It seems nearly everyone has an opinion about the collection of the Lucas Museum, which made Don Bacigalupi its first professional staff member last year. “It’s a ‘Star Wars’ museum,” some have said. “It’s a Hollywood memorabilia museum.” On Twitter, Los Angeles Times art critic Christopher Knight called it “George Lucas’ planned Treacle Museum.” But who has actually seen the collection? Only a few people, says Bacigalupi — and no journalist. Until now. Having had the first opportunity to evaluate the collection, I am glad to say it is none of those things. In fact, it may just be the core of a great museum.
Author: Douglas McLennan
Lucas Museum Relaunch In San Francisco Learns From Aborted Chicago Attempt
“Now that billionaire “Star Wars” creator George Lucas and his wife, Ariel Investments President Mellody Hobson, have taken their plans back to San Francisco, their team appears to have learned a lesson from their doomed approach in Chicago.”
Cultural Equity You Say? So What Does That Mean?
“Over the course of the past half-century, conversations about diversity have tended to focus first on audiences, then on programming, and finally on leadership. Diversity’s core concern is about who is ultimately benefiting from the work; if diverse audiences are taking advantage, then that is the surest sign of success.”
An Indie Revolution In Crossword Puzzles Gives The NYT Some Competition
A vibrant ecosystem of independent crosswords — “indies” — exists on the internet, its component puzzles multiplying and evolving, finding their niche and trying to find ways to survive. And some of them can outrate the gold standard over at the Times.
Proposition: Culture = Power Whereas Art = The Power Of Beauty
“Ultimately, democratic politics are a numbers game. Politics are what concern everyone, which is why “everyone” talks about politics. Art, by contrast, is what concerns one person, intimately. Culture is a matter of power; art is a matter of beauty. It’s also a matter of freedom—of spiritual freedom, of free-spiritedness—and so it’s also political, though not in any immediately recognizable way and, above all, not in any way that lends itself to the think-piece brand of discourse. The power of beauty, the impact of beauty on a single person, eludes discussion and invites silence, even as it incites something radically different from analysis: ecstasy. That’s the force behind the side of criticism that, if it’s any good at all, converges with the work of art by being itself a literary, poetic, philosophical inspiration.”
Debating The University Of Chicago’s “Intellectual Freedom” Letter
“To those who regularly campaign against what they see as political correctness, and to plenty of others, the letter was the message they have been waiting for—and that they think students need. But to many others, the letter distorted programs on which many students rely, ignored the hostility many students feel on campus, and belittled the sincerity of faculty members who work to make higher education more inclusive.”
Edinburgh Festivals Boast Another Record Year For Ticket Sales
“The fringe issued 2,475,143 tickets for participating shows across Scotland’s capital, a 7.7% increase on 2015 despite the number of registered events and performances falling marginally on 2015 levels. The Edinburgh International Festival issued a record 169,300 tickets for paying events, posting £4.2 million in sales, marking the first time it has topped £4 million. The number of tickets issued is up from 163,500 in 2015, when the festival posted ticket sales of £3.9 million.”
Guardian Editorial: “Unacceptable” That Our Orchestras Aren’t Being Led By More Women
“London has five permanent symphony orchestras, all full of female players. Yet of the 20 conducting posts at these orchestras, just one is held by a woman – and the temporary post held by the London Symphony’s assistant conductor Elim Chan ends this season. It wouldn’t be acceptable in other professions. It isn’t acceptable here either.”
Report: New Whitney Museum Is Racking Up Enormous Water Bills
“The Meatpacking art mecca that only opened in May 2015 has managed to generate a titanic water bill and is already behind on payments. The bill, including interest, had grown to $208,964 as of Sunday. According to city records, no payment has been made in the past 12 months.”
Bronx Museum Names Replacement Board Members After Board Leaders Quit In Protest
“Following the abrupt resignation last week of its top trustees, the Bronx Museum of the Arts on Wednesday announced two interim appointments — Joseph Mizzi as interim chairman and Joan Krevlin as a vice chairwoman. (Marilyn Greene continues to serve as the other vice chairwoman.)”