Tag: 04.03.07

Getty Plans To Conserve Chinese Heritage

“The Getty Conservation Institute is working on a masterplan to conserve one of China’s most important heritage sites–the Cave Grottoes at Mogao. The project will begin in 2008, according to the Getty Trust. It is part of a much larger scheme to develop comprehensive guidelines for the whole of China–making the Getty the first non-governmental organisation to create a system for conserving the heritage of an entire nation.”

Florida Theatre Pulls “Rachel Corrie” After Protests

In Florida, Plantation’s Mosaic Theatre has pulled the play “My Name is Rachel Corrie” from its schedule. Mosaic’s board of directors agreed to drop the play after phone calls, e-mails and comments on a special Rachel Corrie blog — which has now been removed from the company’s website — made it clear that an impassioned, vocal minority strongly objected to the play.

Why Did Pritzker Take So Long For Rogers?

Richard Rogers finally wins architecture’s top prize. But why’d it take so long? “It may be because Rogers, unlike many of his high-profile colleagues, has generally avoided playing the star. While his colleagues Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid have attempted to build what are, in effect, works of art, Rogers has been content to practice the art of building. Not at all the same thing, and a curiously traditional attitude for such a resolute iconoclast.”

Classical Brits Nominations

The album category is a mixed bag of classical stars such as Bryn Terfel, crossover artists such as Libera, early-music groups such as The Sixteen and left-field acts such as the Fron Male Voice Choir from Wales. Pop star Sting is nominated for an album of music by 16th-century composer John Dowland, accompanied by the Bosnian lute virtuoso Edin Karamazov.

Judge: Detroit Museum Can Keep Van Gogh

A judge has ruled that the Detroit Institute of Art can keep a Van Gogh painting claimed by the heirs of a German collector in the 1940s. “The case landed in court in January 2006 after the DIA failed to resolve a long-simmering dispute with the heirs. A parallel dispute between the heirs and the Toledo Museum of Art over a Gauguin painting was similarly dismissed by an Ohio judge in December.”

Where Is The Crying Need For Classic Dramas?

Brian Logan argues that Sam Mendes, who will bring classic plays to both sides of the pond with the BAM-Old Vic Bridge Project, is wrong to believe that such dramas are underserved. “Uniquely, in theatre, old is the default and new is seen as risky. The idea is perpetuated that audiences don’t want to see new plays (although they never seem to struggle with new films or new TV). But I’d say directors are more to blame – they prefer classics because they get to demonstrate their interpretative genius.”

Bloomsbury Too Dependent On Regular Potter Fixes?

“Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury is pinning its hopes on strong sales for the last instalment on the boy wizard’s story after 2006 profits slumped 74%. … The company, which has raked in tens of millions of pounds from JK Rowling’s success but did not have a new instalment last year, blamed the collapse in its annual profits on a poor run-up to Christmas, fewer bestsellers than in previous years and problems selling electronic rights to some of its reference titles.”

After Cancer Diagnosis, Director Works Through Illness

“You could forgive Kurt Beattie for being a bit blasé on the eve of ACT Theatre’s 2007 season, which opens with the Seattle debut of Sarah Ruhl’s touted play ‘The Clean House.’ But ACT’s respected artistic head is anything but jaded. Since he was diagnosed with lung cancer late last year, Beattie has endured aggressive treatment. And he’s very happy to be alive — and back to work.”