Liechtenstein is Europe’s smallest country. But it is buying art with a vengeance – “more for its national collection than any other European museum. Liechtenstein’s population is 34,000, the lowest in Europe (along with Monaco and San Marino). Its ‘national’ museum is not based in the Alpine mini-state, but in neighbouring Austria, housed in a Baroque palace in Vienna.”
Tag: 06.07.07
New Yorker’s John Colapinto Tangles With Blogger
“Restricted View blogger Mollie Wilson, a contributor to Village Voice , American Theatre and Nextbook did not like Colapinto’s article on Paul McCartney in last week’s New Yorker, called ‘When I’m Sixty-Four: Paul McCartney And His Music,’ or, as she thought he ought to have called it, ‘How I spent a week wasting Paul McCartney’s time’.” Who is this person who dares to criticize him? Some….blogger? Oh, no no no no no. Colapinto offered the world a glimpse into the star-stalked world of Paul McCartney and “[y]ou, instead, wanted an essay on the subject. And that’s why you’re a blogger and not a writer.”
People Who Live In Glass Houses…
might have created a masterpiece. Philip Johnson did. “Its design is simple: an open plan interrupted only by a circular brick bathroom, a kitchen concealed under a sleek walnut folding bar, and ventilation provided by floor-to-ceiling doors on all sides that can be opened to the four winds.”
Where Is America’s Political Theatre?
“When it comes to actual theater — you know, with tickets, ushers, curtains and the whole live performance thing — it’s harder to spot a tradition of biting political commentary. That’s because America doesn’t have one. At a time when every aspect of life has been polarized both right and left — when buying a red T-shirt at the Gap is supposed to fight AIDS in Africa, and SUV drivers support the troops from their bumper magnets — mainstream drama is still content to be expensive highbrow escapism. Anyway, how can producers expect people to pay $100 a ticket to be hectored for their complacency, when attending a play is already perceived as an elitist, blue-state activity?”
Who Believes Studies For The Arts?
Knute Berger writes that the proliferation of studies purporting to show the economic impact of the arts are inflated. “One of the most study-happy ‘industries’ is the arts. Local arts groups put out economic impact studies every couple of years. One problem in comparing them is that their focus or methodologies seem to change slightly, so it’s difficult to get apples-to-apples comparisons. But the drumbeat is very familiar. It re-enforces a pre-determined mission (the arts matter!), touts the intangibles (quality of life!), takes credit for non-arts related economic activity (what would you do without us?), and elevates the arts to the status aerospace (we’re an industry!).
Anchorage Participates In Arts Surge
Anchorage, like most American cities, has seen an increase in economic activity in the arts, according to a new Americans for the Arts study. “It makes it very clear that this (art) is an economic driver in this community and there are real numbers behind it. It’s not some fluffy thing.”
Downtown Music – The Economics Have Changed
“Over the past 25-30 years, there’s been an assumption that the condition of a downtown jazz/new music venue’s needing to be subsidized by benefits was an abnormal condition, a special situation necessitated by a particular emergency, after which the venue would return to its normal functioning, either as a market entity (Knitting Factory, Tonic, etc) or, in a few cases like The Kitchen and Roulette, as institutions funded by public and private foundations. But a sea change has taken place in the relation of these clubs to the market with few really acknowledging it.”
Famous Hip-Hop Event Dumped For Olympics
“The UK’s biggest celebration of hip hop needs to raise £40,000 at the eleventh hour if it is to go ahead after the Arts Council pulled its funding. The national organisation has funded the Brighton Hip-Hop Festival (BHHF) for several years but has turned down this year’s £30,000 bid to divert its cash to the London 2012 Olympics.”
Who Should/Will Win Tonys
Elysa Gardner makes the call…
Record Offerings At Edinburgh Fringe
A record 2050 shows will be offered at this summer’s Edinburgh Festival. “The 2007 Fringe hopes to continue the success of last year, which saw a huge rise in audience numbers and ticket sales, announcing an even bigger lineup featuring almost 200 more shows, around 40% of which will be performed for the first time.”