Art pillaging in Afghanistan hasn’t slowed any since the Americans came. “For decades, war and gnawing poverty made Afghanistan fertile ground for thieves and smugglers. Looters have cleared the shelves in Afghanistan’s museums and left deep hollows in the earth of its ancient sites, where Buddhist, Greek, Zoroastrian and early Islamic civilizations once flourished. Yet even with the U.S.-backed government of Hamid Karzai in place and an international community eager to support cultural preservation, large-scale looting of Afghanistan’s archeological sites goes on.”
Tag: 05.19.03
Contemporary Art – The Auction House Winner?
An emerging trend in the art market? “It was evident that the market for Contemporary art – made from about 1945 to the present – continues to rise. It seems to be only a matter of time until Contemporary art auctions routinely outshine those of the longtime market leader, Impressionist and Modern art.”
Are You Good Enough To Sing Underground?
London has licensed performers who work in the subways. “London Underground says the public wants high quality musicians who are guaranteed not to be confrontational. Complete with blue busking licences – after auditions, police background checks and a refundable registration fee – the first official buskers are among 256 approved performers who will occupy 25 pitches at 12 stations.”
Working To Amend The Patriot Act
US librarians and booksellers are organizing to protest the Patriot Act, which allows the government to access records of what books people are reading. “In an unusual display of industry solidarity, 32 groups representing a cross section of publishing-related organizations, regional booksellers associations and chain booksellers issued a statement in support of House Resolution 1157, a bill introduced by Vermont Rep. Bernie Sanders that would amend section 215 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.”
Firing Crouch – Was It Something I Said?
Was jazz critic Stanley Crouch fired from his JazzTimes magazine column because of of what he wrote? “Crouch, 57, said he is convinced that his column ‘Putting the White Man in Charge’ was the direct cause for the termination of the column, even though Maryland-based Jazz Times, the nation’s most widely read jazz publication, with a circulation of more than 100,000, had promoted the essay as Crouch’s ‘most incendiary column yet.’ Jazz Times publisher Lee Mergner sees the situation differently. “We didn’t discontinue Crouch’s column because of what he wrote in ‘Putting the White Man in Charge. In fact, that wasn’t even his last column, which was actually about Eric Reed. We discontinued the column because it had become tedious’.”
Hairspray Big Winner At Drama Desk Awards
Hairspray was the big winner Sunday in New York, picking up the most Drama Desk awards. “Hairspray” took 10 awards, distantly followed by “La Boheme,” “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” and “Nine” with three apiece.
Above And Beyond Movies
Movies are the Big Medium, right? There are no small movies, only small…. whatever. But some movie makers are wondering if the movie form is too small to express their work. So could the internet or other digital technologies be the answer? One filmmaker is testing the idea.
Chicago, City Of Theatre
“Chicago has nearly 200 theater companies, and for at least the last decade it has been the only city in the United States, and one of the few in the world, with a theatrical scene as vibrant as New York’s. This season more than a dozen of these companies are presenting works by new playwrights as well as veterans like August Wilson and Stephen Sondheim. The appearance of so many world premieres within the space of a couple of months reflects the deep pool of Chicago-based dramatic talent and the city’s growing appeal to playwrights and producers from other parts of the country.”
Stolen Art – Staking A Claim
The Art Loss Register’s Sarah Jackson on recovering art stolen by the Nazis: “In the past, provenance was important to establish value. Today, provenance is taking center stage because of liability. The law is changing slowly, but remorselessly, in favor of the victim. Once there is a known Holocaust survivor of a known work of art, it becomes virtually unsalable. For commercial art dealers, the choice is stark, because the buyers will choose an alternative that is not a tainted work of art.”
Minneapolis Library Troubles Aren’t Over Yet
Three years ago, voters in Minneapolis overwhelmingly approved a $110 million bond issue to build a new downtown library. But that was before the tech bubble burst, before 9/11, and before Minnesota’s largest city became a primary target in a statewide budget-cutting push by Governor Tim Pawlenty. The city council is determined to move ahead with the project, and groundbreaking is set for this week. But a significant chunk of money must still be raised from private sources, and a shortfall could affect the design of the building and its surrounding area, and could even cause funding to be diverted from branch libraries elsewhere in the city.