The city of Charlotte’s Public Libray and its Children’s Theatre decided to collaborate on a new home. “Occupying a city block in ‘Uptown Charlotte’—the growing cultural hub of the city—this freestanding, 102,000-square-foot, two-month-old building is radical for a number of reasons. For one thing, when library and theater leaders agreed to create a joint-use facility, instead of just building a structure that would house both institutions side by side, they took a far riskier step—creating a daringly original space with its own identity and, eventually, its own life.”
Tag: 12.01.05
Marks Takes Over Orlando Ballet
Bruce Marks has been named interim director of Orlando Ballet. Marks’ appointment follows the unexpected death of Orlando Ballet Artistic Director Fernando Bujones on Nov. 10. Marks became the first American principal dancer at the Royal Danish Ballet and remained there for five years. He was named artistic director of Ballet West in 1976, and then was appointed artistic director of Boston Ballet in 1985.”
America’s Newspaper Architecture Critics
America’s newspapers don’t have many architecture critics on staff. Here’s a profile of four of the most prominent: the Boston Globe’s Robert Campbell, Chicago Tribune’s Blair Kamin, LA Times’ Christopher Hawthorne, and New York Times’ Nicolai Ouroussoff.
Tracing The Priceless Euphronios Cup
“The priceless Euphronios cup — painted with the image of the fallen Trojan war hero Sarpedon — is the earliest known work painted by the Athenian master, last seen intact publicly in New York in 1990 on the Sotheby’s block as lot #6 selling for $742,000 and going to a “European buyer”. I considered it a relevant question, since the “European buyer” for the cup last week identified himself to the press in Italy as Giacomo Medici, a man convicted of antiquities smuggling and now appealing a 10-year sentence.”
Corcoran Taps A Scholar
The Washington, D.C.-based Corcoran Gallery of Art has selected British art historian Paul Greenhaulgh as its next president. “The appointment is part of a wrenching overhaul at the 136-year-old Corcoran after five years of bold plans and occasional turmoil.” Greenhaulgh currently runs an art school in Nova Scotia, experience which should serve him well at the Corcoran, where he will also be in charge of the gallery’s College of Art & Design. “He succeeds David C. Levy, the Corcoran’s director for 14 years. Levy resigned suddenly in May as the board of trustees suspended efforts to build a wing designed by acclaimed architect Frank Gehry. Fundraising for the project had stalled, and the Corcoran had accumulated deficits in 17 of the past 21 years.”
Enough With The Literary Navel-Gazing Already!
Jon Carroll has had it with the trend of writers writing about writers and writing and expecting the rest of the world to give a damn. “Writing is not an inherently interesting profession. It’s very boring to watch. Writers do not dress well, and they frequently mumble. Periodically, a writer goes into rehab or opens an antique store; it’s not exactly cinematic. It’s not like freeing the virtuous farmers from the yoke of oppression by wearing a mask and engaging in swordplay. It’s the life of the mind. It’s paint drying.” But then, people in nearly every profession seem to be obsessed with their own importance these days…
Like Sundance, Only Colder
“The Whistler Film Festival, which launches its fifth-anniversary edition today in Whistler, B.C., is one step closer to becoming the Sundance of Canada with an aggressive new industry component that will sled in a slew of hot-shot sales agents and distributors from New York and Hollywood. And coming next year, China.”
By Chicago, For Chicago
Chicago is a fabulous museum town, but some residents believe that the city’s world-renowned museums frequently ignore the art that’s right under their nose. Enter the Chicago Art Foundation, founded a year ago with the mission of building a new museum to showcase Chicago-based art. Such endeavors take huge amounts of time and money, of course, but the foundation has made impressive progress in a relatively short period of time.
Boston To Lose Theatrical Landmark?
Boston’s venerable Wilbur Theater may go dark next year after Clear Channel Entertainment declined to extend its lease beyond summer 2006. The venue was booked for only 15 weeks over the past year, and Clear Channel has had great difficulty selling tickets to events there.
Now If Only The People Could Afford Theatre Tickets…
“Moscow is experiencing a boom in theater construction, a testament both to the importance Russian leaders place on the nation’s capital as a cultural showcase and to the money from oil and other commodities flowing through the city’s coffers… The theater construction boom is part of a general real estate boom in Moscow fueled by the success of Russia’s raw materials and commodities market, which has allowed the city to lavish money on things like the Moscow International Performance Arts Center, a performing arts complex intended to be the city’s answer to Lincoln Center, and all the theaters sprouting up around town. There are more than a half-dozen other major construction or reconstruction projects slated for next year.”