The Met Museum @150: Peter Schjeldahl

“The Met is our Home Depot of the soul. It has just about whatever you want, and it has a lot of it, very largely the harvest of past donations, en masse, of the collections of major benefactors—a New York tradition that, per a bequest in 1969, entitled the banker Robert Lehman to require the construction of a whole new wing, devoted to his gifts. (That was annoying, but the art was worth it.)” – The New Yorker

Philadelphia Museum Of Art Closes, Furloughs Staff

The PMA reopened on September 6 after almost six months of closure. In August, the museum laid off 85 of its employees; an additional 42 workers accepted voluntary separation agreements. The decision to reduce staff was announced two days before the outcome of a union vote at the museum in which 89% of workers voted “yes.” The August layoffs followed a reduction of over 20% of the museum’s workforce (100 employees) in June through a combination of furloughs and voluntary separation agreements.  – Hyperallergic

Artists Are Turning London’s Residences Into Street Galleries

The newly developed (for Britain’s second lockdown) Artists’ Walk has more than 115 artists signed up so far – meant for London, yes, but including artists as far away as Wales. One artist: “It’s a great idea and affords people a different experience during their daily walks. … It does mean that those who would be reluctant to set foot in a gallery can still view contemporary art, and others can get their fix.” – The Guardian (UK)

Artist Esther Mahlangu Wants African Artists To Stay The Course

Limited public funding is harming African artists, says Ndebele superstar painter Esther Mahlangu. She sees how many young people want to learn at the school she’s set up, but she adds, “there should be more support for artists from governments. They need to promote African art and culture around the world. That would be a very good thing. That way it won’t vanish.” – The Guardian (UK)

The London Home Of Verlaine And Rimbaud Was Slated To Be An Arts Center, But Now It’s Up For Sale

The owner pledged the house to a charity, but a decade after that promise, he’s put it up for sale on the open market. “The campaign for a poetry house had attracted widespread support from leading figures such as the novelists Julian Barnes and Tracy Chevalier, the poet Sir Andrew Motion and the actor Simon Callow.” The charity is now seeking legal advice. – The Observer (UK)