Real Clear Arts

Judith H. Dobrzynski on Culture

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Before You See “Monuments Men,” The Film

9780679756866_p0_v2_s260x420There’s at least one thing to know before you see how Hollywood, i.e. George Clooney, renders the story of the Monuments men and women who in the last days of World War II and soon thereafter saved so many precious works of art that Hitler had seized: I am sure that by now you know that the movie opens on Feb. 7.  It will be how so many people learn about what we know about them.

Clooney’s movie credits the book of Robert M. Edsel — and to my knowledge, as shown in the credits on IMDB, makes no mention of Lynn H. Nicholas, who in 1994 had published The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe’s Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War.” That’s the book — the research — to which we owe the story of the Monuments men. Edsel credited Nicholas in his own book on the monuments crew, published in 2009. But not the movie.

So I was pleased to read The Wall Street Journal this morning, and to see a piece by Nicholas headlined What the Monuments Men Wrought. It recaps the tale and provides some anecdotes of her initial reports, and ends graciously this way:

During these interviews I was surprised at how interested each Monuments Man was in what the others had done—assuming, as most do, that they had worked closely together. But, in fact, they almost never saw one another in the field, nor were they able to communicate on a regular basis. So they were fascinated by the details of the various missions of their colleagues. I am sure that those who are no longer with us would be delighted by this cinematic re-creation of their exploits. Can’t wait to see it myself.

 

Thelma Golden Adds New Duty To Director’s Role

As if museum directors don’t have enough to do, Thelma Golden — director and chief curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem — has generously decided to be a consultant to artists.

thelmagIt is, of course, an attention-getter (and good for her on that score). Golden plans to hang up a consultant’s shingle at the museum at an event on Feb. 9 for artists living or working in Harlem. For three hours, from noon to 3 p.m., Golden will hold 15-minute meetings with artists — a bit like speed-dating — where she will review their work and assess their talent.

Only ten artists will merit this treatment, and to be one of them, you have to apply, with winners chosen in a lottery. (If you qualify, send your name, home or studio address in Harlem and phone number to holdingcourt@studiomuseum.org by 6pm on Friday, January 31.) “Winners” will be notified by Feb. 4 and asked to bring a resume, 10 images (not originals) and an artist statement.

The event “celebrates the exhibition Radical Presence: Black Performance and Contemporary Art and the Museum’s ongoing commitment to the Harlem arts community,” per the release — the latter I get, and am therefore happy to spread the word.

Would this work at other museums? Some. Will it spread? Somehow, I don’t think so.

 

Detroit Relief? Deal Said To Be Coming Today

Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan apparently has his political ducks lined up.

Detroit-Institute-ArtsBoth Detroit newspapers are reporting that Snyder met yesterday with state legislators and reached a bipartisan deal to provide state support to the Detroit Institute of Arts and protect pensioners. But it could still come undone.

The Detroit Free Press said that “The DIA also is widely expected to contribute to the rescue fund,” resurfacing an idea floated last week that the DIA would have to raise $100 million as part of the deal. DIA director Graham Beal has said that was impossible, given the $300 million the museum must raise in the next ten years to increase its endowment for the time when tax revenues from three surrounding counties, voted in in 2012, runs out.

A few details:

Said The Detroit News:

The main proposal under discussion is Snyder’s initial pitch a week ago to commit $350 million over 20 years to a fund to soften the blow to pensioners and protect the Detroit Institute of Arts, said House Speaker Pro Tem John Walsh.

“I haven’t heard anybody asking for more or offering less,” said Walsh, R-Livonia. “They are trying to work toward (a consensus plan) that we can take to our four caucuses and see what a vote might look like.”

Discussions center on how to fund the state’s potential contribution using tobacco settlement money or long-term bonding secured by state funds in the $250 million annual fund from the 1998 settlement with tobacco companies.

The Free Press noted:

As part of the deal, the DIA would be spun-off from city control into an independent nonprofit.

And:

Some lawmakers have said they want greater public access to DIA artwork around the state, and greater state control over how Detroit’s General Retirement System is managed as part of any agreement involving state money.

“I’d like to expose more people to that culture throughout the state,” [Senate Majority Leader Randy] Richardville said last week. “I would cheer that kind of effort.”

Under any deal, “the state is going to have some say-so,” Sen. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake Township, said last week.

So it’s not perfect, but the movement is encouraging.

Live From Lincoln Center: Jed Bernstein

There’s a new guy running Lincoln Center, as of next Monday: Jed Bernstein takes over from Reynold Levy then, and we should expect some changes – though not necessarily visible ones in the near future.

JBernsteinBernstein, a one-time ad man and Broadway producer who ran the Broadway League for 11 years, totally reinvigorating it, and most recently brought the Buck County Playhouse back to life, won’t be programming. He’ll be managing. Among his top goals is getting the Center’s constituent groups — the Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, the NYC Ballet, etc, — to collaborate more and compete a little less.

He told me this in a recent interview, which I’ve written for the Winter issue of Gotham Magazine.

Bernstein is expected by outsiders to seek more corporate sponsorships, and we discussed some of that. Aside from what is in my article, he said: “There is an opportunity to get into the world of …marketing partnerships…The transaction is marketing-motivated… and it means you have to have something to give in return… I will do an asset inventory. ..find out what are people’s tolerance for it.” One of the “accommodations” that may be necessary, he said, involves “signage.”

I hope he does not follow what the Tate does in the U.K. — see here and here, for example.

Bernstein has fond memories of the way his parents took him as a child to art performances and exhibitions and — this is essential — briefed him on what they were going to see in advance, in discussions. Since, he said, parents no longer fill that role — or maybe some do, but fewer — arts groups  have to do it themselves. “We need to provide people with information about what they’ll see,” he said. 

Bernstein also talked about adjusting the timing of events and concerts, more earlier, like rush hour, and more later, like 10:30, for night owls.

He’s going to be interesting to watch.

Michigan Governor Steps Up

RickSnyderThe Detroit Institute of Arts situation is improving: Gov. Rich Snyder is now saying he’ll propose that state money, in the form of a $350 million appropriation over 20 years to match the funds that foundations say they’ll provide, can go to save the DIA.

Both Detroit newspapers are reporting this development. Apparently Snyder met with lawmakers yesterday and plans to go public with the idea in his state of the state address tonight.

Here’s a link to the articles – Snyder pitches $350M plan for state support of Detroit pensioners, DIA artwork in the Free Press and Snyder pitches $350M in state aid for DIA, pension funds in The Detroit News.

According to The News:

Snyder met Wednesday with lawmakers in both parties in separate meetings at the Capitol and proposed the state match the $330 million that nine private foundations have pledged toward keeping masterpieces at the Detroit Institute of Arts off the auction block, according to one source familiar with the discussions and a published report.

Snyder initially was cool to any suggestion that the state contribute to the fund until he learned of the financial commitment that state and national foundations announced Monday, according to another source familiar with the governor’s thinking.

The Republican governor’s plan would have the state use tobacco settlement funds or possibly bonds and not require lawmakers to commit funds from the state’s general fund checking account, several sources familiar with the plan told The News.