More on MOCA’s new director, Jeffrey Deitch, who brings his more business-oriented background to the Museum in LA: [Bloomberg] Deitch’s contract with the museum has certain safeguards against conflicts of interest that might arise from his foot in the business world– among the new rules, Deitch must notify the museum’s board of anything he adds to or sells from his collection. [LATimes]
Eli Broad and his Broad Art Foundation reveal that they are considering 3 different Westside locations on which to build and endow a museum for his art collection. The third site was recently revealed as being a ten-acre parcel on the campus of West LA College in Culver City. [LA Times]
Works by Picasso and Henri Rousseau have been stolen from a private villa in the South of France, marking the country’s second major art robbery in that week– (work by impressionist painter Edgar Degas was stolen from the Cantini Museum in Marseilles only days before). [FT]
To stay apprised of the latest relevant news of the art world…
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Richard Wright’s winning wall painting, via TimesOnline
Last night, Richard Wright was announced the winner of the prestigious Turner Prize at a ceremony in Tate Britain. Wright’s highly intricate gold-leaf painting that won him the prize can be seen across one wall of the Turner Prize exhibition currently on display at Tate Britain through January 6, 2010.  Wright lives in Glasgow and so follows an illustrious line of Scotland-based winners – from Douglas Gordon back in 1996 to Martin Creed in 2001 and Simon Starling in 2005. At 49, Wright is the oldest man to win the prize since the under-50 age limit was imposed in 1991.
Wright rejected painting on canvas in the late 1980s and has become best known for his wall paintings which are temporarily crafted onto walls in overlooked places with the knowledge that they will soon be erased – almost everything Wright has created since this decision has been destroyed. His paintings combine graphic imagery and intricate patterning from sources as varied as Medieval painting, graphics and typography.
Four artists, working a variety of media, were in contention for the prize – Enrico David, Roger Hiorns, Lucy Skaer, and Richard Wright – Hiorns had been the critics’ favorite going into the competition.
–> Andrew Dickson, Arts Editor of the Guardian, talks to Turner Prize winner Richard Wright, Stephen Deuchar, Carol Ann Duffy, and 2001 Turner winner Martin Creed via The Guardian
Richard Wright: 2009 Turner Prize Winner [The Guardian] –>
A Turner Prize Winner Who Takes Viewers By Surprise [NY Times] –>
Turner Prize Winner Richard Wright Shocks World – Actual Art [Daily Mail] –>
Richard Wright Who Wrecks His Own Work Wins Turner Prize [Bloomberg] –>
I’d Like Him to Do My Living Room Wall [TimesOnline] –>
School of Art [BBC News] –>
You could call Wright’s art Minimalist, but it is also luxurious [Independent] –>
Richard Wright Wins Turner Prize [Financial Times] –>
Fresco Painter Richard Wright Wins Turner Prize [Reuters]
Groupon Class Action Suits Challenge Online Coupon Business.
Mondaq Business Briefing July 21, 2011 In the latest action to be filed in a series of class action lawsuits against Groupon, Inc., Carlos Vasquez filed a complaint on March 8, 2011 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of himself and other similarly situated consumers alleging that Groupon places unlawful expiration dates on its gift certificates. see here groupon houston
The action is preceded by similar class action suits pending in Illinois, Minnesota, California and Florida federal courts. In the complaint, Vasquez alleged that he purchased a $20 coupon for a one-month gym membership valued at $305, and the coupon expired two months later before he had the opportunity to use it. Because Vasquez was not aware that he could seek redress with the gym retailer, he claims that he lost the money that he invested.
The suit alleges that Groupon’s sale of coupons with short-term expiration dates is deceptive and illegal under state and federal laws. Specifically, the complaint states that Groupon is in violation of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (the CARD Act) and the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA), which prohibit the sale and issuance of gift certificates with expiration dates of less than five years after the date of issuance. However, under the definitions covered by the CARD Act, EFTA and the implementing rule Regulation E, a “gift certificate” and “gift card” must be issued “in a specified amount.” Clarifying the meaning of “specified amount” under the rule, the official staff commentary of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors states that “the rule does not apply to gift certificates or gift cards that entitle the cardholder to a specific ‘experience,’ such as a hotel stay or a golf lesson,” and expresses concern that sponsors of ‘experience’ cards would have to raise prices to adjust for anticipated cost increases over a five-year period if the five-year minimum expiration period applied. Despite the federal statutory definition of “gift card” and “gift certificate,” the complaint seeks to include the defendant’s gym membership coupon as falling within scope of the CARD Act and EFTA. The complaint also charges Groupon with breach of contract and violations of the District of Columbia’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
In addition, the suit alleges that Groupon preys on unsuspecting consumers through its sales process whereby gift certificates are placed on sale and consumers feel pressured to act quickly – usually within 24 hours – to purchase the gift certificates under burdensome conditions. It further states that consumers “often cannot take advantage of and/or use the product or service they paid for before the expiration date unilaterally imposed” by Groupon. The complaint includes a sampling of internet postings by consumers who expressed frustrations about Groupon’s expiration dates, and states that “thousands of consumers have lost money” because of short-term expiration dates. The suit seeks restitution, disgorgement of monies that Groupon obtained as a result of the conduct at issue, compensative and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and a court order enjoining Groupon from engaging in these practices and requiring the company to fund an advertising campaign to remedy its allegedly lawful conduct. see here groupon houston
With similar class action suits pending against Groupon, it is unclear how courts will view the company’s practice of selling gift certificates with short-term expiration dates. However, after settling a lawsuit brought in Chicago last year, Groupon changed its terms of service to allow consumers to get refunds in cases where a merchant refuses to honor a coupon that is arguably still valid under state law. Because websites offering daily deals and discount coupons have significantly increased in numbers and popularity, the Groupon suits have the potential to affect many key players utilizing this business model and may shape how existing state and federal gift card laws will applyto online coupon services.
THE BOTTOM LINE Recent class action lawsuits brought against Groupon allege that its online discount coupons are subject to the five year federal minimum expiration period for gift cards as well as to relevant individual state expiration requirements, and may determine how these state and federal gift card legislation laws apply to online discount coupon providers.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
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Richard Wright’s untitled wall painting, via Times UK
Now on view at Tate Britain is an exhibition of the four artists shortlisted for this year’s Turner Prize, Britain’s most prestigious – and most controversial – art prize. Featuring Enrico David, Roger Hiorns, Lucy Skaer, and Richard Wright, the exhibition showcases both works for which the artists were nominated as well as new works. The winner of the prize will be announced on December 7, 2009, via a live televised broadcast. Though the Turner Prize has been awarded to well-regarded artists including Anish Kapoor, Rachel Whiteread, and Wolfgang Tillmans, it has been the source of controversy for its attentions to unconventional YBAs like Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin. This year’s nominees, however, have been noted for their lack of shock tactics. Gone are Emin’s dirty sheets and used condoms, replaced by Wright’s delicate wall drawing and Skaer’s archaeological assemblages.
On view now at Gagosian Gallery’s Davies Street location in London is an exhibition of the work of Richard Wright, one of four artists shortlisted for this year’s Turner Prize. The highlight of the show is a site-specific painting on the ceiling made with silver leaf. Many of Wright’s works are created in situ, responding to the architectural layout, often working with overlooked places, with the overall design of the work evolving until its completion. The exhibition also includes a number of works on paper.
