As it goes with art prizes, so apparently does it go with art museums: you (meaning, I) just get finished writing about one, or two, and another pops up.
Today, the New Museum, possibly trying to change the subject, announced the six finalists for its Ordway Prize, which makes two $100,000 awards — one each to an artist and a curator or arts writer. (My take on “the subject” — single-collector exhibits — is here.)
The artist finalists are Tania Bruguera, from Cuba; William Pope.L, from the United States; and Artur Zmijewski, from Poland.
The curator/writer finalists are Sabine Breitwieser, from Austria; Hou Hanru, from China; and Hamza Walker, from the United States.
Read more about them and the prize here.
And late yesterday, I Iearned that famed American Art collectors Richard and Jane Manoogian are putting their names on a new museum, in an 1830s Indian dormitory on Mackinac Island, Mich. (left). This was announced last year, hasn’t received much publicity, and just came up in another context. The museum will display both fine and decorative arts inspired by Mackinac Island, including 18th – 20th century maps, Native American baskets, hand-tinted black-and-white photographs, paintings and other art objects.
The three-story building will open next summer and will offer a studio where visitors can learn to make art.
Mackinac Island State Park recently put out a call for artists to enter its contest for a $5,000 purchase award at the opening.