“Banksy suddenly matters again. He has created a powerful image of our prejudiced times. Far from a stupid mistake by a confused council, its destruction is a real and vicious act of censorship.”
So, What’s Former Art Dealer And LA MoCA Director Jeffrey Deitch Up To These Days?
“Now that he is back in New York, he said he has no plans to open a new gallery. Instead, he hopes to organize occasional ‘super-exciting shows’ in borrowed spaces. He is scouting for a suitably cavernous warehouse in which to install a survey of artists he plans to call ‘Overpop.'”
Legalized Pot Will Totally Save Classical Music, You Guys
“Let me tell you, classical music is some intense shit.”
How History Forgot – Or Lost – Its Role In Public Debate
“For more than 2,000 years, from the time of Thucydides to the middle of the 20th century, one of the primary purposes of learning about the past was to orient oneself towards the future.”
How Much Anyone Working In Hollywood Earns
Here’s the list – from A-List stars on blockbuster movies to their agents, stylists, producers, directors and assistants. (And you thought income disparity was bad in other industries)
Rome Opera Fires Entire Orchestra And Chorus
After years of enormous deficits, labor strife, alleged mismanagement, and threats of closure – culminating in Riccardo Muti’s surprise resignation from the company last month – the opera house’s board decided to replace the resident orchestra and chorus with “outsourced” artists. Said the general manager, “The only other alternative was shutting the theater down altogether.” (in English)
BBC Launches Contest To Find Future Dance Stars
“Young Dancer 2015, launched on Thursday at Sadler’s Wells dance house in London, will see 16-20 year-olds compete in four categories: ballet, contemporary, hip-hop or South Asian. Judges for the grand final will include celebrated dance names, including choreographer Matthew Bourne and ballet star Tamara Rojo.”
The Submissions For Best Foreign-Language Film Oscar Are In
Larry Rohter handicaps three top prospects – from Russia, Belgium, and, of all places, Mauritania.
Alan Cumming’s Youth Was More Prison Camp Than Cabaret
“Cumming once wound up with a vicious haircut administered with sheep shears that left the 12-year-old bleeding and half bald. … It’s hard to fathom how the terrorized little boy grew up to be the slender, joyful man who can’t stop cackling as he shows off photos of the pink neon sign saying ‘Club Cumming’ … for his dressing room.”
Steppenwolf Theatre Co. Has A New Artistic Director
“Martha Lavey, the theater’s artistic director since 1995, said that she will step down from her position at the end of the current 2014-15 season. She will be replaced by Anna D. Shapiro, a longtime artistic associate, ensemble member and director at the theater.”
Frank Gehry’s Eisenhower Memorial Design Finally Gets An Approval
“The 10-to-1 vote by the National Capital Planning Commission represented a significant milestone for the tribute to the World War II general and 34th president, which has been stalled since 2011.”
“I Have A Taste For Being A Nuisance”: Eiko, Without Koma, Creates Her First Solo Dance Work
And it’s in, of all places, 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. “Eiko realizes that she might be an irritant for some hurried travelers. ‘You will have to accept me,’ she said. ‘So how do I deliver the pleasure of being a nuisance? I think I have a taste for it, and that’s the bottom line: I have a taste for being a nuisance.'”
Putin’s Government Puts Ever-Tighter Controls On Russia’s Internet (And Then Denies It)
“As the Kremlin deepens its geopolitical standoff with the West, it’s also tightening its grip over the internet and media at home to better fight what officials here call an ‘information war’ with its adversaries.” Officials argue that their goal isn’t to isolate Russia from the World Wide Web but to prevent other nations from kicking Russia out.
L.A.’s Hot New Site-Specific Opera Company Launches Its Own Record Label
“The new label is called The Industry Records and its first release will be last year’s acclaimed opera, Invisible Cities, which took place at Union Station. The show unfolded in real time throughout the historic building while audience members listened to the music on wireless headphones and singers and dancers appeared in, and interacted with, the crowd.”
Of All The Third Reich’s Weird Propaganda Tricks, This Was The Weirdest
“What makes the tale of Charlie and His Orchestra so twisted is that the Nazis shot back American songs at the Allies, albeit doctored with especially demented propaganda lyrics. … The most frequent target of Charlie’s venom isn’t the Jews, but Winston Churchill.”
Top Posts From AJBlogs 10.02.14
Another Corcoran Outrage: The Archives
AJBlog: Real Clear Arts
Are We Really in a Gutenberg Moment?
AJBlog: CultureCrash
That Newport Party
AJBlog: RiffTides
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Why Poetry Matters
“Poetry belongs to us all. We started speaking by reciting poems and everyday we plug ourselves in to our phones and listen to music with lyrics that are made up of poetry. It is everywhere. And it is ours. Perhaps the university professors would like us to believe that poems belong to them, but we mustn’t let this happen.”
Four-Year Extension For Franz Welser-Most At Cleveland Orchestra
“The four-year contract extension will keep Mr. Welser-Möst in place after the orchestra’s centennial season in 2017-18, and ensure that his tenure in Cleveland lasts at least 20 years — which would make him the ensemble’s second longest-serving music director after George Szell.”
A Link Between Brands And Religion?
Among those who compared generic products, “individuals who attended religious services frequently were more likely to generate religious words than those who did not,” the researchers write. However, among those who compared brand-name items, “this pattern disappeared.”
Crowd Management: Louvre, D’Orsay, Versailles To Open Seven Days A Week
Opening the three museums every day of the week “will allow better access for the public and better access to the works” housed there, said the culture ministry. It added it would hold consultations with unions about the change, and predicted that the “net economic effect would be positive”, with ticket receipts outweighing the costs involved.”
Police Seize 15 Paintings From Former Home Of Ferdinand Marcos
“Andres Bautista, chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, said court sheriffs also tried to seize paintings from a condominium belonging to Marcos’ widow, Imelda. He said the sheriffs were kept waiting outside for an hour, and when they entered they saw her crying and found only empty walls and hooks that once held paintings.”
The Art Newspaper Is Sold
“The sale agreement boosts the financial backing of the paper and allows it to build a greater internet presence.”
American TV Has More Gay Characters (Mostly White)
“In the 2014-2015 television season, gay characters will make up 3.9 percent of primetime series broadcast regulars, GLAAD reports.”
Met Opera Faces Possible Downgrade Of Credit Rating
“Moody’s, which rates the Met’s $100 million of debt A3, seventh-highest, said the review ‘reflects softening in earned and gift revenue’ … Moody’s may lower the rating by several steps if deficits continue to limit the Met’s liquidity.”