“Germany has dealt with the long shadow of Nazi-era looting for many years. Now the government is setting aside funding to investigate another dark chapter of the past: the expropriation of works of art by the Stasi, the East German secret police, during the Cold War. The research could open the door to new restitution claims from the families of victims.”
Tag: 04.13.17
Top Posts From AJBlogs 04.13.17
At The Met, A Most Timely Acquisition
Maybe I should not admit this, but I never heard of Luisa Ignacia Roldán until a few weeks ago, when I learned that the Metropolitan Museum of Art had recently purchased a polychrome terracotta sculpture by her. … read more
AJBlog: Real Clear Arts Published 2017-04-13
Might Apple Buy Disney?
A combined Apple-Disney would create an instant competitor to Netflix that would take advantage of the Mouse House’s content and Apple’s user base, the anlaysts speculated. Other benefits: integrating Apple consumer tech as experiences in Disney’s theme parks; and landing global streaming sports rights for ESPN via the combo of Disney-backed BAMTech and Apple distribution and a strong balance sheet.
Critic: “Charging Bull” Sculptor Is Right About “Fearless Girl” Sculpture – It Should Go
Before Fearless Girl came on the scene, the bull was an encouraging representation of a booming economy. Now, charging toward a tiny human, it’s a stand-in for the gendered forces that work against women’s success in the workplace. This isn’t the same kind of contextual shift that might result from a curator’s juxtaposition of two works; the girl is derivative. Arturo Di Modica meant his bull to stand alone—now, it’s as if Visbal and New York City have made a solo piece a diptych without his consent.”
Does Dynamic Ticket Pricing Kill Sales To Some Shows?
“Sure, dynamic pricing maximises the income potential for a hit show (with the corollary of high prices driving away regulars), and potentially allows extra seats to be filled at lower prices on quieter nights. But it also leads to the situation where prices seem to start particularly high to allow for later movement, but in the meantime blows the opportunity to sell to the less convinced at a reasonable price.”
All Of This Year’s Pulitzer Classical Music Finalists Are Women. Mean Anything?
“Following the Pulitzer news this week, some wondered whether the all-female lineup might signal a permanent shift in the stodgily male profession.”
In 1961, East German Police Went On Raids, Netting Tens Of Millions Of Dollars Worth Of Art. Now Germany Will Investigate The Plundering
“Stasi agents swept up jewels, gold, silver, clocks, porcelain, stamp collections, manuscripts, sculptures and paintings—including works by Lucas Cranach, Canaletto, Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt—and piled them into trucks. They also found hidden Nazi party membership books and medals potentially useful for blackmail, as well as savings books and life-insurance policies. The Stasi valued its findings at DM4.1m—around $10m at the time.”
Here’s Where The Women Are In American Orchestras
“Whatever numbers you look at, women are underrepresented at the top levels of the orchestral world. When asked about this, women refer over and over again to the same issues that face women in leadership positions in business and other fields: it is more difficult for women to be taken seriously as strong leaders.”
An Underwater Art Show At The Antarctic Biennale
A diary from art critic Adrian Dannatt’s trip to the art fair at the bottom of the world, featuring close encounters with whales, seals, and Alexander Ponomarev’s Alchemy of Antarctic Albedo (or Washing Pale Moons).
Why Do Cartoon Characters Only Have Three Fingers? [VIDEO]
Disney animators say, “It’s simply economy of line. Dropping one finger makes a huge difference.”