Blog – Page 13766 – ArtsJournal Wayback

ARTLISTING

Publication of a list of 350 artworks in Britain with questionable provenance during Nazi years, had British museum organization on the defensive Tuesday. “in Britain some museum directors after the war had not been ‘fastidious’ about checking whether paintings they bought or were given might have had a Nazi connection. But the organization believes many of the gaps in history are innocent but cannot yet be explained because papers have been lost, owners have died or dealers and auction houses are unwilling to release documents.” – The Telegraph (UK)

List “far less sensational” than headlines suggest. – The Telegraph (UK)
Proving ownership difficult. – The Telegraph (UK)
“No factual evidence that any of the works had been stolen by the Nazis” – New York Times

ME TOO

Three weeks after rival Christie’s lowers its sales commissions, Sotheby’s follows suit. Did you talk to each other about the new fees, guys? Nah…. “We did this in light of the competitive environment we’re in,” said William F. Ruprecht, Sotheby’s new president and chief executive. – New York Times

BAD DHARMA

Critics have accused Indian writers who write in English of peppering their works with Sanskrit to “exoticize the Indian landscape to signal their Indianness to the West.” But does inclusion of these exoticizing elements disqualify their Indian authenticness? “Believe in your mashooq and you will be Indian, a good artist or an adequate one, local and global, soft as a rose petal, and as hard as thunder, not this, not that, and everything you need to be. You will be free.” – Boston Review

GIANT STEPS

Clear Channel Communications, the broadcasting heavyweight, buys SFX Entertainment, the giant live-performance presenter. SFX owns or operates 120 theaters nationwide. San Antonio-based Clear Channel will soon operate 867 U.S. radio and 19 television stations, as well as 550,000 billboards. – Boston Herald 03/01/00

Radio and concert synergy makes some nervous. – Boston Herald 03/01/00
The company’s theater plans? – Boston Herald 03/01/00

MORE AND LESS

France has dramatically increased the number of films it produces, but audiences haven’t grown to match the growth. – Variety 03/01/00

ROUGH “SURVIVOR

BBC’s new show puts 36 people on a desolate island to live, and films the results. The critics are skeptical: “You cannot flirt with nature on this particular Atlantic frontier and not expect to get comprehensively ravaged by her. These poor sods with their suburban escapist fantasies are being shamelessly exploited, and despite the assurances, I simply do not believe they know what they’re letting themselves in for.” – Los Angeles Times 03/01/00

NOW YOU TOO CAN OWN…

In an attempt to find a better way to sell independent films, an entrepreneur holds an auction. – Los Angeles Times 03/01/00

A VIEW TO A SALE

Theoretically any work lent to a museum by a gallery or individual is for sale. But what are the ethics? The director of Australia’s Museum of Contemporary Art has advocated selling exhibitions not primarily to raise money but as a service to artists and to encourage people to buy art. “I have put into our [strategic] plan that we should be taking an active role in encouraging the market,” she said. – Sydney Morning Herald

BOOM TIMES

The Australian art market has taken off, with the take from auction sales doubling in the past three years. The lucrative market has attracted some new players. – Sydney Morning Herald

KIDS’ STUFF

“You read them to your children at bedtime, now you can own them – at a price. The area of the art market that is now growing faster than any other is that of original illustrations to children’s books.” – The Times (UK)