Category: visual

For instance, the text by a portrait of Russell Sturgis has changed: “A conventional sign next to the piece informs us that Gilbert Stuart, mostly known for painting George Washington’s portrait, painted Sturgis in 1822. A new sign above that, informs us that Sturgis’ relatives established a business in present-day Haiti that trafficked in flour, horses and enslaved persons.”

This has been 25 years – and two centuries – in the making. “The ‘Life of Sally Hemings’ exhibit is perhaps the most striking example of the sea change that has taken place at Monticello, as the foundation has increasingly focused on highlighting the stories of Monticello’s slaves. … It rebuilt a slave cabin and workshops where slaves labored, and has hosted reunions there for the descendants of the enslaved population, including sleepovers. It removed a public bathroom installed in 1940s atop slave quarters.”

OK, it wasn’t quite that easy – he had to sneak in at 5 am – but still: “The man padded across the concrete floor, lifted a print of ‘Trolley Hunters’ off the wall, and breezily walked out the door he came in.”

Every part of the building was affected, and there was a partial roof collapse – and the fire spread to nearby buildings as well. “It was the second time in four years that a blaze has hit the world-famous building, which was under restoration and was set to reopen after a fire badly damaged it in May 2014.”

If some of the deals seem too good to be true, well—they may just be. Among other offerings with an uncanny resemblance to midcentury design icons (like Hans Wegner’s Wishbone chair, or the Eames Office molded plastic chair), the Poly and Bark Sculpture Coffee Table for $309.99 has raised a few discerning eyebrows.

Trim and mercurial, Ann Philbin, who once clashed with billionaire Eli Broad over funding and turned away potential board members who didn’t share her progressive inclinations, runs on self-assurance and charm. She looks right at you, as if perhaps you’re a painting or video installation to be politely scrutinized, and then, if all goes well, conspired with.

“The work in question is called Trolley Hunters, a satirical image of Neanderthal-ish men hunting a shopping cart. It’s said to be the artist’s critique on corporate food production. Its value is estimated at $45,000. … Later Thursday, police released video appearing to show the theft, while the exhibition was still being set up.”

“The National Trust is now opening a permanent commemoration of the charter, in the form of a new work by Mark Wallinger. Writ in Water, as it is called, is an entire building. The artist – who won the 2007 Turner prize and whose statue of Christ, Ecce Homo, was the first contemporary sculpture on Trafalgar Square’s fourth plinth – teamed up with architect James Lowe to produce what is his largest-scale single work to date.” Charlotte Higgins pays a visit.