Michael Kimmelman: Tennis, anyone?Is the peripatetic Michael Kimmelman here in New York to review some art? No, he's actually here to cover tennis---the U.S. Open, to be exact. This is not a first: We've seen him cover that sport before.This time, the NY Times' chief art critic-in-absentia will be double-teaming Federer, Nadal and the women's first-seed, Caroline [Who's That?] … [Read more...] about Michael Kimmelman, NY Times’ Chief Art Critic, Returns to NYC!
Archives for August 2010
Decision Confusion: AAMD’s Statement on Fisk/Stieglitz
Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs LyleIn its well-meaning Statement Regarding Stieglitz Collection at Fisk University, issued today, the Association of Art Museum Directors (like several journalistic commentators) has misconstrued last week's ruling by the Davidson County Chancery Court regarding the university's $30-million collection sharing deal with Alice Walton's … [Read more...] about Decision Confusion: AAMD’s Statement on Fisk/Stieglitz
Eli’s Coming: A Win-Win for Broad and Downtown LA UPDATED
Orange "A" marks the spot: The planned site for the Broad Collection Eli Broad's decision, announced yesterday, to build in Downtown LA a Diller Scofidio + Renfro-designed museum for his collection should be a cultural and a civic boon for the city: It will help to anchor a tripartite arts district---also including the Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall (the big white … [Read more...] about Eli’s Coming: A Win-Win for Broad and Downtown LA UPDATED
And Kaywin Feldman’s AAMD Exclusive Interview Goes to…
...Judith Dobrzynski in tomorrow's Wall Street Journal---No More "Cathedrals of Culture". It couldn't happen to a better reporter or publication: "Journalist X" (as I had dubbed my then unknown competitor) is my respected colleague at both the WSJ and Arts Journal (with her Real Clear Arts blog). I blame neither Judith nor the WSJ for accepting a first shot at the Association … [Read more...] about And Kaywin Feldman’s AAMD Exclusive Interview Goes to…
Fisk’s Reaction to Court Decision: $30-Million Smokescreen
In a statement posted this evening on its website, Fisk University demonstrates a serious case of delusional wishful thinking in its characterization of today's court decision that nixed the $30-million Fisk/Crystal Bridges Museum collection-sharing plan as currently written. The court did say that if no alternate Nashville-based plan for the collection could be put forth … [Read more...] about Fisk’s Reaction to Court Decision: $30-Million Smokescreen
Fisk Decision: Reactions from Attorney General and Frist Center
Tennessee Attorney General Robert Cooper[UPDATE: Fisk's reaction is here.]This just in from Tennessee Attorney General Robert Cooper, responding to today's decision in the Fisk/Crystal Bridges case: While the Court acknowledged that Fisk University is facing financial difficulties, the Court found no precedent that would allow an institution to sell a charitable gift to … [Read more...] about Fisk Decision: Reactions from Attorney General and Frist Center
Fisk Decision: Judge Seeks Proposal to Keep Stieglitz Works in Nashville
Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle has just handed down her decision regarding the $30-million Fisk/Crystal Bridges collection-sharing deal.I've only just skimmed the decision (accessible at the top link), so you you can read along with me. But if you skip to P. 20, you'll see that the judge accepted the university's argument that "due to Fisk's unstable financial … [Read more...] about Fisk Decision: Judge Seeks Proposal to Keep Stieglitz Works in Nashville
Decision Tomorrow in Fisk/Crystal Bridges Trial: Fisk’s Philistine Argument
Fisk attorney John Branham of Bone McAllester Norton law firm, NashvilleIf the Nashville Tennessean were issuing the court decision that's expected tomorrow, Fisk University would not be permitted to sell a half-share in its Stieglitz Collection to Alice Walton's Crystal Bridges Museum for $30 million.In its Tuesday editorial, the newspaper declared:Let's hope that Chancellor … [Read more...] about Decision Tomorrow in Fisk/Crystal Bridges Trial: Fisk’s Philistine Argument
Defending the Pollock: Sean O’Harrow Named University of Iowa Museum’s Director
Sean O'Harrow, director-designate of University of Iowa Museum of Art After visiting Iowa in April 2009 to give a talk on deaccessioning at the University of Iowa, I wrote this about my impression of Sean O'Harrow, director of the Figge Art Museum in Davenport: I got to chat at length with Sean at the dinner that followed my deaccession lecture...and I was impressed by his … [Read more...] about Defending the Pollock: Sean O’Harrow Named University of Iowa Museum’s Director
Met Opera’s “Record” First-Day Sales: 321 More Tickets, 12% More Expensive
Given recent news stories about its financial difficulties and production controversies, the Metropolitan Opera jumped at the chance to report some good news this week.This hit my inbox yesterday:The Metropolitan Opera set a new record for opening day at the box office when single tickets for the 2010-11 season went on sale to the public yesterday. Total sales reached … [Read more...] about Met Opera’s “Record” First-Day Sales: 321 More Tickets, 12% More Expensive
Last Chance (and panel discussion) for “Portrait of Wally”
Egon Schiele, "Portrait of Wally," 1912Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the last day to see Schiele's much litigated "Portrait of Wally" at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, before it is released to its owner, the Leopold Museum. That Vienna museum, which houses the Expressionist collection of the late Rudolf Leopold, recently agreed to pay a $19-million settlement to the heirs … [Read more...] about Last Chance (and panel discussion) for “Portrait of Wally”
Coming (maybe) Today: My Deaccession Commentary on New York Public Radio UPDATED
If all goes according to (vague) plan, I may have a soundbite later today or early tomorrow on the moribund Brodsky Bill, which was designed to regulate museum deaccessions in New York State.The segment might be included in either the New York (WNYC) version of National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" (beginning 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at 93.9 FM), or on tomorrow's "Morning … [Read more...] about Coming (maybe) Today: My Deaccession Commentary on New York Public Radio UPDATED
“Mr. Populism”: My Q&A with Brooklyn’s Arnold Lehman—Part II
Arnold Lehman, director of the Brooklyn Museum It's taken almost a week for me to post the second part of my Q&A with Arnold Lehman, the ever controversial (never dull) director of the Brooklyn Museum. (Here's Part I of our conversation.) Now there's a new news peg---the opening last weekend of "Work of Art: Abdi Farah," the exhibition that the museum promised to the … [Read more...] about “Mr. Populism”: My Q&A with Brooklyn’s Arnold Lehman—Part II
BlogBack: Michael Maharam, MAD’s Guest Curator, on His “Bespoke” Bicycle Show
Michael Maharam, co-organizer (with bicycle maker Sacha White) of Bespoke: The Handbuilt Bicycle (closing today at New York's Museum of Arts and Design), responds to Bicycle Madness at MAD:Very thoughtful, entertaining and bright observations about "Bespoke." Wish we could have indulged your [guest blogger Lee Gorny's] technical tendencies more effectively, but the need for … [Read more...] about BlogBack: Michael Maharam, MAD’s Guest Curator, on His “Bespoke” Bicycle Show
Bicycle Madness at MAD: Lee Gorny, Guest Blogger
Guest Blogger Lee GornyNOTE from CultureGrrl: Last weekend, while my family gathered for CultureNiece's wedding, CultureDaughter vanished for bridesmaid beautification rituals (hair, nails, whatever) and I tried to exploit those hours by demonstrating to her visiting boyfriend the joys of eventually living in the NYC area. (He's a sophisticated but small-town boy.)He loves … [Read more...] about Bicycle Madness at MAD: Lee Gorny, Guest Blogger