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Thursday, August 17




Visual Arts

New Leadership For Troubled Chicago Museum Chicago's oft-overlooked Jane Addams Hull-House Museum has a new director. "[Lisa Yun] Lee, a native of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., is known to many Chicagoans for her philanthropy... and for founding, with two friends, The Public Square. That organization sponsors debates and dialogues on cultural and political issues, especially social justice." The Hull-House Museum "has been struggling financially since the mid-1980s, and its latest effort to ease the fiscal burden is to put up for sale 2,000 pieces of art, representing two-thirds of its total collection." Chicago Tribune 08/17/06
Posted: 08/17/2006 6:56 am

Is Technologically Assisted Art Really Art At All? Digital photography has been a revelation for those who make their living with a camera. But has technology stripped the art out of the medium? "The advantages of digital are plain enough: easier storage, the ability to upload photos straight to the computer, no need for film, being able to take a mulligan on images you don't want to keep and, if results are all you require, no need for screwing around in a darkroom. But for 'making photographs'? For making art? No. It's like 'painting' a picture using your computer. It's kind of fun to do and what you have when you're done may be superficially terrific, but unless you've actually applied brush to canvas you're no artist. You are merely a technician with a good eye." Wired 08/17/06
Posted: 08/17/2006 6:20 am

Irrational Exuberance? (That Is An Expensive Klimt) Gustav Klimt is important historically, writes Mario Naves. "But in the greater scheme of things, Klimt is small potatoes. Forget Modernism: If $135 million is considered a commendable investment for a picture by a minor artist, what price tag do we put on a painting by Fra Angelico, a sculpture by Donatello or a drawing by Durer? The question is undoubtedly lodged in the overexcited minds of museums, collectors and auction houses the world over." New York Observer 08/16/06
Posted: 08/16/2006 7:58 pm

2,500-Year-Old Chinese Warriors Found Two 2,500-year-old terra cotta warriors have been discovered, and archaeologists believe they may be predecessors of the army buried with China's first emperor. "The four-inch-tall figurines were made in Qin, China's most powerful state, before its ruler unified China in 221 BC, state media reported. They were found in the north-western province of Shaanxi in the ruins of a workshop." The Guardian (UK) 08/17/06
Posted: 08/16/2006 7:18 pm

How A Historic Painting Emerged From £50 Fake "A painting of Mary Queen of Scots, one of only two thought to have been made in her lifetime, has been discovered - in the National Portrait Gallery's very own store. The portrait was bought for £50 by the gallery in 1916 at Christie's. But later it was written off as an 18th century fake and was left to gather dust." The Guardian (UK) 08/17/06
Posted: 08/16/2006 7:16 pm

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Music

The 8pm Conundrum Why are symphony orchestras in so many cities bound and determined to start every evening concert at 8pm? Doesn't the reality of modern life suggest that concertgoers might want a range of options as to start time? Late-night concerts have been a major success at the Mostly Mozart Festival in New York, and early start times have been embraced in some other cities. "The bigger challenge is finding ways for music lovers to fit a concert or opera into a workday with time to spare for dinner." The New York Times 08/17/06
Posted: 08/17/2006 5:52 am

Last Minute Leonard? Leonard Slatkin seems to have become the go-to conductor for orchestras in a tight scheduling spot. Twice this season alone, he has stepped in to lead the Pittsburgh Symphony when other conductors took ill at the last minute, and next week, he'll lead the first half of the PSO's European tour. Most conductors hate being pressed for time, but Slatkin claims to actually enjoy these unexpected engagements, even when they mean canceling his vacation. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 08/17/06
Posted: 08/17/2006 5:43 am

New Miami Hall Gets A Tune-Up, Cleveland Style Miami's new concert hall is almost ready to open its doors, and while the city doesn't have a professional symphony orchestra of its own at the moment, it has engaged the very best ensemble it could find to help fine-tune the acoustics of the chamber. The Cleveland Orchestra, which will play a 3-week residency in Miami this winter, will be on hand later this week to give acousticians Russell Johnson and Tateo Nakajima their first taste of the hall's full sound. The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) 08/17/06
Posted: 08/17/2006 5:25 am

Oregon Symphony Cuts 10 Jobs Following two years of million-dollar deficits, the Oregon Symphony has to take action. "To stem a continuing deficit, the Oregon Symphony cut 10 positions from its administrative staff of 55 on Tuesday. The layoffs, the largest in the orchestra's history, affected employees in the orchestra's marketing, development and education departments, but did not affect the musicians or conducting staff." The Oregonian 08/16/06
Posted: 08/16/2006 6:38 pm

