A couple of weeks ago the NEA’s present and past chairs got together to talk about the role of arts in America. “What emerged most pointedly was how the panelists attempted to define artists and the arts as utilitarian tools. The underlying sentiment seemed to be if we don’t cast the arts in terms of their social-political-economic usefulness, how can we justify underwriting them at public expense?” – Backstage
Tag: 03.08.00
EDINBURGH IN HEAT
The Adelaide Festival – 530 events in 100 venues in three weeks – is like Edinburgh only in the blazing summer heat. This year the eye dominates the ear. – The Guardian
IT’S HOWDY LAWSUITY TIME
The Detroit Institute of the Arts has sued the estate of Rufus Rose, the creator of Howdy Doody, saying that the puppeteer had promised to give Howdy to the museum. Rose’s family says there was no such deal. – CBC
APPEARANCES COUNT
Should museums benefit from financial deals made with collectors who lend artwork for exhibitions? In reality, say some museums, little money is involved. But the appearance of impropriety is expensive. – Boston Globe
ODE TO A CRITIC
Saluting a critic with an exhibition of art is a dicey matter. But John Ruskin, England’s greatest critic, made it easy for the Tate. – The Times (UK)
CHRISTIE’S SALES —
— sales up 17 percent last year to equal rival Sotheby’s at $2.3 billion. – Financial Times
BATON BUZZ
Myung Wha-Chung back in Paris as head of Radio Phil and Kurt Masur said to be set to take over the Orchestre National de France. – London Telegraph
CLEANING HOUSE
Violinist Pinchas Zukerman has taken over directing Canada’s National Arts Center Orchestra: “I’ve been cleaning up the place, it’s filthy,” he said. “It was basically the wrong people at the wrong time, or the right people at the wrong time, or the wrong people at the right time. It’s just never been right.” One thing you won’t hear him perform is music in period-instrument style: “I hate it. It’s disgusting,” he said. “The first time I heard that shit, I couldn’t believe it. It’s complete rubbish, and the people who play it. . . . Maybe one or two or a half-dozen have wonderful musical minds. But I certainly don’t want to hear them perform.” – Toronto Globe and Mail
JANE EYRE VERSION 6.0
Why do we feel the need to remake certain stories over and over? Is it because there are things in literature that are too troubling to be left alone? On the other hand, “converting books into movies always seemed silly to me, I think. I never understood what they were for other than to rid people of the pleasure or necessity of reading. I think, though, that the point is not to see a plot enacted or certain characters embodied by actors, but to explore the question of how something will play.” – New York Press
PAST LIVES
The best writing in Australia these days isn’t coming from the country’s novelists. “History, and Australian history especially, is being written in a new way by a new breed of historian, who not only tells us of the events, but who explores the events in terms of their moral qualities.” – Sydney Morning Herald