December 2000 – Page 3 – ArtsJournal Wayback

MUSEUM VANDALS

Two men vandalized the Jewish History Museum in Bucharest. “The men entered the museum, which is housed in a former synagogue, early on Thursday morning, asking ‘Where is the soap made of human fat? Is there any Auschwitz soap?’ They punched a 63-year-old guard in the face and choked him, smashing windows and scattering exhibits on the floor, before leaving.” – BBC

JOHN’S “WINTER” HOME

Explorers report they have found the “winter home” of John the Baptist” on the east shore of the Jordan River. They also found a skull too, which some say may have been John’s. “Until now, testing on the skull has not been completed, so we can only say it belonged to a hermit, because the region of Wadi Kharrar was inhabited by many hermits. The cave carved into the rock was dated to the 1st century AD.” – Bahrain Tribune

PARTHENON PROPAGANDA

Last month Athens opened a new subway stop at the Acropolis, decorated with replicas of the Parthenon marbles that Greece wants to retrieve from Britain. Next up are plans for a new Acropolis Museum, designed to up pressure on the English to return the sculptures. – The Art Newspaper

THE SISTINE CHAPEL OF PREDYNASTIC EGYPT

In Egypt “British archaeologists have discovered 30 new sites filled with drawings carved into rocks. Unseen by human eyes for up to 6,000 years, the rock engravings depict cattle, giraffes, ostriches, hippos, boats, and the men and women who lived in the area around 4,000 B.C.” – Discovery

THE CUBAN PICASSOS

Relatives of Pablo Picasso are discovered in Cuba. “Today, the black Picassos, as they call themselves, are thrilled about the discovery of their connection with the artist whose name from a clipping, cousin Luis Picasso, has kept for years in his wallet, simply because he found the coincidence of the spelling amusing.” – CNN

ARISE, SIR … ER, MR. STEVEN

Steven Spielberg is to be knighted in London. “Although theatricality might seem appropriate, there will be no “Arise, Sir Steven Spielberg”. As he is not a British citizen, the director will not kneel or be tapped on each shoulder with a sword, nor will he be able to call himself “Sir”. He will, however, be able to place the letters KBE after his name.” – The Times (UK)

LAST OF THE STONECARVERS

Vincent Palumbo, the last of the Washington Cathedral stone-carvers, died last week at the age of 61. “At his funeral in the nave on Wednesday, Palumbo was remembered as ‘the last of the classically trained stone carvers’, one who learned from his father, who had learned from his father and so on.” – Washington Post

Month: December 2000