Archives for May 2009

You can hear me now: Can you believe that New York Public Radio has, at this writing, posted 34 written comments on this subject? Everyone wants to tell the Obamas what to hang on their walls.For my own further comments about White House art on CultureGrrl, go here. … [Read more...] about Audio’s Up: Listen Now to My WNYC Radio Podcast on White House Art

Ed Ruscha, "I Think I'll...," 1983, borrowed by the White House from the National Gallery, WashingtonOf course I have more to say on the Obamas' art choices than made it onto New York Public Radio's just concluded Brian Lehrer radio segment. That's what blogs are for:I'm impressed and a bit surprised (given Barack's barebones Senatorial office decor) that they have taken such a … [Read more...] about Casting a Wider Net: More on White House Art

I just got a call from the Brian Lehrer Show at New York Public Radio (WNYC), where I'm supposed to be speaking about art in the White House today, letting me know that the show may not be able to broadcast "due to technical difficulties." You can see here that I really AM scheduled to be on shortly. Time and technology will tell.UPDATE: So far they're presenting an old repeat … [Read more...] about Due to Technical Difficulties…I May or May Not Be on Radio Today

Brian LehrerIf all goes according to plan, I'll be on the Brian Lehrer Show tomorrow morning on New York Public Radio (WNYC), talking about how change has come to the White House---on its walls. Kelly Crow and Amy Chozick of the Wall Street Journal own this story, but I'll be there to provide a little critical and historical perspective. You can hear me and, I believe, another … [Read more...] about My Commentary on Obam-art Tomorrow on New York Public Radio

Derrick Cartwright?All that I know about Cartwrights can be found on one of my favorite childhood TV shows. I could swear that's Derrick, aka Little Joe, riding the range:Thankfully, Jen Graves of Seattle's The Stranger knows a lot more than I do about the future director of the Seattle Art Museum, having interviewed him yesterday and found him to be "a very pleasant … [Read more...] about Seattle Bonanza? Derrick Cartwright Rides to SAM’s Rescue

Richard Armstrong (second from left) on his first Abu Dhabi sojourn as the Guggenheim's director Having repeatedly been brushed off whenever I had asked Guggenheim Foundation spokespersons about Human Rights Watch's revelations regarding construction worker abuse in Abu Dhabi (where the museum intends to build a major outpost), I was astounded by the arrival in my inbox late … [Read more...] about Richard Armstrong Does It Right: Guggenheim’s Letter to Human Rights Watch on Abu Dhabi

Rendering of Jean Nouvel-designed Louvre Abu DhabiCopyright Ateliers Jean Nouvel Just in time for French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit today to participate in a ceremony marking the start of construction of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Human Rights Watch has published a new 80-page report decrying the "exploitation of migrant workers on Saadiyat Island." A Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and … [Read more...] about Sarkozy Kicks Off Louvre Abu Dhabi Construction; Human Rights Watch Disapproves (again)

Eakins' study for "The Fairman Rogers Four-in-Hand," 1879Yesterday I reported that the Hirshhorn Museum had sold two of the three Eakinses that it had consigned to the American art auction on Wednesday at Christie's. Yesterday at Sotheby's the Hirshhorn unloaded more Eakins: four studies for his painting "The Fairman Rogers Four-in-Hand," which is in the Philadelphia Museum. … [Read more...] about More Eakinses Sold: Hirshhorn Deaccession Update, Updated

Floundering founder: William Merritt Chase, "Portrait of William B. Dickson," 1905[Updated here, with subsequent Hirshhorn disposal of Eakinses at Sotheby's.] At yesterday's American art sale at Christie's, the Montclair Art Museum attempted to sell some 28 works and the Hirshhorn Museum put three Eakinses on the block. Montclair sold 23 works (five unsold), for a hammer total … [Read more...] about Deaccession Updates: Montclair, Hirshhorn

Dressing the First Lady is the best revenge.Fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa, who went public with his displeasure over being omitted from the Metropolitan Museum's "The Model as Muse" exhibition, blaming it on the influence of Anna Wintour, editor in chief of Vogue, got even when America's new arbiter of taste, Michelle Obama, wore one of his creations to the opening night … [Read more...] about Wintour Detour: Michelle Models Alaïa for ABT Gala (attended by Anna)

National Arts Club: Cocktails, anyone? Who needs the Pulitzer anyway? CultureGrrl has just been awarded the "Best Blog" designation from the Newswomen's Club of New York, whose distinguished 2009 winners also include Kelly Crow, my Wall Street Journal colleague. I got the blog nod for "Stealth Deaccessions by the National Academy"---this post and the subsequent … [Read more...] about “Best Blog”: CultureGrrl Wins “Front Page Award” of Newswomen’s Club of NY

Michelle Obama's official portraitIf, like me, you would have liked to have been present at today's ribbon cutting by First Lady Michelle Obama at the Metropolitan Museum's renovated and reimagined American Wing, now you can! (I abandoned my own request to be included, when I learned on Saturday that I would have a more pressing commitment---my aunt's funeral.)I've posted in … [Read more...] about Text of Michelle Obama’s Speech at Metropolitan Museum’s Ribbon Cutting

Where is that Rose Museum arrow (above) pointing?Geoff Edgers reports in today's Boston Globe:Yesterday marked the closing of the Rose's temporary exhibitions on 20th-century abstract expressionist Hans Hofmann and a second show, "Saints & Sinners." The day had special significance because on July 22, when the museum's doors reopen, the Rose will probably not have a proper … [Read more...] about The Rose Closes (for now)

At the press preview for the Metropolitan Museum's "The Model as Muse" show, an E! television reporter had asked the museum's curator, Harold Koda, whether Michelle Obama would be attending the Costume Institute's gala that night. He deftly sidestepped, saying that he hoped that the President's wife would at some point visit the museum, to demonstrate her support for the … [Read more...] about First Lady as Muse: Michelle Obama to Visit the Met (and the ABT)

I WILL!If all goes according to plan, my plane will be taking off at noon tomorrow to transport me to the (very) Windy (and thunderstorm-y) City, to cover (for the Wall Street Journal) the opening of the Art Institute of Chicago's Renzo Piano-designed Modern Wing. The last time I was in Chicago, I was researching a WSJ story about the difficulties then confronting the now … [Read more...] about Virago in Chicago: Winging to the Modern Wing