What Defines A Modern Painting? "It used to be so simple: a painting was the mediated result of an artist’s application of wet paint on a flat surface. No more. Having absorbed high culture and low, painting has turned itself out in mixed-media assemblages that include both organic and synthetic materials and occasionally involve photography and digital printing. It has borrowed from commercial illustration and architectural, tattoo, and textile design, and exhibited itself as sculpture or in various combinations of all the above, in both abstraction and representation. At this point, even those distinctions seem quaint." ARTnews 04/05
Posted: 04/13/2005 7:18 am
Miami Art Museum Chief Steps Down The Miami Art Museum is losing the only director it has ever known, with Suzanne Delehanty stepping down after nearly 11 years. "Delehanty's resignation comes at a critical juncture for MAM: a $100 million bond issue passed in November will take the museum to a newer, larger home. And Miami's art scene has exploded in the last several years, with galleries and private collectors' warehouses popping up throughout the Design District and Wynwood, and Art Basel Miami Beach bringing thousands of collectors every December. The museum is in the midst of a $75 million fundraising drive." Miami Herald 04/12/05
Posted: 04/12/2005 9:04 pm
The Walker's Bold Gamble The new $70 million Walker Art Center addition takes architectural chances. "Like much modern art, the 130,000-square-foot addition that opens April 17 takes a provocative stand. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron of Basel, Switzerland, its one-story glass-clad wing is topped by a six-story rumpled cube wrapped with squares of perforated metal mesh." Bloomberg 04/13/05
Posted: 04/12/2005 8:45 pm
Secret Service Investigates Art Exhibit The US Secret Service is investigating an art exhibit at Columbia College in Chicago. "Two federal agents arrived at the exhibit’s opening night Thursday, took photos of some of the works and asked for the artists’ contact information. The agents were most interested in Chicago artist Al Brandtner’s work titled “Patriot Act,” which depicted a sheet of mock 37-cent red, white and blue stamps showing a handgun pointed at Bush’s head."
MSNBC (AP) 04/12/05
Posted: 04/12/2005 8:38 pm
Fixing Rome's Modern Architecture Problem "Lackluster modern architecture in Rome is so pervasive that even the Italian government is doing its part to spark a revival. The Senate is examining legislation to promote better urban architecture after decades of economic expedience and careless design. The movement's centerpiece is Maxxi, the first national contemporary art museum. The 60-million-euro project was designed by Ms. Hadid, an Iraqi-born architect who has lived in London since 1972 and is known for her daring designs." The New York Times 04/13/05
Posted: 04/12/2005 8:14 pm
Rockefeller Gives MoMA Biggest Gift Ever David Rockefeller has given the Museum of Modern Art $100 million for its endowment. "Mr. Rockefeller said the gift was intended to shore up public programs at the Modern, which just completed an ambitious $858 million expansion that more than doubled its size. Mr. Rockefeller, who is 89, said the museum would receive the money after his death. In the meantime, he said, he would give the Modern $5 million a year as if the money were already invested in the endowment." The New York Times 04/13/05
Posted: 04/12/2005 8:06 pm
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How To Choose Piano Competition Contestants Thirty-five pianists have been chosen for the Cleveland International Piano Competition. "The pianists - 11 women and 24 men - hail from 17 countries: China (seven), the United States (five), Russia (four), Japan (three), Bulgaria (two), France (two), South Korea (two), Australia, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Serbia, Sweden, Ukraine, Lithuania and Latvia. The competition's new screening process began with 243 hopefuls from 43 countries. After viewing applications, competition officials invited 143 pianists to tape videos in Cleveland, Akron, New York, Tokyo, Munich or London." The Plain Dealer 04/13/05
Posted: 04/13/2005 8:36 am
Who Owns Our Musical Heritage? Recent cases concerning the release of older recordings and the editing of ancient music have thrown the ownership of our musical heritage in danger. "Hardly a month passes without someone in a black gown having to lay down the law on matters so fluid they might be more fittingly served in a saloon bar. At stake is our access to musical heritage and unless some judge draws a line in the sand pretty soon we could all go blundering back to ignorance and deprivation." La Scena Musicale 04/13/05
Posted: 04/13/2005 7:22 am
Royal Opera House Dominates RPS Award Nominations "London's Royal Opera House leads the race for this year's Royal Philharmonic Society Awards with seven nominations. Its performers John Graham-Hall, Ben Heppner and Janice Watson dominate the best singer category. And the prestigious London venue's music director Antonio Pappano is shortlisted for best conductor." BBC 04/13/05
Posted: 04/12/2005 8:31 pm
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Another Boston Theatre Project Boston continues on its arts-building ways with a new plan to rennovate the old Paramount Theatre. "The $70 million Paramount Center project would redevelop the Theater District landmark and two neighboring properties to provide two theaters, rehearsal rooms, student residences, and restaurant space." Boston Globe 04/13/05
Posted: 04/13/2005 7:33 am
- Previously: A Boston Billion-Dollar Arts Boom Boston is in the midst of spending more than $1 billion on new arts facilities. "The projects are varied, ranging from a contemporary art museum on the waterfront and downtown theaters to a pair of cultural centers slated for open space created by the Big Dig. 'It's staggering. Boston has always had a lively cultural scene, but I think we're seeing the kind of arts renaissance catching up with the tremendous revitalization Boston's undergone over the last 25 years'." Boston Globe 04/10/05
Is Hong Kong Culture Misfiring? Hong Kong is trying to be a cultural hub. But are the government's efforts to develop the city's creative sector backfiring? Some critics say the state investment in culture lacks a long-range plan... HK Standard 04/13/05
Posted: 04/12/2005 8:48 pm
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Pavarotti Cancels Due To Health Pavarotti has caneled upcoming concerts. "Pavarotti's spokesperson said he had been forced to move the dates as a consequence of recent neck surgery to repair two vertebrae. The opera star was admitted to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York on 9 March for the neck operation, described as "routine and regular". BBC 04/13/05
Posted: 04/13/2005 7:15 am
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Russian Theatre Cranks Up The Heat "Back in bad old Soviet times, the Kirov Ballet and the Moscow Circus seemed to be the only representatives of Russian culture on Western radar screens. But in the 15 years since the Iron Curtain was unhooked from the rigging and stored backstage, dozens of Russian theater companies have traveled around the globe, and much of the globe has rolled its way across Russia's stages." International Herald Tribune 04/13/05
Posted: 04/12/2005 8:36 pm
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Chick Lit Moves Down A Generation "Since the late 1990s, teen chick lit -- think Bridget Jones in high school -- has been gaining popularity, reaping profits for publishers and booksellers, prompting established adult authors to target younger audiences and giving teens and tweens (9- to 12-year-old girls) their own heroines. Teen chick lit is still growing each year by double digits."
