Blog

Was Munch’s “Scream” Burned?

A report says Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”, stolen from an Oslo museum last year, might have been burnt. “The newspaper Dagbladet, quoting a criminal source, reports that the paintings have been burnt, in order to destroy evidence. The police denies any knowledge of this, but the newspaper also quotes a confidential police report which allegedly confirms that the investigators also have the same information.”

What Should The New Barnes Look Like?

“If the Barnes Foundation is going to relocate and construct a new building, how should it interpret—or update—its founder’s specific intentions about how the collection should be displayed? The best solution might be to not even try. Why not treat the galleries of the Barnes as an artistically significant artifact, and simply move them to the new location, burlap-covered walls and all? The result would resemble the transplanted historical interiors exhibited in many large museums.”

Are Newspapers Dying? Hmnn – Depends On How You Define It)

“Yes, it’s true that newspapers are steadily losing readers and that younger people will undoubtedly choose the web. Ultimately, the printed word will die off. Not tomorrow or the next day, but in the coming decades. It’s inevitable since it will be more cost-effective (not to mention better for the environment) to distribute news over the web and via cell phones and PDAs than by printing it on paper and relying on trucks to deliver it to newsstands and subscribers’ doorsteps. What is not true, however, is the notion that newspapers are dying. They aren’t. In fact, more people read traditional news outlets today than ever before. But they are doing it on a screen.”

Litblogging Into Relevance

Literary blogs can be addictive for those interested in the written word. And there are so many litblogs to catch up on. “Reading other writers’ writing about writing is hardly what most people would consider “connecting with others.” In fact, maybe I’m even more isolated when I carry around this illusory notion that I’m interacting with people simply because we’re reading the same blog. It’s like celebrity stalkers who think being slapped with a restraining order is as fine and true a connection to fabulousness as being invited to stay in the guesthouse for the weekend.”

Barnes Move Cleared By PA Supremes

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has rejected on a technicality an appeal of the decision which cleared the way for the Barnes Foundation to move from its home in suburban Philadephia to the city’s thriving downtown. The appeal had been filed by an art student, but the high court ruled that he waited too long to file it. Opponents of the move say that they will continue to look for ways to continue their fight, but they would appear to be out of legal options.

D.C. Fringe (And We Don’t Mean Tom DeLay)

Washington, D.C. is getting a fringe festival, and about time, too. “Capital Fringe will be concentrated downtown along the Seventh Street corridor, offering multiple events in 20 venues, ranging from traditional theaters to alternative spaces such as galleries, lobbies, vacant storefronts and outdoor areas.” The ten-day festival will launch in summer 2006.

Why Tony Blair Never Talks About The London Phil

Great Britain is in the midst of an election cycle, with Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair fighting desperately for a third term as the opposition Tories seek to prove to the nation that they deserve another shot. And yet, as the campaign winds down, there has been not a single significant mention of the position of the arts in British culture. The sad truth is that, while British art and culture is thriving like never before, and while the UK has a long tradition of government support, the country lags far behind its European brethren in the establishment of a stable cultural identity which can be used as political capital.

Gimme A Pound Of The Roast Beef, And One Of Those Tom Clancy Things

Independent booksellers may be dying by the dozens, but a new frontier is fast being established to compete with the oh-so-alluring chain stores. You’ll find it wedged between the Cheerios and the artichoke hearts. “Grocery stores have gone beyond the traditional spinning racks of pocket-size paperbacks, adding mahogany fixtures, sitting areas and cafes, and often placing their book sections in the center of the store, where shoppers are likely to stroll. Eye-catching displays of new hardcovers are sprinkled throughout the stores, encouraging impulse purchases.”

New Generation Of Collectors Tilts Art Market Towards The New

Spring auction season is almost upon us, and indications are that new will be the new old this year. “A decade ago the big money was primarily to be found in Impressionist and modern art. But during the next two weeks of back-to-back evening auctions, newer art is expected to be where hungry buyers will gravitate. Fueled in large part by a passionate group of multimillionaire hedge-fund managers, with deep pockets and a taste for the 20th and 21st centuries, they relish the competition of bidding at auction and will often pay whatever it takes to bring home the best.”