“At various points in the last three decades, [Tyree Guyton’s] Heidelberg Project, as it has come to be known, has been dismissed by neighbors as the junk of a crazy hoarder and hailed by critics as one of the great American artworks of the last 50 years. … After years of fighting off destruction from vandals, from elected officials, from arsonists and police, Guyton must now effectively destroy his work in order to save it.” – The New York Times Magazine
Author: Matthew Westphal
Saudi Arabia Tries To Restart Its Effort To Build A Movie Industry (After That Little Khashoggi Unpleasantness)
“Seven months after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi derailed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plan to open up the country — and its $1 billion in potential box office — the kingdom is quietly mounting a comeback.” Reporter Alex Ritman visits the Saudi Film Festival in Dhahran. – The Hollywood Reporter
Hannelore Elsner, German Actress Loved By Art-House Audiences And TV Viewers, Dead At 76
“While not well known outside continental Europe, Elsner was a major star in Germany, one of the country’s most famous actors and a regular in both film and television. She was also one of the last great originals, a larger-than-life personality who seemed fearless in her choice of roles and in her intense acting style.” – The Hollywood Reporter
Shakespeare’s Globe Postpones Its Project Prospero Expansion
The major capital project, which was to begin in October of this year, includes new production and rehearsal facilities and a library/archive; when it was announced in 2016, it was expected to cost £30 million. But projected construction costs have risen significantly since then, and Globe administrators decided to delay work for two years. – The Stage
Venice Opens Its First Permanent Art District
Situated on the island of Giudecca, a traditionally industrial area away from the most heavily touristed spots, the Giudecca Art District was founded by curators Pier Paolo Scelsi and Valentina Gioia Levy and will present year-round shows of contemporary art as well as lectures and performances. – Artnet
New Frontiers in Arts Research: My panel remarks at the IU Center for Cultural Affairs Symposium
I’ll let my comments speak for themselves but will leave you with this reflection — “A good society contains many different artists doing many different things. A bad society coerces artists because it knows that they can reveal all kinds of truths.” — from Iris Murdoch which was on my mind when I wrote my remarks. – Diane Ragsdale
Time Pauses For Valentin Silvestrov
Milton Moore, who has been reviewing music, classical and otherwise, since the ‘70s, today starts in this space a more-or-less monthly column about contemporary and “alternative” classical music. First up: the music of Valentin Silvestrov. – Scott Timberg
Something American orchestras don’t want known
Continuing from my last post, with what should be in a book on the past few decades’ history of American orchestras … One main focus of the book would of course have to be orchestra finances. Along with the long-term decline in ticket sales, which of course affects the bottom line. – Greg Sandow
Propwatch: the suitcases in ‘Death of a Salesman’
We see them early on in the heavy-hearted revival at London’s Young Vic. Willy lumbers in with two cases. One, a smart, wooden box, presumably packed with sample goods. The other, a battered and scratched suitcase, must carry his personal stuff. – David Jays
Saturday night special
The humble McDonald’s cheeseburger — the plain one, not the Big Mac — as madeleine. – Terry Teachout