| Most Important Stolen Paintings in the Last Twenty Years Searched by Special Agents
| | | | The empty frame, center, from which thieves cut Rembrandt's "Storm on the Sea of Galilee" remains on display at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The painting was one of more than a dozen works stolen from the museum in 1990 in what is considered the largest art theft in history. AP Photo/Josh Reynolds.
MADRID.- Some of the most important works by recognized geniuses like Picasso, Matisse, Rembrandt, Velazquez, Van Goh, Cézanne and Sorolla were stolen years ago and the Spanish National Police, which tracks them, has released a video with images of the most wanted paintings. These works of art, some stolen more than 20 years ago could reach the black market "at an exorbitant price, " according to specialist officers working in their search and that belong to the Heritage Brigade, of the UDEV the Office of the General Commissioner of the Judicial Police. Only one of the pieces investigated by agents, according to the National Police, the oil Auvers Sur Oise, Paul Cézanne, is valued at 4.8 million euros. This painting was stolen in January 2000 from the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford (United Kingdom). Le Pigeon aux petits pois by Pablo Picasso, and La Pastorale, by Matisse are some of the most looked for paintings. ... More | | Photo Series at Minneapolis Institute of Arts Features James Welling's Glass House
James Welling. 0775, 2006 (detail). Inkjet print. Courtesy of Regen Projects, Los Angeles.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN.- The third exhibition in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts new photography series featuring groundbreaking contemporary artists presents the innovative work of Los Angeles photographer James Welling. On view through March 7, 2011, New Pictures 3: James Welling, Glass House showcases an elegant photographic series of Philip Johnsons modernist architectural masterpiece, Glass House (1949). Using a digital camera and color filters, Welling experiments with new possibilities for architectural photography, capturing the luminous effects of Johnsons glass-skinned structure at different times and with changing light conditions over a three-year period (20062008.) These atmospheric works reveal the ambiguity between the interior built space and exterior natural space evoked by Johnsons home. These pictures suggest a physical experience of space and form that is unique in archi ... More | | Toledo Museum of Art Acquires Stunning Fred Wilson Mirror to Collection
Fred Wilson (American, born 1954) Iagos Mirror. Murano glass, 2009. Partial gift of The Pace Gallery in honor of Georgia E. Welles and partial purchase with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey, 2010.9 © Fred Wilson, courtesy The Pace Gallery.
TOLEDO, OH.- The Toledo Museum of Art has purchased the dramatic work in glass entitled Iagos Mirror by artist Fred Wilson. The large, ornate work in black Murano glass has been installed in Gallery 5 of the Glass Pavilion®. Fred Wilson is an important artist whose work crosses boundaries between the glass world and contemporary art, said TMA Director Brian Kennedy. One of the Museums goals is to acquire works of art of singular merit by distinguished living artists. Iagos Mirror is a perfect fit within our comprehensive glass collection. Wilson was born in the Bronx, New York in 1954. He received a BFA from SUNY/Purchase where he was the ... More | | Slavery Paintings Made by George Beattie Coming Down from Atlanta Office
One of seven historic paintings hang in the lobby of the Georgia Department of Agriculture. AP Photo/David Goldman. By: Ray Henry, Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP).- Murals of slaves harvesting sugar cane on a Georgia plantation and picking and ginning cotton are coming off the walls of a state building on the order of a new agriculture commissioner. The murals are part of a collection of eight works painted by George Beattie in 1956 depicting an idealized version of Georgia farming, from the corn grown by prehistoric American Indians to a 20th-century veterinary lab. In the Deep South, the history in between includes the forced use of slave labor. "I don't like those pictures," said Republican Gary Black, the newly elected agriculture commissioner. "There are a lot of other people who don't like them." Slavery was indisputably part of 19th-century farming in ... More | | Singapore's Marina Bay Sands Casino to Launch World's First ArtScience Museum
A view of the casino in the Marina Bay Sands. EPA/STEPHEN MORRISON.
