Graham W.J. Beal, director, Detroit Institute of ArtsJim Zarroli, a business and economics reporter for National Public Radio (he's their Madoff man), did a segment today on museums' financial difficulties, with an emphasis on the National Academy situation. You can both listen to the audio and read the summary text for "Museums Exhibit Signs Of Economic Distress," here.The … [Read more...] about NPR’s Report on the National Academy Sales
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Deaccessions 101: Jori Finkel’s NY Times Survey of National Academy, Fisk, Maier, Albright-Knox, etc.
Jori FinkelWhile you're waiting for my promised "deaccession-or-die" opinion piece (a companion post to yesterday's screed against AAMD's harsh punishment of the National Academy), today's required reading is Whose Rules Are These, Anyway? from tomorrow's NY Times "Arts & Leisure" section (online today). The estimable Jori Lee Finkel (who should use her middle name) hits … [Read more...] about Deaccessions 101: Jori Finkel’s NY Times Survey of National Academy, Fisk, Maier, Albright-Knox, etc.
AAM’s New Antiquities Acquisition Standards: More Sweeping than AAMD’s
What's an antiquities-collecting American museum to do?In one important respect, the American Association of Museums' Standards Regarding Archaeological Material and Ancient Art, issued yesterday, substantially differences from the standards announced on June 4 by the Association of Art Museum Directors. This may confuse the issue for U.S. institutions trying to do the right … [Read more...] about AAM’s New Antiquities Acquisition Standards: More Sweeping than AAMD’s
A Gaffe in the NY Times “Museums” Section
Dorothy Spears' article in today's large NY Times Museums section, When the Final Touch is the Exit Door, lists 11 museum directors---by name or by the name of their institutions---who announced they were leaving their posts shortly after the completion of major capital projects. But two of those 11 might be surprised to learn that they're leaving. According to the article:Mr. … [Read more...] about A Gaffe in the NY Times “Museums” Section
Halbreich’s Legacy and Her Next Act
I love the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, which Kathy Halbreich will leave as director in November. I admire it for its nerve and prescience in taking flyers on lesser-known artists and audacious exhibition concepts. It's a tradition that Halbreich has ably carried on from her legendary predecessor, Martin Friedman. As her contemporary, I also love that Halbreich explained … [Read more...] about Halbreich’s Legacy and Her Next Act
“Dr. Gachet” Sighting: It WAS Flöttl!
It was the one story I felt sorry I wrote after I wrote it: In March 2000, I published an article in the Wall Street Journal (linked at the bottom of this article), in which I suggested that Austrian-born investment fund manager Wolfgang Flöttl might have become the owner of the elusive "Portrait of Dr. Gachet" by van Gogh, which had set an auction record in 1990 when it sold … [Read more...] about “Dr. Gachet” Sighting: It WAS Flöttl!
Highlights from my writings and broadcasts:
MY BOOK The Complete Guide to Collecting Art (Knopf) MAINSTREAM MEDIA NY TIMES ARTS & LEISURE Two Painters: So Alike, So Different (Caravaggio/Hals) NY TIMES OP-EDS: For Sale: Our Permanent Collection (museum deaccessions) Fashion Victim (Chanel at the Met) Destroying the Museum to Save It (Barnes Foundation) Rush to Auction (Bill Gates' purchase of Leonardo codex from … [Read more...] about Highlights from my writings and broadcasts:
Tate Discloses Acquisition Prices
Bloomberg reports that the Tate Gallery, London, released at its annual press conference today "prices paid for recent art purchases, moving to boost transparency after criticism that the London museum bought from an artist on its board---Chris Ofili---without seeking regulatory permission." There are museums in this country that have previously disclosed prices of privately … [Read more...] about Tate Discloses Acquisition Prices
The Deaccession Singalong, Continued
No museum officials have sent me comments on my call for advance public notice of planned deaccessions by museums, but George Keyes, chief curator of the Detroit Institute of Arts, did tell me yesterday (at a DIA press lunch in New York) that he supports this idea. Weighing in on the other side, David Ross, former director of the Whitney Museum and the San Francisco Museum of … [Read more...] about The Deaccession Singalong, Continued
Gumming up a Frankenthaler
CultureGrrl readers know I have a special interest (and sometimes even … [Read more...] about Gumming up a Frankenthaler