“The Whitney could at this moment electrify everyone by changing the game entirely. It should take a page from London’s enormous, and enormously fantastic-for-art, Tate Modern. Rather than continuing its uphill battle of trying to build an uptown addition that will be outdated the day it opens, the Whitney should rethink its paradigm and reinvent itself.”
Tag: 10.27.06
Trumping The Public Good?
A week or so ago, Chicago architecture critic Blair Kamin publicly blasted a ten-foot kiosk erected in the city’s downtown loop by developer Donald Trump to advertise his planned new 92-story hotel/condo building. As it turns out, The Donald doesn’t take criticism particularly well. “Trump argued that the kiosk is justified because he spent $18 million to rebuild the superstructure of Wabash Avenue next to his tower… [But] the significance of this battle transcends the tiny stretch of North Michigan Avenue sidewalk where Trump’s kiosk was planted. Cities around the country are struggling with similar conflicts…”
Labor Dispute Could Shut Canadian Film Shoots
“A strike threat looms over U.S. film and TV shoots in Canada after local actors said Thursday they could form picket lines to fend off North American producers’ demands for steep pay cuts.”
Pianist Leonid Hambro, 86
“Hambro, a concert pianist who served as Victor Borge’s comedic sidekick during a decade-long collaboration and was also known for his ability to commit to memory a huge repertoire, has died.”
Slatkin Joins Indiana U
The university will become Leonard Slatkin’s “academic home.” “The conductor, 61, seems to be putting together his life after the National Symphony Orchestra, which he exits as music director at the end of 2007-’08. In August the Nashville Symphony named him music advisor; last year he took on the titles of Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic and of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.”
Network TV’s Crazy Season
“It’s almost comic. Viewers want consistency. They want to know a show is on a certain night at a certain time — without fail, every week. But with five broadcast networks to pick from (don’t mention cable or the Internet), and an average of about 30 new shows to choose from, not to mention returning series, viewers can be excused for being confused. It takes them weeks to sample, to settle in. But in the TV business, weeks of waiting cause executives to go temporarily insane. They start playing tricks, like moving shows to special nights and times.”
Pilobolus’ Same Old Same Old
Thirty-five years ago Pilobolus was a fresh idea. But the group’s work has become formulaic. “What’s missing from the Pilobolus equation are the smarts that fueled the initial experiment. The works were never terribly complex, but they used to offer more to chew on.”
American Indian Museum Director Leaving
Richard West is leaving his post as director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. West spent 17 years working on the project. “West, a Harvard-trained historian, Stanford-educated lawyer and member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, left a lucrative legal career to help make the museum a reality.”
Painter Buys Pollock (Or Not)
A painter and long time admirer of Jackson Pollock buys a painting that may be a Pollock (but then again may not be). The price was $61,000. “The 15-minute auction opened at $25,000 Wednesday evening but dropped to $10,000 when no one bid and then to $5,000 before the bidding heated up. ‘I’ve been looking at them for 40 years. My gut tells me this is real’.”
Toronto Unions Fight Over Blue Man Group
Two of the unions locked in a dispute with the Toronto production of Blue Man Group have made a deal wit the show. But other unions say it’s not a good deal. IUn any case, the show is scheduled to close in a couple of months.