“[He] emerged as the leading light of India’s first post-colonial generation of Modernists. In 2005 his 1997 painting Mahisasura, an image of the Hindu buffalo-demon defeated by the goddess Durga, sold at Christie’s New York for $1.58 million, the highest price ever paid for the work of a living Indian artist. … His death was reported on the front pages of newspapers across India.”
Tag: 07.04.09
Literary Festivals And The Big Time
“For 50 years the literary festival remained a pretty humble affair, and not many people’s idea of fun. Facilities were spartan and the tea was served in plastic beakers. As for champagne, forget it. Things began to change in 1988 when Peter Florence set up the Hay Festival, attracting a host of big literary names to the little town on the Welsh border, and, perhaps crucially, newspaper sponsorship to ensure free publicity for the event.”
A Violin Made Out Of A Baseball Bat
“Just in time for the Fourth of July, Donnellan posted to YouTube a video of himself playing the national anthem on his electric baseball-bat-violin. He didn’t necessarily mean the clip for wide circulation. He put it up because a friend with contacts in the Washington Nationals front office wanted to show it to his bosses and ask about having Donnellan play the national anthem for a game.”
Was Michael Jackson Our Last Superstar?
“Reflect for a moment on this pining for masscult idols: For whom was it good? Major record labels and Viacom-owned MTV? Unquestionably. Music fans, not to mention superstars themselves? Not so much.”
Beleaguered California’s Southwest Museum Works Behind The Scenes To Reinvent
“The massive renewal project has reduced the museum’s visibility. The galleries have been closed for three years and aren’t scheduled to reopen until 2012, when the historic institution will begin a new life as the Southwest Museum Education and Cultural Center, offering exhibitions of Native American material and related programs.”
San Francisco Turns Down Major Museum… Because?
“Gap founder Don Fisher wanted to hand the city a brand-new $100 million museum, a priceless art collection and renovations to historic buildings in the Presidio. Thank God we got that stopped.”