Signature image on Ai Weiwei's Twitter page When I wrote on Monday that Ai Weiwei's defiance of Chinese authorities (on Google+ and Twitter) was "at once heroic and horrifying," I didn't know the half of it. Sui-Lee Wee of Reuters yesterday published an anonymous source's shocking account of the harrowing details of the dissident artist's detention. (That story was then … [Read more...] about Weiwei Watch: Harrowing Details of Ai’s Detention (plus problematic “first interview”)
Archives for August 2011
Twitter Rebellion: Ai Weiwei Strikes Yet Again (and explains why)
Tania Branigan, China correspondent for the GuardianAs I said yesterday in my post about Ai Weiwei's electrifying return to Twitter, the recently released Chinese dissident artist seems determined to speak truth to power, no matter what the personal cost. In his latest tweet, posted nine hours ago, he explains why:If you don't speak for Wang Lihong, nor for Ran Yunfei, not only … [Read more...] about Twitter Rebellion: Ai Weiwei Strikes Yet Again (and explains why)
Ai Weiwei Tweets about Detainees: “Mental Devastation, Physical Torture”
Signature image on Ai Weiwei's revived Twitter pageAi Weiwei, released from detention on June 22, was already asking for trouble by posting provocative documents recently on Google+. But with his apparent return to Twitter, he's flirting with disaster. Like his Twitter page, the English translation site for his tweets (managed by volunteers) is up and running again. His first … [Read more...] about Ai Weiwei Tweets about Detainees: “Mental Devastation, Physical Torture”
MeTube on BMW’s Brash Sponsorship: Guggenheim Lab Confronts Luxury Cars
The rubble-strew vacant lot at Houston Street and Second Avenue, now transformed as the site of the BMW Guggenheim LabPhoto: Kristopher McKay © Solomon R. Guggenheim FoundationWith federal and state governments already in financial meltdown, and with today's Dow drop suggesting that we could be coming down with another economic-flu epidemic, where can future arts sponsorship be … [Read more...] about MeTube on BMW’s Brash Sponsorship: Guggenheim Lab Confronts Luxury Cars
BlogBack: Walter Liedtke, Met Paintings Curator, on His Frans Hals Show
Walter Liedtke,curator of European paintings at the Metropolitan Museum, responds to my comments about his Frans Hals show in yesterday's post, The Whit/Met: Holland Cotter Thinks Outside the Breuer Box:A few quick points about your piece: The "Laughing Cavalier" is in the Wallace Collection, which can never lend. Manet's pastel of "George Moore" could not have been displayed … [Read more...] about BlogBack: Walter Liedtke, Met Paintings Curator, on His Frans Hals Show
BlogBacks: Readers “Surface” Hot-Button Ethical Issues Facing Museums
A number of CultureGrrl readers have responded to my call for a list of emerging museum-related ethical issues that I should bring to the table in my role as "oracle" for the American Association of Museums' new Center for the Future of Museums.A week ago, I outlined my own ideas, which I sent to the CFM. But as soon as I submitted my survey response, I realized that I had … [Read more...] about BlogBacks: Readers “Surface” Hot-Button Ethical Issues Facing Museums
Market Share Reversal: Sotheby’s Edges Out Christie’s in First-Half Global Sales UPDATED
Christie's was still calling itself "the world's leading art business," in its July 21 press release announcing its $3.2 billion total sales (public and private) for the first half of 2011. But, in fact, Sotheby's, which issued its first-half results today, nosed ahead of its archrival, with total sales of $3.4 billion. Its press release stated that this was Sotheby's "highest … [Read more...] about Market Share Reversal: Sotheby’s Edges Out Christie’s in First-Half Global Sales UPDATED
The Whit/Met: Holland Cotter Thinks Outside the Breuer Box
Illustration for Holland Cotter's Met/Whitney thinkpiece: What's wrong with this picture? Holland Cotter, the NY Times' Pulitzer-prize winning art critic, brainstormed about the future of the Metropolitan Museum in a long front-page piece in the Sunday "Arts & Leisure" section, coming up with some compelling suggestions for what the Met could do with the Breuer-designed … [Read more...] about The Whit/Met: Holland Cotter Thinks Outside the Breuer Box
Barnes Litigants’ Attorney Says Appeal Likely if Judge Ott Doesn’t Reopen the Case
Scene from the Philly Barnes construction webcamArguments in Montgomery County Orphans' Court, Norristown, PA, have just concluded in the attempt by opponents of the Barnes Foundation's move to Philadelphia to convince Judge Stanley Ott to agree to a reconsideration of his decision permitting the foundation to relocate. That decision allowed the Barnes to deviate from … [Read more...] about Barnes Litigants’ Attorney Says Appeal Likely if Judge Ott Doesn’t Reopen the Case
MoMA Raises Admission Fee (to $25), While Its Icons Go AWOL
AbEx Gap: Pollock flanked by two Newmans stand in for the entire New York School in painting-and-sculpture galleries at New York's premiere contemporary/modern museum. Not to be outdone by the Metropolitan Museum's recently announced $25 suggested adult admission fee, the Museum of Modern Art last week announced that it would up its mandatory fee to $25. MoMA's rate hike … [Read more...] about MoMA Raises Admission Fee (to $25), While Its Icons Go AWOL