Archives for November 2010

I used to worry about how long it was taking. But the more it lasts, the more will be the shame. So said Paolo Ferri, then Italy's prosecutor in the Marion True antiquities trafficking trial, during our chat in Athens two and a half years ago. Ferri was right, but not in the sense that he intended. What's shameful is making the Getty Museum's former antiquities curator … [Read more...] about Shame on Italy: Marion True’s Case Ends with a Whimper

Drawing class at the Children's Palace for children gifted in the arts, ShanghaiWhile we're on the subject of China, let me lighten up and bring you one of the many delights of my recent vacation there. (I really did treat it as a vacation, not my usual workation.)In Shanghai last month, I got a glimpse of the engaging goings-on at one of the several Children's Palaces … [Read more...] about MeTube at Children’s Palace, Shanghai: Break Dancing, Baton Twirling

Image of Ai Weiwei's Shanghai studio, slated for the wrecking ballChinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei successfully hosted a party in absentia at his soon-to-be-demolished studio in the Malu Town section of Shanghai. The "crab fest," attended by more than 400 supporters (according to the BBC), went off without a hitch, without incident and with the crustaceans.Tania Branigan of … [Read more...] about Weiwei Fray: “Harmonious” Party Goes on Without the Host

Ai WeiweiThe only surprise to this story is how Ai Weiwei managed to stay not arrested for so long.So writes Elaine Chow of the Shanghaiist blog (part of the Gothamist network), regarding the news, published by the Chinese dissident artist on his Twitter page, that Chinese police have put him under house arrest. (My above link to Ai's post is to the site of the tumblr-based … [Read more...] about Ai Weiwei Under House Arrest: Chinese Police Crabby about His “Crab Fest” UPDATED TWICE

Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs LyleIn her latest astonishing Memorandum and Order, issued today, Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle ruled that Fisk University can sell a half-share in its Stieglitz Collection to Alice Walton's planned Crystal Bridges Museum for $30 million. But what Lyle giveth with one hand, she taketh away with the other: The financially … [Read more...] about Judge Approves Fisk/Crystal Bridges Deal, Restricts Use of Walton’s $30 Million

Ai Weiwei's "Sunflower Seeds," now at the Tate ModernTate Photography, © Ai Weiwei [More on the Weiwei Fray: here and here.]Speaking of Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei, this just in from Agence France-Presse:Outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei says he is offering his supporters 10,000 river crabs---an autumn delicacy---to "celebrate" the government-ordered demolition of his … [Read more...] about AFP Reports: Ai Weiwei’s New Shanghai Studio Faces Demolition

China Journey: The Grrl at The WallI'm back, art-lings, but not exactly better than ever. I had a fabulous time in China---a particularly exciting place to visit right now, thanks to both its increasingly dominant economy and its proliferating architecture-on-steroids:Shanghai's skyline, seen from my hotel windowA tour-bus view of Rem Koolhaas' Beijing headquarters for CCTV … [Read more...] about MeTube in China: Tiananmen Square’s Black Smoke Enshrouds Mao