Sara Fenske Bahat’s departure follows weeks of turmoil at the center. After artists Jeffrey Cheung and Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo alleged that YBCA prevented them from advocating for Palestine in additional projects for the Bay Area Now 9 exhibition, eight artists in the show altered their own artworks with pro-Palestine messaging. - Hyperallgeric
Speculation has been absolutely rife online about Catherine, Princess of Wales, and the photo was supposed to calm it down. But "at closer inspection, it appeared the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP’s photo standards." - Los Angeles Times
Sencion "posted his first sheep on the streets of L.A. in March 2013. , the artist has amassed an inventory of thousands of his signature pink sheep, from palm-sized stickers slapped on lamp posts on Melrose Avenue to wheat pastings on walls along Hollywood Boulevard." - Los Angeles Times
Apparently, third-party sellers have sold everything "including prints, cosmetics, beverages, smoking accessories, toys, accessories, cooking ware, cameras, and face masks. These objects reportedly depicted trademarked visuals of Kahlo featuring watermelons, a green ring, palm fronds, and pink and blue flowers. “ - Hyperallergic
Museums are increasingly important buyers at TEFAF Maastricht, as the number of private individuals purchasing old master pictures, sculptures and antiques has declined. - The New York Times
Russian authorities have announced plans to memorialise the destruction of the occupied city in the Donbas—which it blames on Ukraine—with a new “museum of the liberation of Mariupol”, scheduled to open in summer 2024. - The Art Newspaper
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and HNTB designed the planned 33,000-seat arena for the team currently known as the Oakland A's, which is moving to Nevada. Ingels himself describes the structure as a "spherical armadillo." The stadium will be on the Strip, on the current site of the Tropicana. - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo!)
"I mean, it’s not like we tried to make it look like an armadillo." On comparisons to the Sydney Opera House: "I’ll definitely take it as a compliment. I think it’s one of the most beautiful buildings on Earth. And I think, in all fairness, this is a very different building." - The Athletic
"Spanish police said they have shut down an alleged forgery ring selling fake Banksy artworks across the US and Europe for up to €1,500 ($1,642) a piece. Investigators seized nine artworks during a raid of an apartment in the city of Zaragoza." - CNN
"Painted as if it were a framed artwork on a yellow wall, the fresco depicts the Greek mythological tale of Phrixus and Helle with vibrant pigments and crisp dimensions that have been preserved beneath volcanic ash since 79 CE, after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius." - Hyperallergic
Employees at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams have begun a walkout (97% voted in favor) as contract negotiations (which began in October) have stalled. Low wages are the main issue. - The Berkshire Eagle
“We don’t need air conditioning, which is an incredible energy saving." Temperatures in this region of the world remain at about 40C (104F) during the hottest season. - The Guardian
Like Banksy, the British street artist he is sometimes likened to, Invader is elusive, fiercely protective of his anonymity and operating on the margins of illegality. - AP
The Louvre is seen as the worst offender (tickets up from €17 to €22), though most other state museums have raised prices as well. The additional cash flowing into the Louvre will be an estimated €44.3 million. - Artnet
"Across a five-decade career, Yamamoto has dedicated himself to fostering community in Japan’s rapidly expanding cities. From housing projects that coax residents into spontaneous interactions to a glass-walled fire station that invites passersby to peer inside, his architecture appears intent on 'blurring boundaries between its public and private dimensions.'" - CNN
