“The good news for fans of August Wilson is that Joe Turner’s Come and Gone will return to Broadway next spring. But the idea that a white director will helm the work of America’s foremost black playwright has raised some eyebrows.”
Tag: 12.03.08
Time Out New York For Sale
“The New York edition of Time Out is on the auction block with a cover price of up to $40 million (£26.8 million) after backers of the weekly magazine pressed for a sale in an attempt to generate profit on their 13-year investment. It is more successful than the original London title, with more than double the weekly circulation, but Tony Elliott, Time Out‘s founder, cannot afford to buy out his investment partners in the business.”
Andrés Duany Spanks British Architecture
The apostle of New Urbanism and designer of Seaside, Florida (and, not incidentally, an ally of the famously retro Prince Charles) “flew in from America and yesterday unveiled a 64-point litany of mistakes made by British architects and planners over the last 50 years. He accused architects of being ‘infantile’ in pursuing ego-driven visions and said they were ‘heedless of technical and social dysfunction and widespread lack of popularity’ caused by their designs.”
Yes, Lehman Bros. Collection Will Be Liquidated
“Lehman Brothers has won permission to release, and sell, $8m (£5.4m) worth of art that once adorned office walls at the bankrupt investment bank.”
Grammy Nominations Out
In the jazz categories, nominees include Terence Blanchard and Chick Corea. In classical, the Chicago Symphony scored multiple nominations for Best Orchestral Performance, and John Corigliano’s setting of seven “poems” by Bob Dylan is up for best contemporary composition alongside concertos by George Tsontakis and Marc-Andre Dalbavie.
Broad Has No Restrictions On MOCA Offer
“When Eli Broad announced recently in a Times opinion piece that he wanted to help bail out the financially woebegone Museum of Contemporary Art by making a $30-million ‘investment’ in its rescue, his choice of words made some wonder what he might want in return.” But Broad said this week that he isn’t attaching any strings to his offer.
Be Careful What You Ask For (And From Whom)
Seattle artist and political/social activist Deborah Lawrence was one of several hundred artists invited to create ornaments for this year’s White House holiday tree. Her submission was the only one rejected. The reason: her ornament (to the surprise of nobody who knew her well) was covered with tiny text calling for George Bush’s impeachment. (Laura Bush’s spokeswoman said, “I think it really is a shame and, quite frankly, not very much in the holiday spirit.”)
The Secret Of Obama’s Appeal? He Stimulates Your Vagus Nerve
A psychology researcher theorizes that “when we experience transcendence, it stimulates our vagus nerve [in the autonomic nervous system], causing ‘a feeling of spreading, liquid warmth in the chest and a lump in the throat.’ For the 66 million Americans who voted for Obama, that experience was shared on Election Day, producing a collective case of an emotion that has only recently gotten research attention. It’s called ‘elevation.'”
The Fine Art Of The Rejection Letter
The editor of the book Other People’s Love Letters is seeking submissions for his latest compilation, to be titled Other People’s Rejection Letters. But one journalist and editor who used to compose and send out such rebuffs reminds us that “writing rejection letters is a delicate skill, one that must be fine-tuned over time (weeks, even) as one digs out from under the slush pile. For it is not easy to achieve and balance the two central goals of a truly accomplished rejection letter: trying not to make the writer feel distraught whilst also discouraging him or her from ever contacting you ever again.”
Nude Artists’ Models Speak Out!
A few of the hard-working folks who get naked and sit still for art students discuss the requirements, pains and pleasures of the job.