Category: visual

“The turmoil will only further damage an institution that has, for most of its existence, failed to live up to its name while presenting one mediocre exhibition after another.” Aaron Betsky argues that the root of the problems at the Smithsonian’s design museum (and its only branch in New York) isn’t the fault of anyone in particular, but it will require the equivalent of radical surgery. – Dezeen

“More than a month after the board overseeing the School of Architecture at Taliesin announced the school would close after 88 years of operation, the board has reversed its decision and plans to keep the school open.” This does not mean that the school is saved: “It remains unclear whether the foundation that oversees Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin properties in Scottsdale and Wisconsin will agree.” – The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)

Fortunately, thanks to fear of the coronavirus outbreak that has led to this rule, it’s easy to comply with. – The New York Times

Four internationally recognized artists — Jeppe Hein, Sabine Hornig, Laura Owens and Sarah Sze — have been commissioned by LaGuardia Gateway Partners, together with the New York-based nonprofit for public art, to execute large-scale projects integrated throughout the architecture of the arrivals and departures hall of the new Terminal B, expected to open later this year. The budget for the art program is close to $10 million. – The New York Times

“‘Stone,’ says architect Amin Taha, ‘is the great forgotten material of our time. In 99% of cases, it’s cheaper and greener to use stone in a structural way, as opposed to concrete or steel, but we mostly just think of using it for cladding.'” – The Guardian

Trade conflicts between the US and China, political unrest in Hong Kong and a protracted Brexit all contributed to a 5% dip in the global art market, which totalled $64.1 billion in 2019. – The Art Newspaper

“Since Sunday, the Louvre’s staff had been refusing to work, fearful they might catch the coronavirus from someone among the museum’s more than 30,000 daily visitors. … The museum’s management, its doctor and staff representatives met throughout Tuesday to consider measures to protect workers from the virus, and employees voted Wednesday morning to accept them.” – The New York Times

For essentially the same reasons that some people wanted the murals at George Washington High School in San Francisco to be covered over or removed. – Artnet

Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara, principals of Grafton Architecture in Dublin, have already racked up some impressive awards in recent years: the World Architecture Festival’s World Building of the Year (for the Università Luigi Bocconi’s school of economics in Milan), the RIBA International Prize (for UTEC in Lima), and this year’s RIBA Royal Gold Medal for Architecture; they also curated the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale. – The Guardian

While commentators have often dismissed the interventions of artists on the issue of oil sponsorship as “virtue signaling,” BP’s CEO effectively conceded in his speech that opposition to the company’s sponsorship deals has had a tangible impact. In his statement on the new policy, he addressed protesters directly as he discussed rebuilding the public’s trust. “Many question our motives in supporting the arts,” he said. “I get that.”  – Artnet