A few years ago it seemed like a good idea to hold the international PEN conference of writers in Russia. But the war in Chechnya has changed all that and the meeting this week in Moscow has been marked by bubbling anger over the war. – New York Times
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MOMA NO-NO
Media Mogul S.I. Newhouse has been forced to give up his priuzed seat on the Museum of Modern Art board of directors (he’s been a member for 27 years). “One of the world’s most prolific art collectors, Newhouse stepped down to avoid being expelled for breaking a rule barring trustees from buying a painting from the museum. He bought a 1913 Picasso, Man with Guitar, that the museum had decided to de-acquisition to fund new buys. The picture, in the museum’s basement, was sold to an unidentified art dealer who sold it to Mr Newhouse for $10 million.” – The Times (UK)
NYET EXCHANGE
Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a law banning the return of stolen WWII artwork to Germany. “The works in question include a rare Gutenberg Bible, gold artifacts from the ancient site of Troy, a drawing by Rembrandt and paintings by Claude Monet and Henri Matisse.” – Washington Post
PUBLIC ART PROTEST
For two months neighbors of the University of Massachusetts in Boston have been protesting the pending installation of a new piece of public art. The sculpture was due to be installed this weekend, but this week someone took a sledgehammer to the work’s support piers, forcing a postponement. – Boston Globe
FINDING FAULT
Neil MacGregor, director of London’s National Gallery, has criticized the UK government’s recent euphoria over much-publicized museum and gallery openings, including the Tate Modern. Striking at the Government’s boast that it had increased access, Mr. MacGregor said: “There may be more access; but it is access to ignorance.” – The Independent (UK)
TOO MUCH DEBT
“We were presented with the figures of what it would take, in terms of financial support, to continue on and we found that we could not be fair to people [we employed] and go forward. The company and school are closed down and we hope it is temporary.” – Los Angeles Times
MARTHA GRAHAM COMPANY TO CLOSE
Citing major financial difficulties, trustees of the Martha Graham Dance Company have voted to shut down the company. “They haven’t raised the money to go on,” said Graham Center board member Ron Protas, Graham’s heir and head of the trust that owns all of her choreography. – Washington Post
BROADCASTING AS WE KNOW IT
A former broadcaster tells colleagues that: “the video and audio streaming opportunity will undoubtedly change everything we know today about the business of broadcasting, both radio and television.” – CBC 05/26/00
SUMMER SHORTAGE
Movie industry execs are worried that the usual line of sequels, remakes and event film blockbusters hasn’t materialized for this summer. Without them, what’s to drive the buzz about movies? – Boston Herald 05/26/00
LAYING TRACKS
Lavish soundtracks have become an increasingly integral part of movie-making and movie-promoting. Madonna, Metallica, and U2 have all contributed new songs to big-budget movies recently. “Soundtracks have been the sleeper album chart success story of the last decade. In 1996 US music buyers were snapping up four times as many soundtrack albums as they had been 10 years before.” – The Guardian 05/26/00