Archive for September, 2007

"Spiritual America": Richard Prince retrospective at the Guggenheim

Friday, September 28th, 2007

The 30-year retrospective of American artist Richard Prince, Spiritual America, opened this past Thursday to a waning full moon on one of the last hot nights of summer. The show, which is on view until January 9th, 2008 at the Guggenheim New York, includes nearly 160 paintings, photographs, drawings, and sculptures. (more…)

New Position Created at MoMA for Kathy Halbreich

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

Kathy Halbreich via Walker Art blog

As New York’s MoMA has been under fire the past few years for a program that takes the safe road, an article in the New York Times today announces a new position of Associate Director at the institution that was offered to Kathy Halbreich.  Halbreich announced her retirement from the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis in March, and will be working with MoMA beginning in February. (more…)

Deitch pulls Wes Lang artwork from exhibit

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007

Courtesy Wes Lang via NYMag

New York dealer Jeffrey Deitch pulled two Wes Lang pieces from “Mail Order Monsters,” Deitch Projects’ season opener. Deitch told Lang that the work was “superficially incendiary” and received complaints from some of his black friends. (more…)

Jerry Saltz says the Guggenheim should “Dump Thomas Krens”

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007

Jerry Saltz’s scathing article in this week’s New York Magazine pulled out all the stops. With the departure of director Lisa Dennison, the Guggenheim is undeniably looking for a replacement, but Saltz contends that the real problem is Thomas Krens, who is slowly but surely destroying the institution from within. (more…)

Newslinks for week of 9.24.07

Monday, September 24th, 2007

Leonard Lauder may have bought a looted Klimt [NYTimes]
Judge dismisses lawsuit against dealer Wildenstein [NYPost]
Christie’s estimates $154m in sales during Frieze week [TheWest]
Banksy prints on eBay scam revealed [ArtNewspaper]
Zhang Huan’s Russian Influences [Telegraph]
New van Gogh letters on display at Morgan Library [TheWest]
Christie’s fall auction promotions in Moscow [Bloomberg]
New Judith Supine pastes appear in NYC [Wooster Collective]
New money from Russia & Asia helping auction sales [NYPost]
Robert Wilson & collection evicted by Aby Rosen [PageSix]
Art market anxieties hanging onto October auctions [WSJ]

‘Age of Rembrandt’ opens at the Met

Friday, September 21st, 2007

Aristotle with a Bust of Homer, Rembrandt via CultureGrrl

Holland Cotter’s guide to the ‘Age of Rembrandt’ exhibit in today’s New York Times includes some helpful tips including a map and a reminder of the power of the wall labels.  The exhibit includes works by Vermeer, Aelbert Cuyp, Jacob van Ruisdaels and Salomon van Ruysdaels.

Blogger Lee Rosenbaum notes that the exhibit is very influenced by donor power and can feel very disjointed.  The Rembrandts themselves are not together chronologically, as they were during a rare exhibit a few years ago, but according to wing and some of the “lesser known works” are elsewhere.

Regardless of the opposing views, the exhibit is worth the visit – but as Rosenbaum suggests, perhaps not the $20 “suggested donation”.  The Met is still pay-what-you-wish if the fee seems daunting.

Rev your engines and strap on your gasmask, Aaron Young is uptown

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007

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Photo via Art Observed

AO got inside the exclusive 500-invitee motorcycle performance last night at the Park Avenue Armory. The full size arena-like open space was covered with 288 panels, layered seven times with neon paint and a topcoat of rubber. The stunt riders created burnouts on the surfaces with donuts and paths choreographed by artist Aaron Young. The audience was provided with gas masks to avoid the exhaust during the seven-minute performance, and the sound of screeching tires and whirring engines was an overload for the senses. Photos of the event after the jump.
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The Sartorialist & Danziger Projects – Update

Monday, September 17th, 2007

Image via Christopher Peterson, 2007

We announced a few weeks ago that Scott Schuman, the photographer behind hit fashion blog “The Sartorialist,” had joined Danziger Projects in Chelsea, New York City but we didn’t have many details. We caught up with James Danziger himself at the opening of Andy Freeberg’s show on September 6th. (more…)

Newslinks for week of 9.17.07

Monday, September 17th, 2007

Saatchi’s New Online Art Salesroom to Launch Next Week [Portfolio]
The Emerging World of Art Finance [WSJ]
Nelson’s Exhibit Opens Essex St. Market for First Time in 13 Years [CreativeTime]
Friezed-London Auctions to Be Strong Despite Bonus Cuts [Bloomberg]
New Banksy Around London [Supertouch]
Murakami & Mr. Designed Skate Decks [HypeBeast]
Russian Billionare Buys Out Sotheby’s Auction Privately [Bloomberg]
Tourists reprimanded at Guggenheim
[NYMag]
Gagosian, Saatchi Move up on VF100, Eli Broad down [VanityFair]
Sotheby’s London Auction Cancelled, Collection acquired [Sotheby's]
Jerry Saltz’s Top Picks for New Guggenheim Director [NYMag]

