Category: visual

On the 50th anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s icon, “not much is made of the fact that [it] almost went unbuilt.” Not only did Robert Moses have to ram the project through New York City’s permit process, but “[a]fter seeing the blueprints, 21 prominent artists signed a petition protesting that the building, especially its curved walls and continuous ramps, would be unsuitable for displaying paintings.” (For the first couple years, they were right.)

“The human form may be a mainstay of art, but that didn’t stop police ordering a nude man intent on becoming a ‘living statue’ from covering up as he took part in Antony Gormley’s fourth plinth art project yesterday morning. The man, known only as Simon, arrived in London’s Trafalgar Square fully-dressed, but once he was safely on the plinth at 1am, he removed his T-shirt, kicked off his trousers and then, after pacing for a few moments, took off his underwear.”

The Cleveland Museum of Art “has accomplished Phase I of an eight-year, $350 million renovation and expansion that–if completed as planned in 2013–will be the largest cultural project in Ohio’s history. … Although lack of adequate space for [its] deep Asian collection was a principal motivation for the current building project, the bulk of that collection will be in storage until the Viñoly expansion is completed in 2013.”

“The Cleveland Museum of Art, pressed by a plunge in the value of its endowment, eliminated jobs held by 14 employees on Tuesday and decided to leave another eight positions vacant. The cutbacks will enable the museum to balance budgets in its current fiscal year and in the fiscal year beginning next July, said outgoing director Timothy Rub.”

“For the last two months artists have been floating around New York City on the Waterpod, a 3,000-square-foot experiment in community living and artistry. … Its systems run on solar power; its crew grows its own greens, collects its own rainwater. These things cared for each day, the notion was that the crew could work on more creative pursuits.” Turns out that’s not so easy.

“Elizabeth Andrews, a gallery supervisor, has launched a claim for compensation against the Tate, saying that the cold, among a series of other factors, meant she became increasingly ill and eventually had to go on long-term sick leave.”

“The creator of an inflatable artwork which blew away, killing two women, won an appeal today against the £10,000 fine imposed on him for breaching health and safety regulations. Artist Maurice Agis, 77, who was convicted at Newcastle crown court of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act by failing to ensure the safety of members of the public, had the penalty reduced to £2,500 by three judges at the court of appeal in London.”

“Public conveniences of old may have been porcelain palaces – but by the mid 20th Century, that glamour had given way to municipal functionality. Now, the Royal Institute of British Architects is asking five leading architectural practices to come up with new ideas for the public loo.” An audio slideshow with architecture critic and “toilet expert” Lucinda Lambton.

“The Wall Project, painted by professional and amateur artists, will close Sunday afternoon traffic on one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares for three hours” this November, on the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s fall. “In a reenactment of the actual events, invited dignitaries will break down selected portions of the Wilshire wall, which will be placed directly in front of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.”

“The British Museum, whose design for a building extension was rejected by a local authority, said it’s deciding whether to appeal the decision or produce a new design.” The Camden Council nixed the plan just days after the museum “said it had raised two-thirds of the money for the new wing and, planning permission allowing, could start building at the end of the year.”