“Artist Thomas Kinkade’s death last month was from an accidental overdose of alcohol and Valium, according to the Santa Clara County, California, medical examiner.”
Month: May 2012
Publishers Flock To India’s Growing Book Market
“Third only to the USA and Britain, it’s set to become the biggest in the world as India’s middle class continues to expand rapidly over the next 10 years. Keen to get a piece of the action, international publishers are flocking to set up offices in India, while many canny Indian publishers have already been reaping big rewards from backing emerging homegrown talent.”
Violinist And Teacher Roman Totenberg, 101
“His death was as remarkable as his life. He made his debut as a soloist with the Warsaw Philharmonic at age 11, performed his last concert when he was in his mid-90s, and was still teaching, literally, on his deathbed.”
The Power Of Fan Culture
“Any writer working today who can’t answer the question, “What fandom am I writing for?” may as well pack up their pens and paper and settle into that call centre job. It doesn’t have to be SF fandom. In fact, preferably not, as we’re already swamped with refugee literary writers desperately trying to make out they’ve always been geeks at heart. In this age, fandom’s are the only true arbiters of taste.”
Best-selling UK Book Banned From Florida Libraries
“It’s the fastest selling book of the year in the UK but British author EL James’s erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey is just too pornographic for residents of Brevard County, Florida, according to local librarians.”
Composer Michael Nyman Lashes Out At Royal Opera House
“Composer Michael Nyman, who wrote the music for Jane Campion’s 1993 film The Piano and is a long-term collaborator with Peter Greenaway, is furious that the Royal Opera House has rebuffed his approaches to stage a work in Covent Garden — and he has threatened to withdraw his tax in protest.”
Creative Places? Sure, But…
“Without a clear and detailed theory of how and why creative placemaking is effective, policy and philanthropy to support creative placemaking is hobbled. Attempting to predict and judge impact based on indicator systems alone carries with it at least four problems.”
Reacting To Deficit, Minnesota Orchestras Cuts Staff On Eve Of $50 Million Hall Renovation
“The cuts are in response to the orchestra’s 2011 deficit of $2.9 million. No musicians or artistic staffers were affected by the layoffs. The musicians’ union is in negotiations with orchestra management for a new deal to replace the contract that expires in September.”
Mark Rothko Painting Sells For Record $86.9M
“A dreamy canvas of three colors – Mark Rothko’s Orange, Red, Yellow, from 1961 – shattered all auction records for contemporary art at Christie’s on Tuesday evening, selling for nearly $87 million. It was a stunning moment in an auction that itself brought in the highest total ever in the postwar and contemporary category.”
Choreographing The ‘Undanceable’ – James Kudelka On Adapting The House Of Mirth
“Ballet loves a good erotic duet or two; there was no place for that in this. … No promise of sexual awakening. Just choices, good and bad choices. And these choices all have to do with money and power. … Facing the challenge of making a theatrical work based on The House Of Mirth meant finding a way, beyond props and scenery, to get across the idea of wealth and its close relative, debt.”