Tag: 05.08.07

Lincoln Center Goes Visual

Lincoln Center is known for its performing arts. And the campus is getting a visual makeover over the next few years. But now America’s most famous arts center is dipping a toe into the visual arts. “Plans include using Lincoln Center’s 16-acre campus as a venue for sculpture and new media and adding a visual arts component to the Lincoln Center Festival, the international festival of music, drama, and dance that takes place each July.”

Philly Orchestra Hires Close To Home

The Philadelphia Orchestra has hired seven new players. Nothing unusual about that. But all of the musicians have some sort of pre-existing tie to the orchestra or to the Curtis Institute, the hometown music conservatory. “The new musicians take spots opened up by retirements, resignations, the advancement of players to more senior chairs within the orchestra, and a death.”

From Gilbert & George, Free Art (Download Required)

“An original work by artists and national treasures Gilbert and George would normally set you back many thousands of pounds. But from 11.30pm tonight a piece is being made available to anyone who wants it – for free. The work, called Planed, can be downloaded from the Guardian and BBC websites from 11.30pm, for 48 hours only. It will be the first time that artists of this stature have made work available in this way.”

For These Artists, Why A Second Go At The Turner?

“Artists need a very strong incentive to go through the Turner Prize mill of media attention a second time. They would need to think that they not only could, but would win. Otherwise, why bother? At this stage in their careers neither Mike Nelson (a nominee in 2001) nor Mark Wallinger (previously nominated in 1995) really need the Turner Prize in the way they once did. They certainly don’t need the exposure.”

Wallinger Among Four On Turner Shortlist

“Mark Wallinger, whose anti-war protest installation is on show at Tate Britain, was selected for the shortlist of four artists announced today for the Turner Prize. Mike Nelson, Zarina Bhimji and Nathan Coley are also on the 2007 list for the award, given to the best British artist under 50 years old for an exhibition in the previous year, said the organizers. Wallinger, one of the major figures of Britart in the 1990s, is the most celebrated and senior of those on the shortlist.”

Picasso To Art History: Screw You

As Picasso’s “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” turns 100, Thomas Hoving confesses his own ambivalence about it and muses that the painting “is a deliberate throw of the gauntlet, a ‘screw you’ to the entire history of art. … Every aspect of the painting is at war with every preceding work of art. A more complete denunciation of accepted humanity, accepted beauty and every artistic style that preceded the work cannot be imagined.”

Mission Of “Radio Golf”: Find Black B’way Audience

“When August Wilson’s ‘Radio Golf’ opens tonight on Broadway in a $2-million production, investors won’t be relying solely on rave reviews to fill the Cort Theater’s 1,000 seats. In an unusually aggressive move, the producers hired five marketing firms to promote the show about an African American businessman who wants to run for mayor of Pittsburgh.” Wilson’s “plays have had mixed success on Broadway, whose nickname, the Great White Way, can sometimes be taken too literally.”