SINGAPORE (REUTERS).- Singapore's Marina Bay Sands will open the world's first ArtScience museum in February, the latest attraction at its $5.5 billion gambling complex built by U.S. casino giant Las Vegas Sands. With a form reminiscent of a lotus flower designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, the science museum is due to open on Feb 17 at 1:18 p.m., "as advised by our feng shui master," a Marina Bay Sands spokeswoman said. Dubbed "The Welcoming Hand of Singapore" by Las Vegas Sands chairman Sheldon Adelson, the museum hosts 10 "fingers" anchored by a round base in the middle. The design of each finger reveals different gallery spaces featuring skylights at the "fingertips" that illuminate the dramatically curved interior walls. The building features 21 gallery spaces totalling 50,000 square feet (6,000 square metres) that will deliver exhibits from art a ... More | | Jeu De Paume Brings Together Works for "False Friends / An Ephemeral Video Library"
Jeremy Deller, Memory Bucket, 2003. Vidéo, couleur, son, 2144. Courtesy de lartiste, FNAC 05-523, Centre national des arts plastiques ministère de la Culture et de la Communication, Paris, Art: Concept, Paris © Jeremy Deller.
PARIS.- The works brought together in the exhibition False Friends / An Ephemeral Video Library present micro-narratives articulated around personal experiences, anecdotes or testimony. Situated on the margins of mainstream history and reportage, they show historical reality in a different light and offer readings that are complementary, singular, marginal and inventive. On display until February 6 2011 at Jeu De Paume. This project echoes the advent of alternative modes of access to information digital platforms, blogs, new communications networks that are curbing the power of the traditional media, which tend to treat as secondary, or to simply obscure, certain kinds of events, while trumpeting ... More | | Kunsthalle Wien Presents Power Up: Rediscovering Outstanding Women Pop Artists
Evelyne Axell, Ice Cream, 1964 © Estate of Evelyne Axell und VBK, Wien, 2010, Courtesy Serge Goisse, Brüssel.
VIENNA.- Rediscovering outstanding women Pop artists, POWER UP fulfills Dorothy Iannones combative promise after fifty years. Currently on display until March 6, 2011 at Kunsthalle wien, the show aims at the reinterpretation of an art movement that until today has primarily been associated with male protagonists. Plastic, loud colors, reduced forms, and graphic contours the nine women artists works on display resemble those of their male colleagues in many respects. Whereas their works appeal to the taste of the masses, these artists, as pioneers of Feminism, have remained belligerent and critical. They reveal the consumer cultures superficiality, exposing the commodity myth as an empty shell like Christa Dichgans, ironically transforming everyday objects to oversized kitsch objects like Jann Haworth, or exploring mass media ... More | | ATLAS: How to Carry the World on One's Back? on Display at the Museo Reina Sofía
Gerhard Richter, Ubersicht, 1998. 83 x 68 cm. Collection Institut d'art contemporain, Villeurbanne/Rhona - Alpes.
MADRID.- The exhibition Atlas proposes to shed light on the new framework of thought that Aby Warburg introduced to Western knowledge of history and images. The exhibition aims to demonstrate that after Warburg and his Bilderatlas, images were no longer seen in the same way. What changed were not the images themselves, but rather the manner in which their relationships to each other were conceivedfor some images offer a position faced with others, and all of them together confront what would come to pass in history. Nevertheless, the exhibition is not constructed as a monographic display on Aby Warburg, but as a journey through the history of images from 1914 to today, drawing from Warburgs thought as its genius loci. Currently on view at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía unitl March 28, 2011. Atlas is the name given in Greek mythology to a titan who, along with his brothe ... More | | Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Presents the Work of Belgian Artist Hans Op de Beeck
Stills from Hans Op de Beeck's Staging Silence, 2009. Images courtesy of the artist.
