“The muscular figures in Michelangelo’s Last Judgment fresco in the Sistine Chapel were based on male prostitutes he encountered in homosexual bathhouses and brothels, an Italian art historian has claimed.”
Tag: 11.12.10
Richard Ellis, 92, Veteran Ballet Dancer and Teacher
“His career began at the Sadler’s Wells School of Ballet in London, dancing on stage with greats Margot Fonteyn, Robert Helpmann and Moira Shearer. He then came to Chicago with his wife, ballerina Christine Du Boulay, and ran the Ellis-Du Boulay School of Ballet for 40 years, training scores of dancers who went on to global fame.”
Romain Gary, Most Glamorous of Literary Con Men
He was a Russian Jew settled in France who became a hotheaded war hero, a well-traveled diplomat, a best-selling novelist in French and English, and Jean Seberg’s husband. He won the Prix Goncourt twice, the second time under an assumed name – in a hoax that spun out of control.
With Business Models Collapsing, Why Does Anyone Write Anymore?
“New numbers show that even successful authors earn far less money from books than they used to. In an industry driven by hunger for the next blockbuster, the chances of making a living as a writer are slimmer now than ever.”
Commission Proposes Admission Fee For Smithsonian
“In a draft report Wednesday, it recommended that the Smithsonian’s federal appropriation be cut by $225 million, or roughly 30 percent, and that the institution make up the loss by charging a $7.50 admission fee.”
Small Publisher Considering Ways To Produce More Copies Of Giller-Winning Book
“On Wednesday, Gaspereau said that despite the Giller win and flood of requests for The Sentimentalists, it was sticking to its policy of making its hand-crafted books locally with no outsourcing. Gaspereau prides itself on high-quality books and can only print about 1,000 copies of The Sentimentalists a week.”
Toronto Museum In Talks To Rescue School District’s Art Treasures
“The Toronto District School Board and the Art Gallery of Ontario are negotiating a unique partnership that would rescue millions of dollars worth of artwork and nearly two centuries worth of artifacts from a dusty vault in a downtown high school.”
The Future In E-Books?
“Everyone from publishers to hardware manufacturers to designers is desperately trying to see around the corner. This is literature’s equivalent of the space race, complete with all the one-upmanship and wild speculation that accompanied the original.”
Italian Museums Closed By Strike Protesting Deep Cuts In Culture Funding
“Hundreds of museums, art galleries and heritage sites are affected. The Italian government wants to cut 280 million euros (£237m, $380m) from the culture budget over the next three years as part of an austerity drive.”
Brit Wins Global Choreography Contest, Wins £2,000
“The 23-year-old beat competitors from 30 different countries with his contemporary piece, The Shortest Day. James Wilton and his company will receive a cash prize of £2,000 and the chance to perform the piece at the Sadler’s Wells theatre in London in January.”