Animation has been a driving force behind Disney’s theme parks, retail stores, movies and TV shows. It also has become one of the company’s most confounding problems. The animation division has suffered through three chiefs in four years. Along the way have come wrenching layoffs, deep cost cuts and the studio’s biggest flop ever, last year’s ‘Treasure Planet.’ Although still considered the market leader in animation, Disney has lost ground to rivals, especially DreamWorks SKG.” So on Monday, a new boss of animation “roiled the ranks when he told a gathering of 525 animation employees that he wants them to produce lush, classic fairy tales – perhaps ‘The Snow Queen’ or ‘Rapunzel’ – entirely on computers. His vision was greeted with dropped jaws by the roomful of artists steeped in the traditional style of hand-drawn animation pioneered by Disney.”
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NJ Arts Supporters Fight Funding Cuts
New Jersey arts supporters flood the state capital as debate begins on cutting or eliminating arts funding. “Altogether, funding for art groups and historical programs accounts for about $40 million each year. With the money, the groups maintain they are able to provide education programs and support to local historical groups. The cultural and arts money also is used to fund groups such as theater troupes and even print books. Proponents maintain the money is repaid to the tune of $1 billion each year. At issue is the economic effectiveness of the programs.”
Investigators Probe $1 Million Salt Lake Arts Funding Irregularities
Salt Lake County investigators are looking into charges of “$1 million of allegedly misspent taxpayer funds in the county’s Center for the Arts Division. Officials admit the investigation has uncovered more than $1 million in discrepancies, blaming most of it on shabby accounting practices. Whistle-blowers have also alleged, however, the unauthorized taking of equipment from county facilities and liberties taken on expense reports for entertaining and other questionable spending practices.”
Why Selling Art Online Didn’t Work
With the closing of Sothebys.com this week, art selling on the internet is deemed a failed idea. “What happened? With other Internet sales skyrocketing, why did no one – not even the powerful Sotheby’s – succeed in flogging enough Warhol paintings and Chippendale chairs on the World Wide Web to make a decent profit? Because it is a losing battle: Everything that makes art compelling is blunted by the virtual, one-click world of the Net.”
Smithsonian’s Change Of Gallery – A Political Move?
Did the Smithsonian move an exhibition of Arctic photographs to a less prominent gallery under political pressure? That’s the contention of the photographer and a US Senator. “Last month, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) displayed the photographs and book as part of her argument against approving oil and gas leasing in the refuge. ‘After Boxer spoke, I got a call [saying] that it was perceived by the Smithsonian that my work had a political side,’ says the artist. A spokesman for the Natural History Museum, said there had been no political pressure to move the photographs. ‘Our decision was not based on Senator Boxer, but it didn’t help. We do not want to become involved in a debate over standing legislation’.”
Dick Lit – Oh, The Tales I Could Tell…
“A new brand of literature has arisen to feed the 20-something guys’ need to read. An antithesis to Chick Lit, this hot new typology has been dubbed Dick Lit by pundits and the British press. The term implies if the penis could talk it’d tell a travelogue’s worth of tawdry tales of the places it has been. The common thread, however, is not the search for sex, but success.”
Sawallisch Cancels Concert
Philadelphia Orchestra music director Wolfgang Sawallisch cancelled an appearance with the orchestra last night. He’s in his final season with the orchestra, and has been fatigued for some time. “He’s just had a continuation of feeling dizzy and tired, particularly after he conducts. It’s the reason he canceled concerts in Europe in December, and when he got here he was feeling those symptoms.”
What Sawallisch Means To Philadelphia
“As Wolfgang Sawallisch ends his decade with three weeks of concerts that started last week and a forthcoming tour, he is as firm a personification of the Philadelphia Orchestra as Leopold Stokowski or Eugene Ormandy. He restored the Philadelphia Orchestra’s famously velvety sound, erasing the more generic, international svelteness Muti imposed. He could be a fiery podium presence – sometimes. He didn’t shrink from tough decisions, and several controversial moves only helped to concretize his leadership.”
A 9/11 Memorial – All Ideas Considered
Guidelines are released for a memorial for 9/11. “The guidelines say that competitors may create a memorial ‘of any type, shape, height or concept,’ that includes five physical elements: a recognition of each victim of the attacks; an area for quiet contemplation; a separate area for visitation by the families of the victims; a 2,500-square-foot area for the unidentified human remains collected at the trade center site; and a way to make visible the footprints of the original twin towers.”
Harry By-The-Numbers
“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix goes on sale June 21 with a record printing of 8.5 million copies. Priced at $29.99, it is 896 pages long, has 36 chapters and 255,000 words. The not-so-simple questions: Is ‘Phoenix,’ the most expensive children’s novel, priced too high? Will there be sticker shock? Will children read a book 896 pages long? Will libraries be able to afford enough copies in an era of budget cuts?”