Author Anne Enright won the Man Booker Prize last month, and almost instantly found herself at the center of a media firestorm. But the press wasn’t talking about her award-winning novel. Instead, journalists zeroed in on a single line from a controversial essay Enright wrote earlier this fall.
Author: sbergman
Movie Museum Has An Architect
The Oscars are getting their own museum in LA, and “an architect who helped raise a bustling new quarter from the industrial mess of southeast Paris” has been tapped to design it. Christian de Portzamparc’s movie museum will rise just south of Hollywood Boulevard, and is expected to cost $200m.
No Takers For $35m Van Gogh
“A Vincent Van Gogh painting has failed to sell at an art auction in New York. Sotheby’s was hoping The Wheat Fields would fetch up to $35m, but it failed to reach its undisclosed reserve or attract a bid over $25m.” The painting is believed to be Van Gogh’s last completed work.
What Happened At Sotheby’s?
Van Gogh wasn’t the only artist getting no love from bidders at yesterday’s Sotheby’s auction. 20 of 76 lots failed to sell, including works by Picasso and Miró. Some think the tumbling stock market may have made buyers cautious, but a Christie’s auction did better under the same conditions.
More Fallout From Oregon Symphony Screed
An article blasting the Oregon Symphony has generated plenty of response in the Pacific Northwest. The author is standing by his commentary, and says that the orchestra needs to change the way it thinks about programming, book better conductors and soloists, and build a more diverse audience.
Top Canadian Orchestras Creating New Summer Fest
“The National Arts Centre and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra are joining forces to create a major new summer music festival and tourist attraction. It will be located not in Toronto or Ottawa but in Niagara,” and the orchestras hope that it will come to rival Tanglewood in prestige and popularity.”
Boettcher Renovation Gets Denver Voters’ Blessing
Following the narrow passage of a referendum dedicating $60m to the renovation of Denver’s Boettcher Concert Hall, hall officials are going ahead with plans to raise an additional $55m in private donations. The renovation could begin in May 2009.
Strike Could Affect Book Deals
“If the writers strike continues for a long period, some book agents fear that many option deals will be nixed, causing major disruptions in the business. Others worry that the market for new literary materials will dry up altogether, as the major studios dig in for the long haul.”
Slump? What Slump? Music Doing Fine In Canada
“A new report says Canada’s sound recording and music publishing industries turned a relatively healthy profit in 2005… In total, the industry reported operating revenues estimated at $942-million.”
Canadian Writers Won’t Cross Picket Line
Hollywood studios won’t be seeing any relief from the writers’ strike arriving from the north. “The Writers Guild of Canada is telling its members not to accept work from U.S. producers looking to replace striking American writers.”