Category: visual

“The Seattle skyline may look increasingly impressive from the deck of the Bainbridge ferry, but it’s not so enchanting from inside the thicket. Nine new towers are under construction downtown, and there are 25 more undergoing permitting or design review.”

“All in all, dealers agreed that these were strong results considering the turmoil in the financial markets. Twice in the past 30 years, in 1987 and 2001, the art market has shrugged off dramatic falls in the stock market. But, if the economy is heading for the kind of recession witnessed in 1929 or 1990, then it will be a different story.”

“We have a growing need for statement public art, and it is perfectly obvious why. To watch the news, you’d think that we define ourselves only by how and when we shop.” And yet, at does a much better job…

Orange County’s Bowers Museum has been trying to win wider attention for years. Now it’s caught up in raids over stolen artifacts as one of four Southern California museums under investigation. Not really the kind of attention the Bowers was looking for…

“A group of Japanese, European and American scientists are collaborating to restore damaged murals in caves in the Bamiyan Valley, famous for its two gigantic statues of the Buddha that were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.”

The Whitney Museum is closing its 42nd Street branch, after sponsor Altria pulls out of Manhattan. “In 25 years, the Altria branch has presented 110 exhibitions and hundreds of performances and events, the museum said.”

“The announcement by the British government that it is putting £50m towards the costs of the new development of Tate Modern is one of the most significant moves in public cultural policy in recent years. Not since the building of the British Library in the 1980s and 90s has there been such a statement of confidence in Britain’s cultural future.”

“And why not? The Met is seeking a candidate who is a serious art scholar, a skilled manager and an impressive fund-raiser. Cuno, a 19th century French art specialist who has presided over the Art Institute’s juggernaut capital campaign for its $350 million Modern Wing, fits that bill as well as anyone.”

“Affidavits related to search warrants executed at four Southern California museums on Thursday say that staff members at two of the four museums worked closely with the main targets of the investigation, visiting a storage locker maintained by a smuggler of stolen antiquities and meeting with the sellers of stolen goods — even while acknowledging that the artifacts headed for the museums might be tainted.”

“It’s very much an honor to be invited, but on the other hand it involves a lot of older work, and it’s hard to deal with that – having to rethink it, how to reinstall it. Even though that’s supposed to be the curator’s job, you can’t avoid taking part. But I do enjoy Venice – and that’s the good part.”