Art Deco was one of the most pervasive styles of the modern era. “But what is art deco? It is easier to say what it isn’t, for there was never any coherent theory, principle or aesthetic to it, nor any clear and particular source. Art deco, if anything, was simply the celebration of eclecticism as a virtue and stylistic opportunism as a principle. It scoured the world and the ages for its sources, from tribal Africa to Japan, and ancient Egypt to Peru, and then looked to contemporary high art, to cubism, futurism and the Ballets Russes for present excitements and stimulation.”
Tag: 03.31.03
Settlement In Houston Symphony Strike?
Striking musicians of the Houston Symphony are voting on a tentative settlement in the 23-day-old strike. The deal was reached Sunday afternoon after “an intense weekend of negotiations” mediated by a representative of Houston Mayor Lee P. Brown.
Interest In Iraq Art Soars
The British Museum reports that visits to its Iraqi exhibitions have tripled since the war on Iraq began. The British Museum has the greatest collection of Mesopotamian art outside Iraq. A spokeswoman confirmed that visits to its Mesopotamian and Assyrian galleries had risen significantly. ‘It’s just general curiosity from what’s going on (with the war). Members of the public are coming from all over the world.”
The Poetic Pope
The Pope has published another book of poetry. So how is it? Dan Chiasson is impressed: “It’s hard to get a sense of the pope’s poetics, in the broadest sense, but I can say that he seems to favor end-stopped vers libre—surprising, given his investment elsewhere in order and hierarchy. There are biblical cadences, to be sure, but mostly the poems strike the secular-didactic tone of self-help literature. Very little hellfire; what we get instead is mostly ‘Chicken Soup for the Aging Pontiff’s Soul.’ Still, what I’ve read of ‘Roman Triptych’ is rather good, in the way most celebrity poetry is rather good.”
During War – Music As Retreat Or Reaction
How are musicians dealing with the war? “After the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963, Leonard Bernstein declared, `This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than before’.” Many musicians burrow into their music either to respond to or get away from the world.
A Cultural Complex For The WTC Site
Plans are coming together for a “Museum of Freedom” to be built as part of a cultural complex at the site of the World Trade Center. “The museum would be part of a two-building cultural complex as conceived by Daniel Libeskind, whose design for the 16-acre site was chosen earlier this year. The second building would house a performing arts center, which would probably become the home for the New York City Opera. In addition to its repertory, the opera company would stage musical theater at the hall that it may want to take on the road.”
Closing Notice For “Urban Cowboy”…Uh, Forget that – We’re Staying Open…
The musical ‘Urban Cowboy’ opened Thursday to bad reviews. On Frida, producers decided to close the show Saturday. Then changed their minds on Saturday. “For the better part of Broadway’s history, shows regularly closed after one or two performances. In recent times, however, it has been highly unusual for a Broadway musical to close in one weekend, no matter how damning the reviews. Even shows with scathing notices, like this season’s $12 million flop, ‘Dance of the Vampires,’ can eke out a few weeks and have enough cushion money to run television advertisements to fight reviews.”
A Revolution In Stage Design For The 21st Century
New 3-D computer technology is about to revolutionize the live stage. With it, designers can create sets that would be impossible to afford otherwise. “Britain’s most wanted stage designer reckons his use of 3-D computer animation will transform theatre for the 21st century, and his claims cannot be doubted by anyone who saw his set for Tom Stoppard’s epic Russian trilogy The Coast of Utopia at the National Theatre.”
Celebrating Vincent’s 150th Birsthday
Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum celebrated the painter’s 150th birthday Sunday as thousands of fan came to pay their respects.
Two Van Gogh Paintings Stolen
Two Van Gogh paintings have been stolen from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. “The stolen paintings are well known to art lovers: ‘View of the Sea at Scheveningen’ and ‘Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church at Nuenen.’ Both from the artist’s early period, they were executed in 1882 and 1884, respectively. Police have not yet put a value on them. But Van Gogh’s later works have sold at auction in recent years for tens of millions of dollars.”