London’s Toy Museum, which has been operating since 1876, is likely to close soon, if money is not found to rescue it. “Spread over two floors, six small rooms and several winding staircases, the walls of Pollock’s Toy Museum are covered with an estimated 20,000 exhibits dating back more than a century.”
Tag: 02.19.04
Job Search As Conceptual Art
In search of a job, actor/model/artist Richard K. Rogers put together a conceptual gallery show in New York featuring “photos of Rogers marketing various generic products – from telephone services to breath freshener. He – or, more precisely, the cartoony characters he portrays in these deliberately cheesy shots – is either in desperate need of some product or service, or joyfully satisfied because he has used it – whatever it might be.”
A Trio Of Jobs
Three of New York’s most important cultural institutions have vacancies in their top jobs. Running Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera and the Public Theatre are among the most difficult arts jobs there are. And it’s not immediately obvious who the should get the jobs.
Auditions Swamped With Kids For Mary Poppins
There was an open audition for kids wanting to be in a new West End production of Mary Poppins. “By the time the doors of the Prince Edward theatre opened, the queue stretched twice around the block: the producers estimated that more than 1,000 children turned up.”
Norah Jones’ Blockbuster Week
Norah Jones’ second album has sold more copies in its first week than any other release in the past 2 1/2 years. “Ms. Jones’s second album, “Feels Like Home” (Blue Note), sold 1,022,000 copies during the week ending Sunday, the best performance since ‘N Sync released “Celebrity” in July 2001, according to Nielsen SoundScan.”
Protests Over Museum of Scotland Design Changes
Plans for the Museum of Scotland won praise and awards in 1998 when they were unveiled. “But recent changes to the £50m Museum of Scotland have been labelled as crude, perverse, wretched, and tacky by leading figures in the architectural community.”
Debating The Tunnel Through Stonehenge
The approach to Stonehenge is a miserable affair. So there’s a proposal to dig a tunnel to remove cars from the immedtiate area. But there’s controversy about the tunnel, so an inquiry’s being held. “Although the proposed tunnel will take the road out of sight of the stones, its entrance portals will still be within the Stonehenge world heritage site, which many archaeologists regard as one vast, man-made, sacred landscape. The inquiry will pitch the partners in the Stonehenge Project against one another.”
English National Opera Trying To Get On Track
The English National Opera has had a rough couple of years. Perhaps it’s coming out of its slump (and a string of bad luck). But there’s plenty of work needed to recover. “It seems crucial for the company to strengthen its sense of purpose and identity, particularly at a time when not only is the Royal Opera on a high, but impresario Raymond Gubbay is launching his cheap and cheerful Savoy Opera in the West End, featuring young voices performing opera in English.”