Remembering SF’s Model Arts Patron

James Schwabacher was a true patron of the arts in San Francisco. “And for those who knew him — which would include just about anyone who has participated in San Francisco’s musical life over the past half-century — Schwabacher was someone who spread delight and warmth wherever he went. He was a seraphic presence at musical events of all kinds, beaming from his seat and quietly conducting with his hand.”

Saltz: Where Are The Women???

Jerry Saltz looks for women in New York art institutions. “According to the fall exhibition schedules for 125 well-known New York galleries—42 percent of which are owned or co-owned by women—of 297 one-person shows by living artists taking place between now and December 31, just 23 percent are solos by women. On the fourth and fifth floors of the Museum of Modern Art, in the galleries devoted to the permanent collection of art from 1879 to 1969, there are currently 399 objects. Only 19, or 5 percent, of those objects are by women. Meanwhile, since 2000 only 14 percent of the Guggenheim’s solo shows of living artists have been devoted to women.”

Senate Pulls CPB Board Nomination

A US Senate Committee has pulled Warren Bell from a nomination hearing to consider his appointement to the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. “The selection of the outspoken conservative disquieted many public broadcasting officials, who were troubled by partisan comments Bell has posted on the website of the conservative National Review magazine. His sharp opinions caused some broadcasters to fear that Bell would rekindle the fierce political debate that engulfed the corporation last year under the leadership of former Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson.”

Klose To Step Down As NPR Chief

NPR president and CEO Kevin Klose will step down as CEO. Ken Stern will replace him. “Klose has held the top job at NPR since late 1998, and has presided over strong growth in NPR’s annual funding, as well as increases in its audience and newsroom staff. During that time, the number of people listening to NPR’s programs doubled, to about 26 million per week, and its annual budget more than doubled, to $167 million.”