Tag: 04.02.00

IF YOU KNEW SERGE LIKE I KNOW SERGE

A new book about Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes by a widely published dance critic and historian, and supposedly one of the foremost authorities on the period is cause for celebration. “Surprising then, that she has left herself wide-open to criticism by sweeping generalizations and inaccurate reporting in her personal contributions, a collection of essays which confuse rather than clarify the impact of Diaghilev, the Russian genius who changed the whole concept of ballet in the last century.” – Culturekiosque

THE TATE USED TO BE A MUSEUM

But with its makeover into the House of Britain, it’s fallen down on the job, writes one critic. “Now it is a card table on which teams of spectacularly ignorant modern curators play snap with the nation’s heritage. Here’s a 17th-century portrait of a squat Englishman. Here’s a 20th-century portrait of a squat English dog. They’re both squat, so let’s hang them together. Snap!” – The Sunday Times (UK)

WHO OWNS ART

In the 1950s Maxfield Parrish gave employees of the Windsor County National Bank a painting he had done to thank them for the help they gave him, month after month, balancing his accounts. The bank’s been sold a couple of times, and the painting has appreciated in value; it’s worth several hundred thousand dollars. The bank’s new owners tried to sell it, but the townspeople are mobilized for action to save their much-loved civic treasure. – Boston Globe

STEPPING STONES

Many of Britain’s major arts institutions are now being run by foreigners. Not to worry though. They seem primarily interested in using their tenure to spruce up their resumes for the next job. “For the new breed of arriviste, an English appointment is merely a staging post; the country is becoming an extension of the flight connections lounge at Heathrow.” – The Observer (UK)

WANTED: “BETTER MINDS IN GOVERNMENT”

  • NEA chairman Bill Ivey on supporting the arts: “Society devalues art. The arts are still on the fringe. They are in the style section of the newspaper. And yet we frame our most pressing social concerns around art and art-making. The arts don’t matter until they get under our skin; then we realize we use art to talk to each other about a whole range of issues. The arts irritate us.” – Chicago Tribune