“When a new technology like this comes along, the most dangerous period is when the technology is out there but the public isn’t aware of it,” Bergstrom tells The Verge. “That’s when it can be used most effectively.” – The Verge
Category: visual
UK Museums, Galleries Rushing To Ship Art Before Brexit Deadline
British institutions and galleries are rushing to ship works to and from the European Union (EU) before the Brexit deadline of 29 March as uncertainty mounts over the free movement of goods in the event of a no-deal scenario. – The Art Newspaper
What To Do With Mexico City’s Massive Public Murals That Sit On A Crumbling Complex Of Earthquake-Damaged Buildings?
The Centro SCOP’s murals were created with pride and hope in the 1950s, but two earthquakes, and the vagaries of politics, may consign them to rubble – or to be moved, as some recently have been, without much regard for preservation. “The buildings harbor a uniquely Mexican form of mural making, in which colored stones from different regions are embedded in concrete panels (sturdy materials that can withstand all manner of urban elements). In addition, the scale at which they were deployed at Centro SCOP is unprecedented.” – Los Angeles Times
A New, Ruff Player In ‘There’s A Museum For Everything’
Perk those ears up, sniff the wind, and trot on over to, yes, a new museum for humans’ best friend. When you enter New York’s Museum of the Dog, “right away, you’ll stand before a large screen that invites you to find out what breed of dog you, a human, are — like a BuzzFeed quiz in real life. The screen will take your picture, analyze it and show you the dog you most resemble.” (And no, it’s not a pop-up Instagram-bait museum, despite that entry.) – The Washington Post
Caravaggio Or Not, The Painting Discovered In An Attic Is Going Up For Sale – But Who Would Buy It?
So the Louvre decided not to buy the canvas, found in an attic in Toulouse in 2014, despite the fact that art experts have made a pretty convincing case. – The Guardian (UK)
Azerbaijan And The ‘Worst Cultural Genocide Of The 21st Century’
For 30 years, the country of Azerbaijan has “been engaging in a systematic erasure of the country’s historic Armenian heritage,” including a necropolis dating back to the 6th century. A new report (for Hyperallergic) says the erasure of the necropolis “marked the final stage of a broader campaign to denude Nakhichevan of its indigenous Armenian Christian past.” – The Guardian (UK)
Two Centuries Of Incorrect Labeling Made Us Think Gilbert Stuart Painted A Portrait Of George Washington’s Enslaved Chef
So the painting isn’t a Stuart, and it’s definitely not a portrait of a chef (and certainly not Hercules), say experts. What the heck? Errors of interpretation. “‘No American cook in the colonies dressed like that,’ said Evans, noting that the now-familiar chef’s toque did not appear until the 1820s. ‘It’s a fantasized image of what people want, because people want to have an image of Hercules. And people see the things they want to see.'” – Philadelphia Inquirer
What Will Happen To London’s Famous Whitechapel Church Bell Foundry?
Counterproposals – a boutique hotel with some space for small bell-making and artist and sculptor studios; or keeping the foundry as it is, with invitations to sculptors who work on a massive scale to work there as well – are flying, and the history of the entire area is up in the air. – The Observer (UK)
A Cameroonian Artist Who Was Told ‘Painting Is For Lazy People’ Now Has The Last Laugh
Ajarb Bernard Ategwa, like many artists (and non-artists, to be fair), got in trouble as a child for doodling in his schoolbooks. Now his huge, color-filled paintings of Douala (Cameroon’s largest city) sell for thousands of pounds apiece. He says, “Not everything is just about education, education, education. If you have a child and they love drawing, please allow them to do their drawing.” – BBC
Is This Southern California’s Most Innovative Arts Space?
As Santa Ana’s Grand Central Arts Center turns 20, it’s got a lot of history to celebrate, and that’s because of the way the directors treats the artists they invite to residencies. It’s become “less a traditional gallery space than a creative lab where artists can research and test new ideas, even those that don’t quite fit in a white box.” – Los Angeles Times