Theft of artwork has become a major international problem. The British government wants to do something about it. But first – just how big a problem is it? No one seems to know for sure. – The Telegraph (UK)
Author: Douglas McLennan
A LITTLE SELF-PROMOTION NEVER HURT
The arts are booming in Los Angeles. There are 1,100 arts groups active – new theatres are starting, new buildings being built, and the city is getting a reputation for its new music and visual arts. But next to the monolithic Hollywood entertainment machine, the arts can seem invisible. So many of the artists have gotten together to promote themselves. – Los Angeles Times
THE STOLEN ART PROBLEM
Theft of artwork has become a major international problem. The British government wants to do something about it. But first – just how big a problem is it? No one seems to know for sure. – The Telegraph (UK)
MAORI WANT FUNDING EQUITY
Is the New Zealand government ignoring Maori arts? Critics charge that “compared with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Maori arts were ‘under-funded, under-utilised and virtually unrecognised.'” – New Zealand Herald
COMING TO AMERICA
The Bolshoi Ballet may not be all that it once was, but getting it to America for a tour is still an enormous undertaking. – Chicago Tribune
CARMEN AS CAR MAN
Matthew Bourne’s choreographic re-imagining of the “Carmen” story in a 1960s midwestern American town where cars rule is a bit of a stretch – but it works. – Sunday Times (London)
FUTURE GREATS
Peter Martins’ direction of New York City Ballet has been dissected in detail – but he has also wrought influence on the company’s blue chip school. – New York Times
OUT IN THE PROVINCES
Terry Teachout travels to Raleigh and has a revelation: “Sit down, dance buffs, because I’ve got news for you: The best full-evening story ballets of the past quarter-century are currently being choreographed right here in the Barbecue Belt by Robert Weiss, artistic director of Carolina Ballet.” – Washington Post
INTERNET MOVIE NOT MORE THAN A CURIOSITY
It’s widely assumed that our TVs and computers will someday get married and everybody will live happily ever after. Now a highly-touted film called “Quantum Leap” is the “first major motion picture” to premiere on the Internet – downloadable for $3.95 for the standard version, $5.95 in hi-rez. Is it a soul-trembling experience? Not hardly. After you get all the technical specs squared away (and they are considerable), the movie just isn’t that good. So much for pioneers. – Chicago Tribune 05/28/00
ASIAN GAINS
More and more Asian directors, producers and actors are making it big in Hollywood. This new presence has nothing to do with diversity, though. It’s about cashing in at the box office. – Boston Herald 05/28/00