CultureGrrl

Lee Rosenbaum's cultural commentary

Archives for December 2006

Data Mining for Donors: Museums Do It Too

by

Yesterday's NY Times article, N.Y.U. Mines Personal Data to Gain Edge in Money Race (different title online), makes it sound as if New York University, by sifting through personal financial information on online databases (to identify potential big-money donors), is doing something that other charities aren't. Far from it. Ten years ago, when I was writing my "Visual Reality" … [Read more...] about Data Mining for Donors: Museums Do It Too

Harry Potter’s Demise Reconsidered?

by

On this Christmas day when you would all be giving your children the final installment of the Harry Potter series, if only you could, CultureGrrl will do her bit for world peace with a personal appeal to author J.K. Rowling: DON'T KILL HARRY!!! Rowling has previously stated that she "can completely understand" authors who kill off characters so that no one else could write a … [Read more...] about Harry Potter’s Demise Reconsidered?

Reverón (Belatedly) at MoMA

by

Armando Reverón, "The Woman of the River," 1939, Museum of Modern Art, Fractional and promised gift of Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, in honor of John Elderfield © 2006 Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela At last: The new year will bring "the first U.S. retrospective of the celebrated Venezuelan artist Armando Reverón" (1889-1954) at the Museum of Modern Art. This 100-work show of … [Read more...] about Reverón (Belatedly) at MoMA

Checked In to Bloggers’ Rehab

by

CultureGrrl is addicted to two things: Lindt's dark chocolate and blogging. With the loving support of family and friends who have gathered around during this holiday season, I'm attempting semi-withdrawal from blogging during this week, while so many of your are away. (However, I'm sure to suffer the occasional relapse.) I know there will be much rending of wrapping paper and … [Read more...] about Checked In to Bloggers’ Rehab

Score One for Philly Philanthropy: “Gross Clinic” Stays

by

At a press conference this afternoon, Mayor John Street announced that an agreement of sale has been signed that will keep Thomas Eakins' "The Gross Clinic" in Philadelphia. Nevertheless, the fundraising is far from over: The deadline to come up with the $68 million for the seller, Thomas Jefferson University, has been extended from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31, and Wachovia Bank has … [Read more...] about Score One for Philly Philanthropy: “Gross Clinic” Stays

Munch Museum’s Report on Thieves’ Damage: It Makes You Want to “Scream”

by

Although it appears relatively unscathed in this post-recovery photo, Munch's "The Scream," stolen from and then returned to the Munch Museum, Oslo, is stained in one corner. The museum's conservators recently reported that they have not yet determined "whether one will reconstruct the original colors in the stained part of 'The Scream.' One will most probably take a … [Read more...] about Munch Museum’s Report on Thieves’ Damage: It Makes You Want to “Scream”

Another Blog Flogging from the MSM

by

Yesterday, Joseph Rago, the Wall Street Journal's assistant editorial features editor, added his voice to the print pundits who see blogs as a symptom of the decline and fall of civility and civilization (for others, go here). In "The Blog Mob," his essay on the editorial page, Rago opined: Instant response, with not even a day of delay, impairs rigor. It is also a coagulant … [Read more...] about Another Blog Flogging from the MSM

BlogBack: Ada Louise Huxtable on Jean Nouvel’s Guthrie

by

The architecture critic of the Wall Street Journal responds to Ada Louise Huxtable Meanders in Minneapolis, saying that CultureGrrl misinterpreted as praise her WSJ review of Jean Nouvel's Guthrie Theater: Was I too subtle? Too tongue-in-cheek? Too ironic? Please read the piece again! I thought my description made it clear how off-putting and over-the-top I found it. It's not … [Read more...] about BlogBack: Ada Louise Huxtable on Jean Nouvel’s Guthrie

Surround Yourself With Renée Fleming

by

Those of you who get your Saturday-afternoon opera fix with the Metropolitan Opera's live radio broadcasts have a new option, beginning Dec. 30: The Metropolitan Opera Goes to the Movies. Theaters around the country will present the live broadcasts on high definition screens with surround sound. The process of navigating through the various web pages to purchase your tickets is … [Read more...] about Surround Yourself With Renée Fleming

Getty Vs. Italy: The War of Words Escalates

by

This just in from a press conference held today in Rome by Italian Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli, who said that he recently received the an opinion from his government's legal authorities backing his position: We have documented that these works [the Getty-owned antiquities sought by Italy] were stolen, carried off, clandestinely exported and then acquired by the Getty. … [Read more...] about Getty Vs. Italy: The War of Words Escalates

Another Hermitage Theft Recovery?

by

Jean-Léon Gérôme, "Pool in a Harem," ca. 1876 ©2003 State Hermitage Museum UPDATES: Now the Associated Press has picked up this story, and apparently the recovered painting has now been authenticated. And according to Novosti, the Russian news and information agency, the painting suffered "severe damage." As CultureGrrl previously reported, a painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, "Pool … [Read more...] about Another Hermitage Theft Recovery?

“Gross Clinic” or Health Clinics?

by

In its Letters to the Editor today, the Philadelphia Inquirer publishes a pithy note by one Michael Donnelly, who says what other Philadelphians are doubtless thinking about the $68-million public fundraising drive to keep the Eakins from leaving town: Here's an idea: Continue to raise the money. Then, ask homeless advocate Sister Mary Scullion, or city schools CEO Paul Vallas, … [Read more...] about “Gross Clinic” or Health Clinics?

an ArtsJournal blog