“There’s still that double standard. I look at all the things I’ve done in movies: I’ve drugged a guy, tortured someone, become a roller-derby star overnight. But now I’m gay, I can’t play a straight person?”
Tag: 01.27.16
Fort Worth Symphony Reportedly Decides Not To Implement Musician Salary Cuts
“Last week, musicians voted to authorize a strike and also rejected what management had called its final offer. A news release issued by the FWSO on Friday said the final offer would be implemented on Monday. … According to the [musicians’ union], the concessionary terms, including a more than 8 percent pay cut, have not been forced on musicians.” Management won’t comment.
Thornton Dial, 87, ‘Outsider’ Artist Who Found Extraordinary Late-Life Success
“A sharecropper’s son who for decades spent his spare time soldering scrap metal, animal bones and other found objects into representations of black life in America, … Mr. Dial was untrained as an artist but by the end of his life saw his sculptures and paintings housed at … the most prestigious museums of the United States.”
La Scala’s Ballet Company Gets A New Director
Following the October departure of Makhar Vaziev for the Bolshoi Ballet, the Milan opera house has selected Mauro Bigonzetti to head the troupe. Bigonzetti was artistic director (1997-2008) and subsequently principal choreographer of Aterballetto, which concentrates on contemporary repertoire and was Italy’s first ballet company independent of an opera house. (in Italian; Google Translate version here)
Ai Weiwei Yanks His Copenhagen Shows To Protest Denmark’s New Asylum-Seeker Law
“Ai, China’s most prominent contemporary artist, went on social media to decry Denmark’s ‘shameless’ bill that among other things allows authorities to confiscate valuables from migrants and delays family reunifications for refugees for up to three years. The artist announced that as a direct result of the bill he will pull his exhibitions from ARoS Aarhus Art Museum and the Copenhagen gallery Faurschou Foundation.”
They Covered Up Some Nude Statues For Iranian President’s Visit To Rome – And Many Italians Object
Many started tweeting nude statues in protest; some called it an insult to the nation’s honor; one argued that the Iranians should strip statues if Italy’s prime minister visits; another called it “Italy’s shambolic appeasement of Islamism.” But perhaps it was just good manners? President Rouhani said as much, and thanked his hosts.
Top Posts From AJBlogs 01.27.16
Acquisitions In the Air – and In Reality
For some reason I cannot fathom, I’ve been receiving many press releases lately about museum acquisitions, by gift or purchase, and in one case, about a wonderful gift to make acquisitions. … read more
AJBlog: Real Clear Arts Published 2016-01-27
Another Erratic Outing: My Storify on the Taubman Old Masters Sale at Sotheby’s
I’ve asked Sotheby’s to explain a puzzling assertion that its spokesperson made to me and also to the NY Times‘ Robin Pogrebin at the end of tonight’s sale of the late A. Alfred Taubman‘s old masters … read more
AJBlog: CultureGrrl Published 2016-01-27
Hostages to fortune
I think it’s fair to say that most people think of me as a highbrow-egghead type whose tastes in pop music are meticulously consistent with his tastes in the other arts. For this reason, I … read more
AJBlog: About Last Night Published 2016-01-27
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Tommasini: Van Zweden A “Safe” But “Feisty” Choice For NYPhil
“Mr. van Zweden is an accomplished artist and a feisty podium presence who exudes energy. Those of us who want this institution to thrive should offer congratulations and wish him success. Still, my feeling lingers that his appointment represents a safe course.”
What Jaap van Zweden Brings To The New York Philharmonic
“He has been credited with lifting the standard of the Dallas Symphony, an achievement that gained wider recognition when he was named Musical America’s Conductor of the Year in 2012.”
Midgette on NYPhil’s New Music Director
“What the New York Philharmonic more urgently lacked under Gilbert was a dynamic, charismatic figure able to galvanize excitement around the orchestra’s concerts. It’s not clear that van Zweden fully offers that.”