Badly neglected public sculpture “Marianthe” at Florida community college to be destroyed because of deterioration, despite protests of the artist. – Artstar.com
Blog
LIVING IN THE FUTURE
The London of the future will have to support a much higher population density than the one- and two-story rowhouses currently house. Some architects take a shot at showing how it might be. – The Times (UK)
THE REAL ARTIST
“For a painter whose name we’re not even sure of, who aggressively discouraged imitators, whose stormy, rumbustious life was curtailed by an early death, partly as a result of his own violent, impetuous nature, Caravaggio occupies an extraordinarily important role in the history of European painting. It’s hard to imagine Rembrandt’s work without him, for example, and Rubens and Velasquez were among an army of admirers He was an arrogant, violent brawler and a sexual outlaw as well as an artistic and social revolutionary who changed our perception of space.” Two new books shed new light on one of art’s most important yet unknown characters. – Irish Times
NOT TO WORRY, NOT TO WORRY
Chief executive of Covent Garden downplays crisis over his building and says problems are to be expected of any new performance hall; that the Opera House will work magnificently. Further, ticket sales are on target to fill 97 percent of the house, and he’s confident in the company’s choice of repertoire. – Financial Times
GENERAL CULTURAL COLLAPSE
South Africa’s National Symphony Orchestra plays its final concert. The rest of the country’s orchestras are teetering and may follow the National out of business within a month or two. Critics wonder if this signals the general collapse of the country’s arts institutions. – South Africa Daily Mail and Telegraph
- A changing era and a changing culture. – New York Times 02/01/00
ONE HIT WONDERS:
Pondering the mysteries of the “standard repertoire.” Is it a matter of quality? Why do good composers like Dukas or Orff or Mussorgsky have one of two pieces that are performed but nothing else? – Philadelphia Inquirer
CYBERORCH
The Dallas Symphony will hit the web playing. Orchestra to webcast performances in $10 million web initiative. – Dallas Morning News
DESIGN DEBACLE
Celebrated Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron were hired in 1998 to design the $70 million Blanton Museum at the University of Texas at Austin. But after drafting their ideas, the architects quickly realized that university regents had no interest in innovation – they wanted a grand design copied from the campus’ existing Mediterranean style. After several volleys, the architects abandoned the project and left town. A missed opportunity, lament critics. – Architecture Magazine
HOLOCAUST DENIAL TRIAL
British writer David Irving has instigated a libel suit against an American historian for calling him “one of the most dangerous spokespersons for Holocaust denial.” The trial, will almost inevitably be used by some to claim legitimacy for Holocaust “revisionism” — as if the Holocaust as a historical fact were open to debate. But let’s get the facts straight. – The Atlantic
ANY DOUBT —
— where publishing is going? None, if you’re paying attention to the headlines. A year ago e-publishing was little more than talk. But a glance at the publishing headlines of the past several months shows an industry racing towards its future. – *spark-online