Category: visual

The museum has been trying to raise money for a new building for the past ten years and is still a long way from its goal. Kathleen Bartels, who was director for 18 years until last week, had been laboring to get the project done without success. So now what? – CBC

Beginning next month, the Times will cease running daily political cartoons in its international edition, editorial page editor James Bennet said Monday in a statement — a move that brings the overseas newspaper “into line with the domestic paper,” which in recent years had ceased running weekly roundups of syndicated cartoons and experimented instead with longer-form editorial comics. – Washington Post

“The proposed union would be a part of IUOE Local 30, a group that also includes MoMA’s union. … About 90 workers are involved in the potential Guggenheim union, including art handlers, installers, construction workers, maintenance workers, and others responsible for the painting and lighting involved in presenting exhibitions at the museum.” – ARTnews

Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Director Joe Thompson will be arraigned on June 19 for a July 2018 incident in which Thompson’s car collided with a motorcycle whose driver was killed. Thompson maintains his innocence, and his attroney says that “the police confirmed he had used no alcohol, was not on his cellphone.” – The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, MA)

“Under the new deal, three exhibitions of works drawn from Tate will be held at the Pudong Museum of Art. Tate will also assist with visitor services, operations, art handling, exhibition management, audience development and learning.” – The Art Newspaper

Amada Cruz comes to Seattle after leading the Phoenix Art Museum. – Seattle Times

The whereabouts of the world’s most expensive artwork — which may or may not actually have been painted by Leonardo da Vinci — have been a mystery for months. But Artnet columnist Kenny Schachter reports that “two principals involved in the transaction” say the painting is on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s 440-foot yacht (which didn’t cost that much more than the painting did). – Artnet

“After more than a year and a half of being without a permanent director, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam said that the veteran museum leader Rein Wolfs has been picked to fill the position. … [He] follows Beatrix Ruf, who resigned in October 2017 after three years on the job, amid conflict-of-interest accusations from which she was later cleared.” – ARTnews

“After nearly a yearlong legal wrangle, a court in St. Petersburg has ruled in favour of the State Russian Museum staff who have been fighting against plans for a $17m overhaul of the Mikhailovsky Palace, the museum’s main building. The plaintiffs argued that the refurbishment would damage the museum’s architectural heritage and museum collections.” The judge is being called a hero for having the courage to rule against a government project. – The Art Newspaper

Roberta Smith: “MoMA’s imminent closing and reopening casts everything now on view in an unusual light. You can see the future bearing down on the museum’s fabulous if blinkered past, which is about to be stretched and rearranged. The question of how profoundly and effectively this will be done should keep us on the edge of our seats all summer.” – The New York Times