Category: visual

“After three decades of shoehorning contemporary-art exhibits into a former power plant on the outskirts of this wealthy Rocky Mountain enclave, the museum plans to triple its footprint. It will relocate in August to a new home designed by Pritzker prize winner Shigeru Ban in the center of town – a move that illustrates the growing clout and ambition of Aspen’s stewards.”

“The bill has gained six co-sponsors in the past three weeks, including the representatives Sam Farr of California and Janice Schakowsky of Illinois. At a hearing yesterday, 15 July, in Washington, DC, experts including Karyn Temple Claggett, the director of policy and international affairs for the US copyright office, testified in support of the bill.”

The late billionaire “left nearly half his large art collection, a 900-acre Western Pennsylvania estate, and $15 million to the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art in Chadds Ford.” The other half goes to the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, Pa.

“The institute announced Wednesday that a large group of companies, foundations and wealthy individuals – Roger S. Penske and the Penske Corporation; Quicken Loans and the Rock Ventures Family of Companies; DTE Energy; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Meijer; Comerica Bank; the JPMorgan Chase Foundation; Consumers Energy and Delta Air Lines Foundation – had pledged $26.8 million toward a $100 million commitment by the museum as its part of the “Grand Bargain.”

“Close to 2,000, from 75 countries, they have collectively contributed 10,000 artworks to the trust, a unique combination of artist collective and hedge fund.”

“As expected, contemporary art remains the most popular among collectors, men dominate the art collecting scene, and a vast majority of these collectors live in North America and Europe (and none in Australia!).”

“Anyone who looks upon DIA as an ATM will be in for a shock. Because in every case, the report argues, the result will be sale prices significantly below the low-end appraisal figure. Finally, some common sense has entered into the discussion of DIA’s fate.”

“Last year one museum was built every day on average, though the rush has since ‘slowed’ to about one every three days” Author Cathy Giangrande talks about the various kinds of museums being opened, what they are and aren’t doing well, and how the government is and isn’t involved in the museums’ content.

“Every now and again [politicians and boards] appoint a foreigner … in the hope of getting a bit of that magical know-how, and then they get rid of him or her in humiliating, destructive and unprofessional ways that in the UK or US would be inconceivable.” Anna Somers Cocks explains why this happens, and offers three horror stories case histories.

“The World Cup display of German talent is the moment for Britons to put aside the prejudices and scars left by 20th-century wars and wake up to the fact that Germany is not just modern Europe’s economic powerhouse, but its cultural workshop, too, creating everything from beautiful football to sublime art.”