Olafur Eliasson at SFMOMA

Monday, September 17th, 2007

360 degree room for all colours, 2002 via SFMOMA

As a rule openings are casual affairs in San Francisco, dispensing with much of the pomp and circumstance, air kissing and conceptual get-up that defines its New York counterparts. A warm Wednesday evening in September proves no exception as SFMOMA celebrates its new fall exhibit: Your Tempo: Olafur Eliasson. Of course, one can still spot (if inclined to do so) the heavy hitters around town. Richard Kramlich, longtime patron of video and new media, lounges at the doorway of the Architecture and Design galleries on the second floor, pleasantly chatting with a small group of corporate sponsors (none of whom don ties). On the fifth floor, Madeleine Grynsztejn, Senior Curator of Painting and Sculpture, gracefully accepts my compliments on her lovely deconstructed suit. “It’s Comme,” she admits demurely and then playfully notes how the shifting light of a large-scale installation perfectly offsets my companion’s violet lipstick. “Stay in this room!” she jokes. (more…)

Jeff Koons’ Turn to Bling – “Diamond (Blue)” Up For Grabs November 13

Monday, September 17th, 2007


Bloomberg via Christie’s Images Ltd.

Just in case all the press and speculation created by Damien Hirst’s diamond skull the past few months wasn’t enough for you, Christie’s announced last week that Jeff Koons’ “Diamond (Blue)” would be included in their November 13th contemporary sale. If the sculpture sells for the estimated $12 million, it will set a new high for the artist. (more…)

Olafur Eliasson’s Prismatic Vision for ‘Phaedra’

Monday, September 17th, 2007


Ruth Walz for Staatsoper-Berlin

Opera-goers in Berlin viewed a special treat during Hans Werner Henze’s latest production of Phaedra at the Staatsoper. Danish-born artist Olafur Eliasson designed the sets for the two-act production.

Artnet.de’s Gerrit Gohlke said that the artist “seems not to interpret the composer but rather confront the medium of opera itself”. Eliasson’s use of prisms, two-way mirrors and lighting machines turns the stage into an interesting portal that forces the audience to stare into infinite reflections of the actors.

A retrospective of the artist’s work opened last week at San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art and will be on view through February 24, 2008.

Eliasson at the Opera [Artnet]
Dazzling music, murky meaning [FT]

Legal Matters: Did Christie's Sell Tony Shafrazi a Fake?

Friday, September 14th, 2007

According to a piece in Crain’s, New York-based art dealer and gallerist Tony Shafrazi filed a claim on September 7th against auction giant Christie’s for $7 million with the New York Supreme Court. He alleges that the Basquiat he purchased in 1990 for $242,000 is a fake and Christie’s knowingly sold it to him regardless. (more…)

Sotheby’s Price Grabbers – Who Surpassed High Estimates?

Wednesday, September 12th, 2007

Allan D’Arcangelo’s ‘Smoke Dreams’ via Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s Contemporary Sale today brought in $13,134,050 for the auction house. And as usual, there are those lots who surpassed their high estimates, like above, Allan D’Arcangelo‘s “Smoke Dreams #2″. Estimated between $8,000 – $12,000, the piece sold for $289,000. Other high fetchers after the jump. (more…)

Newslinks for week of 9.10.07

Wednesday, September 12th, 2007

NYMag Speculates on Timing of Hirst Skull Sale [Intelligencer]
Damien Hirst’s New Friends: Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen [PageSix]
Nancy Hoffman to Leave SoHo after 35 Years, 27th St Awaits [ArtInfo.com]
Walker Art Center Gets New Director From Hirshhorn [NYTimes]
Sotheby’s Executives Sell Inside Shares to Avoid Risks [Bloomberg]
Damien Hirst’s Skulls Adorn Prada Party [Portfolio]
Prada/Tom Sach’s Collaboration Coats Taken from Gagosian Opening [FWD]
9/11 Commemoration at New York Historical Society [NYTimes]
Holland Cotter Reviews the Art Parade
[NYTimes]
The Women Behind Salon 94 & Freeman’s Alley [NYSun]
What’s Behind the Restoration of the Guggenheim [NYTimes]
Finance Isn’t Everything – The Arts Make New York Go ‘Round [Economist]
Collectors Cut Back on Acquisitions as Market Declines [FW]

Art Sales Still High, At Least at Christie’s

Wednesday, September 12th, 2007

Louise Bourgeois’ ‘Femme Maison’ via Kicking Wind

Auction giant Christie’s has released it’s results for Monday’s Post-War & Contemporary sale. Any doubts for art sales this fall injected into our minds by the failing credit markets were comforted by this auction for sure. 254 out of 333 lots were sold, totaling $12,356,950. Thanks to the buyers, four artists can claim a new world auction record, including Louise Nevelson, Alice Neel, Norman Bluhm, and Louise Bourgeois. (more…)

Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Asia Sale

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007

“The Little Mermaid” by Liu Ye via Sotheby’s

Auction house Sotheby’s will be holding their Contemporary Asian Art sale on Thursday September 20th at 1334 York Avenue at 72nd Street. Session 1 will be held at 10am and session 2 will begin at 2pm. Liu Ye‘s “The Little Mermaid” (pictured above) is the the highest priced piece in the sale, with a low estimate of $1 million and a high estimate of $1.5 million. Auction details after the jump. (more…)

Glitter, Freaks & Marching Bands: It's the Art Parade!

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007

Courtesy of Ian Whalen

The third annual Art Parade (organized by Deitch Projects, Creative Time and Paper Magazine) took place this past Saturday, September 8th in SoHo. One dazzling hour saw over 80 participants dressed in a variety of costumes made of materials like glitter, foam and body paint. What was so mesmerizing about the parade? Was it the glint of glitter sparkling in the sunlight? Being outnumbered by trannies? The unabashed nudity? Whatever it was, the sheer amount of spectacle during this event made it difficult to turn away. More photos after the jump. (more…)

Christie’s & Sotheby’s Price Guarantees Resting On International Collectors

Monday, September 10th, 2007

From Bloomberg via Christies Images

According Bloomberg.com, collectors who choose to sell their Warhols and de Koonings are being guaranteed $1 billion before the fall auctions at Christie’s and Sotheby’s. The auction giants are relying on collectors from Russia and Asia to help prop up New York City art prices as the credit markets decline. These overseas collectors seem to make large purchases despite losses many finance professionals are experiencing. (more…)

Cai Guo-Qiang Mid-Career Retrospective @ Guggenheim Museum

Monday, September 10th, 2007

‘Transient Rainbow’ 2002, photo by Hiro Ihara

Chinese-born artist Cai Guo-Qiang will have his mid-career retrospective at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in February 2008. The artist was chosen as a finalist for the museum’s Hugo Boss Prize in 1996. The exhibition will feature lesser known works by the artist, and will coincide with the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and will travel to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in 2009. (more…)

Art No Longer on the Coattails of Fashion

Monday, September 10th, 2007

Photo Esther Kim

It seems to be the other way around instead, according to an article in the NYSun last week. Now that the art market has proven to be a hot arena, the fashion industry is doing all it can to include itself. Bloomindale’s latest campaign is called “Artrageous,” working in conjunction with the new New Museum opening in the Bowery this December. (more…)

Frank Stella @ the Met – Through October 28th

Monday, September 10th, 2007

Anna Marie Kellen for The Metropolitan Museum of Art

If you haven’t seen Frank Stella’s first solo exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art yet, you still have some time. Weather permitting, the artist’s sculptures will be on the rooftop of the Museum through October 28th.
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Frank Stella on the Roof [Met]

SENATOR COLLINS TO ATTEND THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AT EASTERN MAINE MEDICAL CENTER FOR THE CANCER CARE OF MAINE this web site eastern maine medical center

Capitol Hill Press Releases December 11, 1997 00-00-0000 December 11, 1997 Contact: Kimberley Bannerman (202) 224-2523 SENATOR COLLINS TO ATTEND THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AT EASTERN MAINE MEDICAL FOR THE CANCER CARE OF MAINE WASHINGTON, D.C., – Senator Collins will be speaking at a reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the now integrated cancer patient facility at Eastern Maine Medical Center to honor CancerCare of Maine. This new facility will provide much needed services to cancer patients throughout northern, eastern and central Maine. website eastern maine medical center

The event will held at the Webber Building at Eastern Maine Medical Center on December 14, 1997 and will commence at 1:15 p.m.

The press are invited to attend.

NO PORTION OF THIS TRANSCRIPTION MAY BE COPIED, SOLD OR RETRANSMITTED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN AUTHORITY OF FEDERAL DOCUMENT CLEARING HOUSE, INC.

Gagosian Gallery Transforms into Runway for Damien Hirst & Warhol Factory X Collab with Levi’s

Monday, September 10th, 2007

NYMag.com posted a video yesterday highlighting the runway show for Damien Hirst & Warhol Factory X’s collaborations with Levi’s. Hirst created spin art pieces specially for the show, designs that were also featured on his denim. (more…)

Don’t Miss The Art Parade!

Friday, September 7th, 2007

via Deitch Projects

The Third Annual Art Parade will take place tomorrow, Saturday September 8th starting at 4pm. Starting on Houston Street along West Broadway to Grand Street, the parade will include street spectacles, portable sculptures, and kites among other visuals. (more…)