The Star-Tribune (Mpls) 04/13/05
Posted: 04/13/2005 7:57 am
In Canada - It's A Mystery Mystery novels are hot in Canada, and the genre is filling publishers' lists. Some "40 per cent more mystery novels were published this year than the year before, and there has been a 50-per-cent increase in juvenile mysteries. And the number of nominations for the Arthur Ellis Awards, the CWC's annual mystery prize, has spiked dramatically. This year 67 novels were submitted to the fiction category, 43 for best novel, and 24 for debut works." The Globe & Mail (Canada) 04/13/05
Posted: 04/13/2005 7:50 am
Chang To Lead Iowa Writers' Workshop Lan Samantha Chang, a Harvard University professor and award-winning fiction author who specializes in stories of Chinese-Americans, has been named director of the nation's most prestigious writing program, the University of Iowa's Writers' Workshop. Chicago Tribune 04/13/05
Posted: 04/13/2005 7:43 am
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Tuning Out Michael Jackson And The "Ick Factor" It seems that there really is a point at which audiences don't want all the lurid details. They're turning off salacious coverage of the Michael Jackson trial. "As the trial in Santa Maria, Calif., has become more graphic -- particularly in the last week, when a former security guard testified in detail about a sexual act he claimed to have seen Jackson perform on a naked 10-year-old boy more than a decade ago -- what some have called the story's 'ick factor' has lowered the appetite of listeners, viewers and readers nationwide." Chicago Tribune 04/13/05
Posted: 04/13/2005 7:37 am
Entertainment Companies Sue College Kids For Downloading On Superfast Internet The music and movie industries are suing hundreds of college students who have been using the Internet 2 to download movies and music. "The i2hub software is a peer-to-peer, file-sharing application developed for "student collaboration" on Internet2, according to the software's website. "I2hub is the conduit in which students across the globe connect to share ideas, collaborate and form social networks in a real-time environment never before achieved," the site says." Wired 04/12/05
Posted: 04/12/2005 7:29 pm
Will Luxury Seating Lure People Back To Movie Theatres? Movie ticket sales have been down the last few years, and theatre owners are trying to figure out ways to lure people back. One idea? Luxury seating and pampering. "Some of its theaters offer first-class seats that are sectioned off and reserved inside the traditional theater and allow those customers to order snacks from their seats. The more exclusive Loews Club at a theater in West Homestead, Pa., offers free coat check, lounge chairs to watch the show and a restaurant." Back Stage (AP) 04/12/05
Posted: 04/12/2005 7:00 pm
"Millionaire" Tops World TV Charts Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is the world's most popular TV show, seen in 106 countries. "The trend in format TV - programmes bought and copied wholesale for different countries - is now worth £1.6bn each year, a report shows. The Weakest Link is the second most popular show, selling to 98 countries, followed by Pop Idol in 30 markets." BBC 04/12/05
Posted: 04/12/2005 6:48 pm
Our Worldwide TV Habits We're watching more TV worldwide, except in Asia. "The annual Eurodata TV Worldwide study found that average world TV viewing figures rose slightly, to three hours and three minutes per day. Regionally, Asia-Pacific fell to last spot from third, with an average of two hours 33 minutes, down by six minutes. Japan leads the way with an average of five hours per day, trailed by the US on four hours 46 minutes." BBC 04/12/05
Posted: 04/12/2005 6:39 pm
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Washington Ballet Cancels Tour Over Meal Money The Washington Ballet, embroiled in a bitter union dispute, has canceled its first foreign trip in five years because it couldn't reach an agreement with its dancers over meal money. Washington Post 04/13/05
Posted: 04/13/2005 8:43 am
Tricia Brown's Computer Collaboration "In an innovative fusion of modern dance and high technology, Tricia Brown is collaborating with a computer on "how long does the subject linger on the edge of the volume ...," a 30-minute work for seven dancers and animated graphics. Ms. Brown has choreographed the dance. And the computer, driven by an artist-designed artificial-intelligence software program that responds instantly to the dancers' movements, draws graphics that are projected on a transparent screen in front of the stage." The New York Times 04/13/05
Posted: 04/12/2005 8:09 pm
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