“Why has it been so difficult to replace the twin towers of the World Trade Center? Four years after the attacks of 9/11—four years of design competitions, planning studies, and public forums—the design that has emerged is an unlovely and unloved fortress of a skyscraper, which seems to inspire no emotion deeper than a kind of resigned chagrin. This was to have been the building of the century: what went wrong?”
Blog
Computer Declares Mona Lisa’s Smile
Mona Lisa is, in fact, smiling, says a computer analysis. “The painting was analysed by a University of Amsterdam computer using ’emotion recognition’ software. It concluded that the subject was 83% happy, 9% disgusted, 6% fearful and 2% angry.”
Marin Alsop Rebuilds
Marin Alsop has some work to do to gain the confidence of her new orchestra. “Ms Alsop has an ambitious, survivor mentality, though, and this has helped her face the humiliating thumbs-down from the Baltimore Symphony players, whom she had guest-conducted seven times. She describes herself as ‘forever a New Yorker, a fatalist optimist tinged with cynicism’.”
When It Comes to Books, Gimmicks Don’t Work
“Gimmicky books make awful gifts. Why? Because they’re so much easier to give than they are to receive. They’re so much more gratifying to gift givers than they are to recipients. And the act of follow-through is not often a big part of these transactions. A gift book may be chosen on impulse, but it can confound whoever winds up with it for a long, long time.”
Ottakar’s Says It Can’t Compete
UK book chain Ottakar’s says it can’t compete with big discount chains. “Ottakar’s said like-for-like sales since the end of January had fallen 3.4%, with a marked deterioration from the summer with sales falling by 6.7% despite the release of the latest installment in the Harry Potter saga. Shares in the company, which dropped below 400p this month when a proposed £96m takeover by Waterstone’s was referred to the competition commission, fell a further 2% to 357.5p.”
Artists Call For Leadership Change At ENO
Ten promient arts leaders have called for a change of leadership of the English National Opera. “Mr Smith’s style of chairmanship, we believe, has been most damaging to this important institution and has brought about a crisis point,” it reads. The letter demands an “urgent change of leadership to ensure a better future”.
So Who Is Martin Smith?
Chairman of the English National opera board, “Smith has been the focus of criticism since the last time he sacked an artistic director of ENO, in 2002, when he was accused of having “shafted” former general director Nicholas Payne. While he has support from some upper management at ENO, he is passionately loathed by many staff and artists.
Decommissioning Northern Ireland’s War Murals
“Over the past 20 years, Belfast has become famous (perhaps infamous) for its paramilitary murals, visual depictions of its “troubled” times. In Catholic republican areas, street paintings celebrated the Irish Republican Army; in Protestant loyalist areas they paid tribute to a host of splintered violent outfits such as the UDA, the UVF, the UFF. Things are starting to change. With the help of generous city government funding, community activists are replacing these symbols of war with advertisements for peace.”
Director: Detroit Historical Museum Won’t Close
Contray to what the mayor and city say. Bob Bury, executive director and chief executive officer of the Detroit Historical Society, said the society has “adequate funding” to keep the museum open. The mayor had announced closure because of budget needs.
Dance – Across Generation
Tere O’Connor: “What is wonderful about New York right now is that a large group of young makers are not referring to dance history they are not looking at the hierarchies derived from the idiotic , anachronistic power structures of the ballet world or other institutionalized systems. This has created in New York a situation in which young artists and old share a lot of time and thought outside of the constraints of a traditional old/young dialectic.”