Few ordinary citizens get to visit their country’s embassies around the world. The artwork on display in those embassies represents home culture to the international diplomats who come calling. “If you don’t agree on trade issues or you argue about oil, at least you can talk about the art. It puts another face on us and provides information about who we are.” Now an attempt to collect important artworks for American embassies abroad. – Los Angeles Times
Author: Douglas McLennan
THE PHOTOGRAPHY PROBLEM
Collectors are willing to pay exorbitant prices for art when they think it’s rare. But photography has this problem of reproducibility, which was got around by the concept of the “vintage” print. “How problematic the theory has become is further illustrated by two recent scandals involving counterfeit vintage prints by Man Ray and Lewis Hine, and by the Walker Evans retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum, carefully stocked with old prints when newer and, in some cases, finer ones were readily available.” – New York Times
A QUESTION OF ART
Filmmaker Wim Wenders started out as an art film director. But a series of box office failures took its toll. Now, with some successes behind him, he has a new attitude: ” ‘I think films are not art. I think rock’n’roll is not art. It has great songs, but it’s not art. And film and rock’n’roll are very much the same.’ Those difficult years of failure stripped him not only of faith in himself, but in the medium that was his métier for so long.” – The Telegraph (UK) 04/23/00
IS THERE AN E-AUDIENCE?
Sure, the internet has made it easier for writers to get published. E-books are the “Next Big Thing.” But is anyone really reading the things? A new poll says that “while five percent of the survey respondents said they bought Stephen King’s e-book, ‘Riding the Bullet,’ less than one percent claim to actually have read it. – Wired 04/23/00
BETWEEN ME AND MY NAPSTER
Bands’ lawsuits against fans downloading their music over the internet has got fans angry. “One fan became so agitated that he put all of his Metallica merchandise up for sale at eBay on Friday, promising to donate all the proceeds to the parody website paylars.com.” – Wired 04/23/00
CLEAN ART
Nine of Chicago’s cultural institutions will mount $4 million worth of solar panels on their buildings – each institution will get 50,000 kilowatt hours per year of sun power in this energy demonstration project. – Chicago Sun-Times
LUGGAGE LIABILITY
A couple is suing Northwest Airlines for $100,000 after their dead son’s artwork was damaged on a flight. The airline says its liability is limited and if the parents had wanted to ensure the art was safe they should have insured it. – Grand Rapids Press
CAN’T CONJURE UP A TENTH
After 18 years, the phenomenon that is “Cats” closes on Broadway. Now just isn’t always forever. – New York Times
YOU’RE NOT TAKING MY ROLE
Most of the dancers in the National Ballet of Canada apparently disagree with a judge’s ruling that the company must reinstate fired dancer Kimberly Glasco to the company. “Sources say the dancers are distressed that the most recent court ruling stated that Glasco must be assigned roles in the upcoming season. The spring season has already been determined, and giving roles to Glasco would mean one of them would have to step aside.” The dancers have hired a lawyer to represent them. – CBC
FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
Recently, Iván Fischer, conductor and founder of the Budapest Festival Orchestra announced that he would make no more public appearances in Hungary, following a five year battle with the city over public funding of the orchestra. Now, international music institutions, including the Royal Festival Hall and the Barbican Centre in London, the Cité de la Musique in Paris and Carnegie Hall in New York, have sent a letter to Budapest saying: “We will turn to all the responsible officials with our appeal that the necessary means be taken to provide the necessary funding which will ensure the long-term existence of the Budapest Festival Orchestra.” – Budapest Sun