“The situation the run-down [Museum of Contemporary Art] finds itself in — long on enthusiasm but short on funds — is emblematic of the contemporary art scene in Belgrade. It has world-class artists and thought-provoking art, but not much of a market and not many appropriate showcases for the work.”
Author: ArtsJournal2
Photographing Kids At The Beach And In The Clubs: A Q&A WIth Artist Rineke Dijkstra
“I was working for magazines and newspapers, and at a certain point I felt that I was an artist … I felt more like an art photographer. I thought maybe I should take a couple months off to think about a project for myself. The last day of the two months that I gave myself to think about everything, I broke my hip in a bike accident. So then I had a lot of time to think [laughs]. And I think that that moment I realized how vulnerable you could be, that something can just happen.”
Does Music In A Museum Ruin The Music – And The Art?
“I would guess that for many people, music in a museum seems genteel. I fear, though, that a Bach suite in the Corcoran atrium – as opposed to in the museum’s performance space – is in effect an upscale version of background music, ambient music, a signal that we’re in the realm of the high arts.”
Klimt: The Musical
Yes, it’s real. Gustav Klimt: Das Musical opens September 1 in Vienna.
It’s Time To Call Bullshit On ‘Busy’
“It isn’t generally people pulling back-to-back shifts in the I.C.U. or commuting by bus to three minimum-wage jobs who tell you how busy they are; what those people are is not busy but tired. Exhausted. Dead on their feet. It’s almost always people whose lamented busyness is purely self-imposed: work and obligations they’ve taken on voluntarily, classes and activities they’ve ‘encouraged’ their kids to participate in. They’re busy because of their own ambition or drive or anxiety, because they’re addicted to busyness and dread what they might have to face in its absence.”
‘New Models For The Arts’ Talk All Isn’t Just More Blah Blah Blah
Michael Kaiser thinks that advocates for new models for the arts aren’t offering enough specifics. Adam Huttler gives it a whirl.
Google And Apple Want Your Books, Your Videos, Your Credit Card Numbers – Who Will Win?
“There is a version of your life, offered by Google, in which all your friends and household members have Android phones, many have Android tablets, and all of them buy their movies, music, and reading from the Play Store. Your lazy evenings, parties, and beach excursions are all very media-rich, DJ-ed by everybody at once, and every moment is instantly shared in this version. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same vision Apple has for its customers–just change the names of the devices and software. The two tech giants are now battling for your total device gadget allegiance.”
Making Theatre Relevant For Device-Addicted Age (A Debrief From TCG)
“The question that no conference could resolve and that still lacks a ready answer is how far theaters can go in embracing new methods without jeopardizing their own values, tastes, and mission. As anyone who works in the newspaper, publishing, or music industries could tell them, there’s really no script to follow when you’re utterly transforming your business model while simultaneously running for your life.”
Putting An Author’s Diaries Up For Auction – Online, Using Facebook To Promote The Sale
Music critic Tim Page brought author Dawn Powell’s books back into print through his critical attention. Now he intends to sell her diaries online to help pay for his sons’ college educations. One rare books dealer: “What he’s doing is highly unusual, and it seems to me based on an unrealistic hope that maybe he could do this in such a way that it would go viral. He’s trying to catch lightning in a bottle. I hope it works.”
Arts Groups (Mostly) Survive The Return Of A Professional Hockey Team
“Fears that the return of The Winnipeg Jets would divert Winnipeggers’ entertainment dollars away from the arts seem to be unfounded, at least this year.” But arts groups say they do have to change their fundraising strategies to keep limited entertainment dollars coming their way.