Lee Rosenbaum's cultural commentary

Still a work-in-progress: The Barnes Foundation's waterless water feature, with a worker (in the distance, on right, in turquoise shirt) installing outdoor lightingHaving seen the photos of mobs of ticketholders waiting for admission to the Barnes Foundation's new galleries during the opening weekend of its new Philadelphia facility, I approached its cavernous light court with … [Read more...] about Back to the Barnes: Some Improvements, but Some Security Concerns (with videos)

Jackson Pollock, "Mural, " 1943, at the Des Moines Art Center, on loan (to July 15) from the University of Iowa Museum of ArtSean O'Harrow, director of University of Iowa Museum of Art, which has held onto its great masterpiece, Jackson Pollock's 1943 "Mural," despite several legislative attempts to convert it to cash, suspected that some mischief was afoot after the university … [Read more...] about Iowa Pollock or I-Owe-a-Pollock? Monetization Monster Again Rears Its Head UPDATED

Hispanic Society of America's main court, with Goya's "The Duchess of Alba," 1797, at right (on lower level)The duchess of Alba, 1797 Photo by Lee Rosenbaum In yesterday's post on the Hispanic Society of America's deplorable disposal of virtually its entire coin collection (some 37,895 pieces), I asserted that the coins' donor, HSA founder Archer Huntington, had surely … [Read more...] about Monetizing the Money: Why Did No One Stop the Hispanic Society’s Coin Disposal?

Sebastian HeathSebastian Heath, research assistant professor of ancient studies at New York University's Institute for the Study of the Ancient World and research consultant to the American Numismatic Society, responds to 1,004 Ex-Hispanic Society Coins to Be Re-Auctioned in Spain; American Numismatic Society Retrieves 10,000 Pieces:It's a great relief to see some of these … [Read more...] about BlogBack: Sebastian Heath on the Hispanic Society Coin Sales

Sotheby's employee replaces coins in display tray during presale viewing last February of Hispanic Society of America's numismatic collection Photo by Lee Rosenbaum [More on this here, regarding possible deviation from founder Archer Huntington's trust indenture.] One's worst fears are now being realized regarding the Hispanic Society of America's recent sale of 37,895 … [Read more...] about News Flash: 1,004 Ex-Hispanic Society Coins to Be Re-Auctioned in Spain; American Numismatic Society Retrieves 10,000 Pieces

From museum exhibition catalogue to auction catalogue? Installation shot from National Gallery of Art's "George Bellows" show Center: "Men of the Docks" 1912, Randolph College Left: "New York," 1911, National Gallery of Art Right: "Snow Dumpers," 1911, Columbus Museum of Art Photo: Rob Shelley, © 2012 National Gallery of Art, Washington Among some 130 works in the … [Read more...] about “Men of the Docks” Revisited: Bellows Cast Off by Randolph College Temporarily Resurfaces at National Gallery

"Save the Corcoran" group's logo photo[More on the Corcoran uproar, here.]In a prudent attempt to seize momentum from angry activists, the Corcoran Gallery and College have just issued a press release announcing a series of its own community meetings, "at which the public may hear directly from leaders including Fred Bollerer, director and president, about the current state of … [Read more...] about Corcoran Uproar: Dueling “Community Meetings” about Its Precarious Future

David Levy, director of the Corcoran from 1991-2005At least one staffer of the foundering Corcoran Gallery has bailed out. I've been away on a work-ation the past four days, so I'm belatedly reporting on the missive that arrived in my inbox on Friday morning---a farewell address from Kristin Guiter, the Corcoran's vice president for communications and marketing, now leaving for … [Read more...] about Corcoran Communications Skipper Overboard: Guiter Jumps Ship

Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art and Design [More on this here.] The Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design's newly announced "plans to ensure its long-term stability and attain a new level of vitality and excellence" seem anything but. Indeed, given the desperation and illogic of its announced ideas for addressing its capital and fiscal … [Read more...] about Corcoran Uproar: Desperate Gambit to Rescue a Foundering D.C. Museum UPDATED

Two Kneeling Attendants, Angkor period, c. 921-45, Cambodia, Metropolitan MuseumBefore launching into his usual twice-yearly rundown for the scribe tribe of upcoming exhibitions, director Tom Campbell yesterday delivered a cri de coeur to assembled journalists, imploring us not to rush to judgment against American institutions over every claim by foreign governments for objects … [Read more...] about “No Formal Claim”: Tom Campbell on Cambodia’s Repatriation Campaign CLARIFIED

The somber entrance of the Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth, which may soon be enlivened with a Williams Tsien light box. After the American Folk Art Museum debacle, the husband-and-wife architectural team, Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, who designed AFAM's now shuttered headquarters on 53rd Street in New York, urgently needed a win. With their new Philadelphia facility for the … [Read more...] about Another Light Box? Tod Williams’ and Billie Tsien’s Next Museum Project (and worries for those completed) UPDATED

Mami Kataoka, chief curator, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, and originator of "Ai Weiwei: According to What?" (coming Oct. 7 to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden) Photo by Lee Rosenbaum The Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, which is currently displaying Ai Weiwei's Circle of Animals in its sculpture garden, has applied for a visa to allow the Chinese dissident artist to assist … [Read more...] about Weiwei in Washington? Hirshhorn Applies for Ai’s Visa to Attend His Exhibition

Jackson Pollock, "Mural on Indian Red Ground," 1950, Tehran Museum of Contemporary ArtOn Friday I reported that the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art's Pollock masterpiece, "Mural on Indian Red Ground," 1950, having returned from a Pollock retrospective in Nagoya and Tokyo, Japan, was being held by Iran's customs service because of what Agence France-Presse reported as an … [Read more...] about Iran Pollock Update: Back at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art

Entry doors from the Light Court to the Barnes Foundation's galleries  during the less crowded press preview. Below: Reader's photo taken during an overbooked day.Photo by Lee RosenbaumI'll let the Barnes Foundation's own Facebook page entry, posted yesterday, speak for itself:Dear Patrons, It has been brought to our attention [didn't they observe it firsthand?] that many … [Read more...] about Ticketing Glitch: Barnes Foundation Apologizes to Visitors for Chaotic Opening UPDATED WITH PHOTO

Exhibition catalogue page for the star attraction of Japan's recent Jackson Pollock: A Centennial Retrospective Photos by Lee Rosenbaum. Video by Helen Harrison [UPDATE: here] Usually, when a loaned masterpiece gets returned unscathed, all is well. But in yet another blow to cultural exchange, a highly important Jackson Pollock, "Mural on Indian Red Ground," 1950, … [Read more...] about Iran’s Pollock Masterpiece Seized Upon Return from Japan UPDATED