Norval Morrisseau, arguably the most prominent First Nations artists in Canada, and a painter referred to in all seriousness as “the Picasso of the North,” has died. “The hyperbole is forgivable. They are part of the legend – the story of a true primitive who emerged from the Northern Ontario wilderness to awe the sophisticates in the major art centres of the world.”
Author: sbergman
Breaking News: UK Still Not A Christian Theocracy
“A Christian group has lost its High Court battle to prosecute the BBC’s director general over the screening of Jerry Springer – The Opera, in 2005… Two judges ruled that broadcasters and theatres staging live productions could not be prosecuted for blasphemy.”
Phillips Taps Dallas Curator
“Dorothy M. Kosinski, a curator and administrator at the sprawling Dallas Museum of Art, has been named director of the [Washington, D.C.-based] Phillips Collection, becoming the third official outside the Phillips family to lead the modern art facility.”
Radcliffe Picks Broadway Over Harry
The infamous London production of Equus, starring a sometimes-nude Daniel Radcliffe, is coming to Broadway. To commit to the show, Radcliffe told Warner Brothers that he wouldn’t agree to film the next two Harry Potter movies back to back, as the studio had wanted.
The Good And Bad Of SF’s Gockley
It’s been a full year since David Gockley stepped into the general directorship of San Francisco Opera, with big ideas and endless ambitions for the company. His first season has been “an unpredictable mixture of impressive successes and odd disappointments.”
Everybody Wins In Seattle Opera Deal
Seattle Opera has contracted with the city to lease empty Mercer Arena, next door to McCaw Hall, where the opera performs. The Arena will be converted into offices and costume and scene shops, and will allow the company to consolidate its operations. The city will get out from under an expensive and unused venue, and even make some money on the deal.
Tate Expansion Gets £50m From UK
“The Tate Modern’s proposals to build a £215m extension have received a £50m boost from the government.” The extension, which should be completed before the London Olympics open in 2012, will consist of an 11-story building housing galleries and performance space.
Kite Runner Actors Leave Afghanistan
“Four boy actors in the movie The Kite Runner have left Afghanistan out of concern they could be ostracized or subjected to violence because of a rape scene in the movie… The four boys, each accompanied by a relative, left Afghanistan and arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Friday.”
Queensland Cuts Threaten Arts Groups
In Australia, “with the arts-as-business model replacing the arts-as-welfare model, community organisations [have] had to fight aggressively to maintain funding… [Now,] long-running community arts organisations are facing imminent closure after draconian cuts in funding by the Queensland Government announced last month.”
Mounties Make Major Piracy Bust
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have issued charges against a Montreal man who they claim plays a major role in the online distribution of pirated films. Geremi Adam was actually arrested 14 months ago, but the RCMP has spent the intervening time gathering additional evidence of his online transactions.