You may remember that when the Nigerian-British artist’s rendition of the Madonna was exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum in 1999, following uneventful showings in Europe, all hell broke loose (as it were). Now the piece is back in New York, attracting no particular controversy. Alastair Sooke considers what’s changed over the past 15 years.
Month: November 2014
Equity Tries Campaign To Warn Audiences Away From Non-Union Touring Shows
“The 50,000-member Equity has spent a low five-figure sum on the campaign, chiefly to buy online ads that encourage people to ask ticket sellers and others if productions are Equity tours.”
Teetering Ulster Orchestra Gets A Lifeline (A Short One)
“Belfast City Council has agreed to give £100,000 to the Ulster Orchestra, to help it out of its financial problems. However, the offer is conditional on other funders also contributing to the orchestra’s £500,000 shortfall.”
Happy People Aren’t Always Great At Empathy
“Recent research … suggests that people who are generally cheerful are not so great at reading other people’s negative emotions, though what’s especially interesting is that they think they’re very good at it.”
Jian Ghomeshi Drops Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Against CBC
After a month of allegation after allegation of the popular radio host’s aggressive or violent behavior toward women – not to mention leaks from within the CBC about its decision to fire Ghomeshi and the difficult working environment for his staff – he has given up his $55 million suit and agreed to pay the CBC’s legal bills.
Barnes Foundation Thriving In Philadelphia, Despite Empty Leadership Posts
“As 2014 winds down, the Barnes has no permanent director. There’s no permanent chief curator. The spotlight is hot and unblinking. So how’s it going after 2½ years?” Rather well, it seems – for several reasons.
“Books Aren’t Just Commodities” – Ursula K. LeGuin’s Speech At The National Book Awards
“Right now, we need writers who know the difference between production of a market commodity and the practice of an art. … Yet I see sales departments given control over editorial. … And I see a lot of us, the producers, who write the books and make the books, accepting this – letting commodity profiteers sell us like deodorant, and tell us what to publish, what to write.”
An Artist Finds Out What It’s Like To Be A Nude Figure Model
Tanis Taylor: “I’ve been on the other side of the easel for more than 20 years. I know that where I’m standing is hallowed ground. Sacred. A life drawing discipline is non-judgemental; no body fascism here.” Nevertheless, she experiences a mix of British bashfulness and body shame – at first.
Top Posts From AJBlogs 11.25.14
Ani DiFranco and New Orleans Jazz
AJBlog: CultureCrash Published 2014-11-25
Once Upon a Time, Ginsberg Kept City Lights Humming
AJBlog: Straight|Up Published 2014-11-25
Lookback: Hitler, the murder artist
AJBlog: About Last Night Published 2014-11-25
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Judge Denies NY City Opera An Extension For Bankruptcy Reorganization
“The ramped up pressure on City Opera came from Gene Kaufman, an architect and businessman who has been angling to buy the company’s assets, which consist primarily of a $5 million endowment, currently controlled by the State Attorney General. Kaufman argues that the company has been stalling and has failed to “pull the trigger” on a sale proposal.”