An audit of artwork owned by city agencies in Los Angeles suggests that hundreds of pieces of art are missing. “The city has maintained its own art collection since at least the 1920s. There was a person who was supposed to be the curator of this collection, and he allowed city entities to borrow pieces to decorate city buildings. The problem was that over the years, the artwork that had been checked out was not really followed up on.”
Tag: 12.04.04
Expert: Parthenon Marbles Would Have Been Fine in Greece
One of the biggest British arguments for keeping the Parthenon Marbles in London has been that keeping them there has protected them better than if they had been left in Greece. But “a distinguished Cambridge scholar says the sculptures would have been just fine if Lord Elgin had left them in Athens. Following a sophisticated 11-year conservation program in Athens, the 14 slabs that Lord Elgin did not manage to remove are now showing surprisingly bright original details.”
A Christmas Fantasy
All these Christmas shows. Really. There are too many of them. And how can you see most of them in a busy season? So why not put them all on a rolling parade and let people sit in one place while their favorite festivities roll by. Let’s call it “Let’s Roll.” Tom Proehl, organizer of “Let’s Roll!” and managing director of the Guthrie Theater, said, “The aesthetic synergies and economies of scale will benefit both audiences and arts organizations alike. Instead of deciding which of the many holiday shows to see, patrons can get the best of the Twin Cities performing arts in one sitting.”
Attack Of The Killer Logo
The new Connecticut uber-agency on culture and tourism needed a logo. So a design firm came up with an abstract logo meant to evoke the agency’s diverse mandate. Now there are big protests. “Instead of criticizing the art (“Have a conversation about art? Not me!”) they attacked the cost. “This thing cost $10,000!” Of course, focusing on the final price tag disregards that such designs can cost much more (Hartford Stage’s new logo went well above $10,000); that the fee included months of meetings with state committees; that this was a Connecticut designer with a world-class reputation giving a deep discount.
Beijing Bans Public Intellectuals
“Late last month, reports began to surface on foreign newswires that hard-liners in the Chinese government had banned public discussion of thinkers and scholars guilty of taking “arrogant” (read: independent) positions on political and social affairs. In mid-November, Beijing’s Publicity Department, which is responsible for “ideological control,” issued an order to prohibit state-run newspapers, magazines, and TV stations from creating lists of such persons.”
National Archives Robbed Many Times Over
“Hundreds of letters and photographs are missing from the National Archives and its regional offices, including one presidential library. Many are suspected stolen. The extent of the losses is detailed in a series of reports from the organization’s investigative office, but the value of the items is difficult to determine because that is largely measured by historic importance and rarity.”
The Scout
Leila Getz is that rarest of classical concert promoters – a true lover of music whose practiced eye for spotting developing talent frequently trumps the conventional wisdom that audiences only want big names. Audiences in Getz’s home city of Vancouver have learned to trust her judgment over the years, so when she replaces a cancelled star with a 12-year-old prodigy, very few ticketholders come looking for refunds.
Bringing Black Theatre Into The Mainstream
Lately, it’s become fashionable to say that there is a “renaissance of black theatre” underway in the UK. Certainly, black playwrights are having an easier time getting their work produced, thanks in part to the renewed emphasis placed on diversity by the UK Arts Council. But one good year may not a renaissance make, and there is still a palpable sense within the industry that minority works represent a risk for companies choosing to produce them.
OH-VER-RATE-ED!! (clap-clap-clapclapclap)
“Ever felt you’re missing the point with some of our biggest cultural heroes? Admit it – everyone can name at least one hip, wildly praised band, album, film, TV show or author that they’ve never really rated.” Critics have their own lists of overrated stars, too: could James Brown’s legendary performances be nothing more than “brass-driven aerobics workouts, over which he barks claims of his own magnificence”? Is Neil Young’s famously distinctive voice really “the exact timbre of a continental dial tone”? Is U2 an overrated trio of self-important rockers whose greatest talent is in the thieving of other bands’ ideas? (Okay, that last one isn’t exactly a secret.)
Fame And Fortune Down, One Big Ring To Go
Antonio Pappano has always been viewed as something of a wunderkind among conductors, but lately, as music director of London’s premiere opera company, the challenges have been coming fast and furious. So far, Pappano has passed every test, impressing musicians and critics alike with his “striking candour and clarity about his comments”, but the greatest challenge of his career may be just around the corner, as Covent Garden prepares for its upcoming Ring cycle.