)

The Wall Street Journal has just posted online The Crafty Collector---my article for tomorrow's "Leisure and Arts" page. It explores the current Washington, DC, exhibition (to July 7) of the late psychiatrist Paul Singer's collection of early Chinese art, which was given upon his death in 1997 to the Smithsonian Institution's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery but hasn't been shown … [Read more...] about My WSJ Piece on Paul Singer’s Chinese Art Collection at the Sackler Gallery: A Companion Slide Show

Artworld commentators have recently raised questions about the long 14-month vacancy in the director's post at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Perhaps they should have put those questions directly to Diane "Dede" Wilsey. As president of the museum's board, she is overseeing the search. Revealing that an active search for a new director (to replace John Buchanan, who … [Read more...] about “Mourning Process”: Diane Wilsey Justifies San Francisco Museums’ Delayed Director’s Search

Wanna help the Metropolitan Museum and Sheena Wagstaff, its chairman of modern and contemporary art, decide what to do with the Whitney Museum's current facility, which the Met will occupy (at least temporarily) once the Whitney decamps from its Breuer-designed facility for its new Piano-designed downtown digs? Now you can! ArtsJournal is currently running this classified … [Read more...] about “Breuer Project”: Metropolitan Museum Seeks Associate Curator of American Modern

Sotheby's 2012 results were nothing to crow about (and CEO Bill Ruprecht didn't, although he professed optimism for the future). But I rubbed my eyes in disbelief when I saw this over-the-top headline on the homepage of Huffington Post Arts: THE END IS NEAR???: Sotheby's Revenue Declines [UPDATE: It looks like "THE END IS NEAR???" has now been deleted from the HuffPost's … [Read more...] about Sotheby’s 2012 Results: How Erroneous Financial Reports Go Viral

Notwithstanding its sale last year of the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction, Sotheby's today reported lackluster results for 2012: Net income was down a whopping 37%, ($108.29 million, compared to $171.42 million the previous year). Total sales for the year (including private and dealer sales) were $5.4 billion (down 7%), compared to $6.27 billion at Christie's … [Read more...] about Bested by Christie’s, Sotheby’s Sales Drop. Net Income Plummets 37%. Both Raise Buyer’s Fee.

Those of you who follow my @CultureGrrl Twitter feed (embedded on the blog, at right) know I was in Washington, DC, last week (on assignment). Now I need to write that article, host CultureDaughter's bridal shower (centerpiece pictured) and undergo (gulp) cataract surgery on my left eye---all in rapid succession. After that come preparations for a family Passover seder (late … [Read more...] about Flower Power: A Personal Note…

An unimpeachably reliable inside source at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) has unequivocally confirmed to me one part of a rumor that I heard yesterday after I published this post about the surprising administrative realignment and worrisome staff departures at the Crystal Bridges Museum, Bentonville, AR: My source confirmed that Don Bacigalupi, director of … [Read more...] about A Bent for Bentonville: Crystal Bridges’ Don Bacigalupi Was Considered for San Francisco’s Directorship UPDATED

What's going on between the lines and behind the scenes of the recent surprising news about the regime change at Crystal Bridges Museum, Bentonville, AR? The answers could prove telling for the future of a still nascent institution that's trying to find its way and play in the big leagues, with the help of munificent financial support from its founder, Alice Walton. The … [Read more...] about Crystal Bridges Shake-Up: What Is Alice Walton Thinking?

The NY Public Library today issued a statement in response to the letter by 20 architecture critics who called on the library's board to reconsider the planned renovation designed by Norman Foster. This hit my inbox earlier this evening, sent to me by Ken Weine, who last week assumed his post as the NY Public Library's vice president for communications and marketing (and is … [Read more...] about NY Public Library Responds to Architecture Critics’ Letter Regarding Norman Foster’s Design

It's not over until the construction contract is signed. Although the county legislature voted last week in favor of renovating, rather than knocking down, the flood-damaged Orange County Government Center, politicians on both sides of the controversy (the pro-renovation Democrats and the pro-demolition Republicans) now indicate that the rescue of architect Paul Rudolph's … [Read more...] about Goshen Commotion: Paul Rudolph’s Government Center May Not be Saved After All