Hear The Sample, Buy The Ticket The City of Birmingham Orchestra is posting excerpts of music it will be performing this year on the orchestra's website. It's a try-before-you-buy offer. "Many of the excerpts featured were specifically recorded for the website to provide an accurate representation of the concert-hall experience." Gramophone 08/16/06
Posted: 08/16/2006 9:13 am

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Arts Issues

Removing A Physical Bridge To Build A Metaphorical One New York's Lincoln Center is undergoing a dramatic renovation, and the public will get a sense of what they're in for this week when a massive pedestrian bridge above 65th Street is dismantled. The bridge demolition serves as a nice metaphor for the entire project, with planners hoping to "open the institution up to the city, making it seem more welcoming and less elitist both physically and in spirit." The New York Times 08/17/06
Posted: 08/17/2006 5:56 am

City Charged With Supporting Anti-Semitic Art "As [San Antonio] begins the process of allocating almost $4 million in arts funding, officials are facing a budding dispute between next-door neighbors that has led to accusations of cultural racism and counter charges of attempts to stifle artistic freedom. At the heart of the dispute is the criticism by a prominent Jewish religious leader of the political undertones in an Esperanza Peace and Justice Center cultural program about the Middle East conflict." San Antonio Express-News 08/17/06
Posted: 08/17/2006 5:39 am

Town Challenges MacDowell Colony's Tax-Exempt Status The New England town of Peterborough has challenged the MacDowell Colony's status as a tax-exempt, charitable institution, arguing that "MacDowell did not 'provide a charitable purpose to the general public,' as required by New Hampshire law. Initially, Peterborough asked MacDowell for a relatively modest payment in lieu of taxes, known as PILOT in nonprofit jargon, to pay for services such as fire and police protection." But MacDowell has decided to fight the town on the issue... Boston Globe 08/16/06
Posted: 08/16/2006 9:49 am

The Art (and Attraction) Of Celebrity Gossip Why do people seem so interested in the misfortunes of celebrities? "The beast of gossip loves this moment best: Befuddlement. News it didn't already know. That is the very freshest meat. Those are the reactions you want in the express checkout line. (Unless of course you live in the world where the first question is Who, followed by a very disdainful Why? That world exists. That world has Hezbollah, the end of oil reserves and the trade deficit. That world has a special loathing for celebrities and anyone who would familiarize himself with their divorces.)" Washington Post 08/16/06
Posted: 08/16/2006 8:57 am

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People

The Reluctant Nazi? Perhaps Not. Daniel Johnson was stunned when he read Gunther Grass's admission that he served in the Waffen SS during World War II, and following Grass's subsequent complain that he feels "attacked" in the wake of his confession, Johnson wants to explain his own feeling of betrayal. "You do not need me to tell you that, for a German of your generation, frankness about your activities during the Third Reich is not merely a moral imperative, but a sine qua non for any kind of public role... All the evidence points to you having been not only a fanatical Nazi but a dangerous one too, eager to wear the death's head insignia of the SS." New York Sun 08/17/06
Posted: 08/17/2006 6:03 am

  • Rushdie: Grass Has Atoned For His Sins Author Salman Rushdie is defending Gunther Grass's body of work, saying that the "disappointing" news of Grass's service to the Third Reich doesn't diminish his literary accomplishments. "Grass has spent his adult life opposing the ideas he espoused as a child and that in itself is an act of courage, he's a friend of mine and I don't intend to change that." BBC 08/17/06
    Posted: 08/17/2006 6:02 am

Elegy For A Silenced Musician Charles Barr, the 31-year old Cleveland Orchestra bass player who was killed last week when his bicycle was struck by a truck, was memorialized Wednesday by friends and colleagues. "Barr, with a mop of honey hair and intense, inquisitive eyes that seemed to burn through his glasses, joined the orchestra in 2002 and fast became a favorite of musicians and stagehands alike. Those who saw him perform were drawn into his kinetic, charismatic orbit." Barr was also well-known to musicians throughout the U.S. - more than 500 people attended the service. The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) 08/17/06
Posted: 08/17/2006 5:35 am

Legendary Art Dealer Annely Juda, 91 "Annely Juda, who has died aged 91, was the doyenne of British art dealers. Tiny but formidable, she could strike terror into the heart of an errant artist. She said what she thought, whether it was asked for or not, and over 40 years built up a reputation as one of the most discerning of contemporary dealers, with a stable of artists loyal to her personally, as well as to her gallery." The Guardian (UK) 08/17/06
Posted: 08/16/2006 7:22 pm

Pavarotti's Fight With Cancer The singer is battling pancreatic cancer. "I was a fortunate and happy man. After that, this blow arrived. And now I am paying the penalty for this fortune and happiness. I feel the tumor inside. I'm working on it," he said "However, I am and will be optimistic until death." Detroit Free Press 08/16/06
Posted: 08/16/2006 7:09 pm

