Chicago’s latest piece of public art is a $3 million sculpture, designed by London-based artist Anish Kapoor. It will look like a highly finished piece of seamless modern art that some have compared to a jelly or kidney bean. When built, it will be 30 feet tall, 60 feet long, and weigh 100-plus tons. City officials hope it will be a civic signature piece. Just one problem: how to get it from where it’s built, across oceans, through canals and finally across town without crushing the pavement, bridges and other obstacles in its path? – Chicago Tribune
Blog
WALKER GIFT
Minneapolis’s Walker Art Center gets a $5 million gift of 20th-century paintings, sculpture, prints and drawings from the collection of Judy and Kenneth Dayton. The Daytons have been among the Walker’s guiding lights. – The Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
THAT OLD THING?
A painting, found hanging on the wall in an old English country home turns out to be unrecognized Cimabue worth $3 million. Believed to be first Cimabue ever to be offered at auction. – Times of India
SHOWING OFF YOUR STUFF
Showcasing your art on the web is getting easier and easier, with new websites dedicated to the promotion of creativity. – Wired
NOT TO BE UNKIND, BUT …
“By and large, at the beginning of the 21st century, the symphony audience goes to a concert looking for easy, passive entertainment, whereas once upon a time, this audience consisted largely of active, even passionate participants.” Former LA Philharmonic chief Ernest Fleischmann warns we have to turn it around. Here’s his plan. – The Guardian
WHO WANTS TO CONDUCT THE BSO?
It’s been eight months since Seiji Ozawa announced he was leaving as music director of the Boston Symphony. While there are still no front-runners to replace him, the kind of conductor the orchestra is looking for has become clearer. – Boston Herald
SLOW DANCING
College students are downloading so much music over the internet, university computers are slowing to a crawl on many campuses. – Chicago Tribune
ON THE ROAD
Its musicians’ strike settled and its vote to go ahead with concerts in Vienna decided, the Toronto Symphony embarks on a European tour with much riding on the outcome. – Toronto Globe and Mail
CLASSICAL GRAMMYS
A good year for music of the 20th Century. Who won what. – Los Angeles Times
ONLY IF YOU DO IT OUR WAY
As the technology and music industries merge into one, the majors want to encourage the transition to digital downloading, but only with companies willing to play by their rules. The unanswered question is how users will fare in the recording industry’s playbook. – L.A. Weekly