Category: visual

“The Union of Valencian Journalists decided to cancel an exhibition of photographs in the ‘Illustration Museum’ [MUVIM] in Valencia after all the pictures having to do with anything political were removed by the Diputacion of Valencia.” The images in question concern a corruption scandal currently roiling the local government.

“The Renaissance rediscovery of ancient art and architecture also led to the revival of another Greek and Roman concept – the museum.” And among the pioneers of the concept were the Grimani, the noble Venetian family. The Palazzo Grimani, once “an essential landmark on the Grand Tour between the 17th and 19th centuries” but closed since the 1860s, has now been restored.

“[T]he Art Gallery of Ontario says it will lay off 37 employees during the construction of its new state-of-the-art learning centre. Despite promising an expansion of staff when the money came in, the AGO told part-time and occasional part-time workers this week that their jobs will be axed starting April 1, when construction begins.”

“Transport for London (TfL) banned the halo dripping with paint on Banksy’s artwork promoting his film Forgive Us Our Trespassing. The poster was reworked and displayed without the offending drips. But within days of it going up at London Bridge Tube on 11 March, the golden circle over the kneeling boy’s head was repainted.”

“A major beneficiary of the foundation’s efforts over the years” is Harvey S. Shipley Miller, who said his work is “a labor of love.” “The foundation, however, failed to make promised grant payments to arts groups last year. And now the New York State attorney general’s office is undertaking a broader review of the foundation and Mr. Miller’s stewardship even though the grants have since been paid.”

Miami-Dade voters have approved $255 million in bonds, starchitects Herzog and de Meuron have been engaged, $20 million in public money has been spent – all in pursuit of a shiny new waterfront building for MAM. That building is now two years behind schedule (so far), and the museum has lost its director and an unsettling number of trustees and donors.

“Appearances matter. In this case, there is no way to determine whether the relationship between the gallery and the museum is philanthropic or business-driven. That’s not the gallery’s problem, but it is the museum’s. MOCA is stumbling into troublesome territory.”

“[G]rand masters like Renzo Piano and Norman Foster as well as emerging stars like Norway’s Snohetta and London-based Tanzanian designer David Adjaye” are among those being considered, alongside “Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, Rem Koolhaas, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Steven Holl, and Mexican architect Enrique Norton.”

“Designed by Zaha Hadid, the Baghdad, Iraq-born architect who ranks among the world’s foremost designers, the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum features a sharply angular, glass and pleated stainless steel skin that boldly goes where no Michigan building has gone before.”

“In anticipation of the crowds, the [National Geographic Museum] doubled its exhibition space and, for the first time in its long history, charged admission. … During the show, the museum has counted upwards of 2,200 people a day, as opposed to the 550 visitors it normally receives. The financial payoff? An estimated $2.7 million in gross revenue.”