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Theatre

MN Fringe Sets Attendance Record "The Minnesota Fringe Festival had another record-breaking year in both ticket revenues and total audience size. The 11-day performing-arts extravaganza, which ended Sunday, sold 44,814 tickets, a slight increase of 200 tickets over last year... There was some speculation within the Fringe community that attendance would dwindle in a year that featured more newcomers and fewer well-known names." Average attendance per show was down slightly, but Fringe organizers say that's because, without many big-name blockbusters on the schedule, the audience fanned out more than usual. Star Tribune (Minneapolis) 08/17/06
Posted: 08/17/2006 7:03 am

Eight Chicago Musicals And Nothing To Recommend "The eight deeply flawed new musicals showcased in this year's Stages 2006 marathon at the Theatre Building seemed to suggest the artform has fallen on very hard times. None of the shows presented last weekend, whether in semi-staged or concert reading style, was ready for prime time." Chicago Sun-Times 08/16/06
Posted: 08/16/2006 7:05 pm

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Publishing

Derailing The Track "In yesterday's book world, no one except publisher and author -- and sometimes not even author -- knew how many copies of a book were sold. Sales figures were proprietary. [But today,] when a veteran writer's agent submits a manuscript to a new publisher, the publisher calls Bookscan to check the writer's track record - 'the track' - to see how many copies of previous books were sold. If the numbers are flat or trending down, the publisher may pass." And a bad sales record can stick to an author like glue, to the point that many authors are beginning to use pseudonyms in an effort to "fool the track." Boston Globe 08/17/06
Posted: 08/17/2006 6:49 am

Put The Books Where People Can Find Them? The Hell You Say! The New York Public Library is undertaking a major reordering of the materials in its main reading room. "After 95 years as one of the city’s grandest public spaces, the reading room is letting go of the arcane, impenetrable ordering system to which it has clung for generations and replacing it with something a person might actually be able to understand... The [old] system is used only by the New York Public Library. Its greatest drawback is that no one but the system’s librarians really understands it." The New York Times 08/17/06
Posted: 08/17/2006 6:00 am

Writing - Either You've Got It Or... Can good writing be taught? It's a debate that has been going on for years. "What would it say about me, my students, and the hours we’ve spent in the classroom if I said that any attempt to teach the writing of fiction is a complete waste of time?" The Atlantic 08/08
Posted: 08/16/2006 7:45 pm

Chinese Leader As Bestselling Author Former Chinese leader Jian Zemin's writings have been given extraordinary promotion, and have soared to the top of the bestseller list. "Published in three tomes, the collection of 203 speeches, articles, letters and decrees is difficult to carry, let alone read. But since its launch last week, the work has been extolled as one of the three ideological foundations of the Communist party. Along with similar works by Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, it forms the closest thing the party has to a Bible, guaranteeing its place in every library, university and military barracks." The Guardian (UK) 08/17/06
Posted: 08/16/2006 7:39 pm

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Media

Are We Better Off When Critics See Movies With The Rest Of Us? Hollywood is offering fewer and fewer pre-screenings for critics these days, especially with films that have the potential for big box office success, but not much in the way of artistic merit. Some critics are furious at being shut out, but William Arnold says that moviegoers may actually be better served. "Before the mid-'80s, films usually opened on Wednesday, and reviews were spread out through the following week... Films were not faced with a make-or-break opening weekend, and a landmark film like Bonnie & Clyde could be saved by an outbreak of enthusiastic reviews well into its run." Seattle Post-Intelligencer 08/17/06
Posted: 08/17/2006 7:10 am

Get Ready For A Lot More Shameless Plugging A new report says that product placement in films, TV shows, and even song lyrics may triple by 2010. "The practice, where firms pay to have their products featured in the media, was worth $2.21bn last year... Product placement is common on US television, but it is banned in the UK." The biggest impetus for the product placement explosion is the increasing prevalence of digital video recorders, which allow viewers to skip through commercial blocks. BBC 08/17/06
Posted: 08/17/2006 6:14 am

New York To Get $1.2 Billion Movie Studio New York's city council has approved plans by a movie studio to build a $1.2 billion studio complex in Queens. "The complex calls for 18 movie studios as well as 1,150 apartments, including 150 units of low-income housing. New York City's production industry employs 100,000 New Yorkers and generates $5 billion for the city annually." Bloomberg.com 08/16/06
Posted: 08/16/2006 7:50 pm

FCC Looking In To Fake TV News The FCC is investigating the proliferation of fake new clips being run on TV newscasts. "Video news releases are packaged stories paid for by businesses or interest groups. They use actors to portray reporters and use the same format as television news stories. The FCC has mailed letters to at least 42 stations asking station managers about agreements between the station and the creators of the video news releases." CBC 08/16/06
Posted: 08/16/2006 6:50 pm

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