WASHINGTON, DC.- The work of Hans Op de Beeck (Belgian, b. Turnhout, 1969) encompasses sculpture, painting, drawing, installation, photography, video animated film, and short story writing. In each chilly setting of Staging Silence, 2009, initial perceptions of the scene are disrupted by lighting effects and the intrusion of human hands that tinker with elements of the handmade scenery, which quickly transforms from the real to the surreal. Op de Beeck's dreamlike black-and-white scenes evoke vintage film, taking on the playfulness of slapstick and the suspense of film noir. Drawn from his memories of archetypal spaces, the images are, according to the artist, "both ridiculous and serious, like the electic mix of pictures in people's minds." As each scenario unfolds, accompanied by Serge Lacroix's score, the artist's magical world induces a sense of wonder and poetry. Visual artist Hans Op de Beeck lives and works in Brussels, where he has developed his career through internati ... More | | Bonnefantenmuseum Shows Exhibition by BACA Laureate 2010: Francis Alÿs
Silencio, 2003 present Rubber carpets 61 x 47,8 x 06, cm (each) Courtesy the artist and Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich. Foto Harry Heuts.
MAASTRICHT.- The BACA is the only major award for international visual art in the Netherlands. The 2010 jury, comprised of Enrico Lunghi, Dirk Snauwaert and Alexander van Grevenstein, decided unanimously to give the award to Francis Alÿs (B - 1959), for the exceptionally high expressive quality of his work, showing the extent to which this can lead to truly poetic actions and interventions. For the occasion of the BACA, the museum is not presenting a solo exhibition in the traditional sense. Francis Alÿs has decided to show his work in the Bonnefantenmuseum in a different, special way, creating new relationships between his work and the museum's collection. An amount of large projects are displayed, which are spread throughout the building. The central theme in this project is the street as a space filled with ambiguities. Nine hidden cameras record nine views of an accident ... More | | Chicago Public Library Services in High Demand in 2010 Due to Effects of Economic Downturn
Area residents browse the Bucktown-Wicker Park branch of the Chicago Public LIbrary, in Chicago. AP Photo/M. Spencer Green.
CHICAGO, IL.- The increasing demand for library materials and services continued unabated in 2010. As more Chicagoans felt the effects of the economic downturn this year, they continued to turn to their neighborhood libraries for free access to computers, books, movies, music, programs, information and entertainment. All 76 CPL locations continue to be stocked with the latest books, magazines, online databases, free WiFi and speedy Internet access through new and upgraded computers. And Chicagoans clearly know this: more than 1 million patrons visit a Chicago Public Library location each month to use computers; seek reference assistance; check out a book, audiobook, DVD or video; attend a technology class; read in a quiet setting; participate in programs; and view exhibits. During the first 11 months of 2010, CPL circulated more than 8.8 million items books, CDs, DVDs and downloadable media and provided ... More | | Magritte Museum in Brussels Announces Temporary Closure Due to Improvements
A woman looks at an artwork during the press preview of the new Musee Magritte Museum in the center of Brussels. EPA/ERIC VIDAL
BRUSSELS.- Due to improvement works of the HVAC installations (Heath Ventilation & Airco) the Musée Magritte Museum will be closed to the public from January 3rd to 31st, 2011. These works have been considered necessary following the recent technological developments. On this occasion some renovation works will be caried out in the exhibition rooms (among others painting works). All these works guarantee the conservation rules for this remarkable collection. The Musée Magritte Museum, open since the 2nd of June 2009 and situated in the Altenloh Hotel (a building of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium) reached no less than 500.000 visitors within one year ! The museum is located at the Place Royale, in the very heart of Brussels. Thanks to the competences sponsorship developed by the French and Belgian GDF SUEZ subsidiary companies and with the support of the Magritte Foundation this museum was ... More | | 20/21 International Art Fair at the Royal College of Art: Accessible Prices, Quality and Variety
Gregory Volkov, Man with a white bird, 1980. 60 x 45 cm., acrylic on cardboard.
LONDON.- The 20|21 International Art Fair will take place at the Royal College of Art, in Kensington Gore, London SW7, from 17 - 20 February 2011. The fair features modern and contemporary art from the UK but has a significant number of dealers who specialise in work from China, India, Japan, Russia, Poland and the Ukraine. However, art from a whole host of other countries will also be on show. Artists include Matisse, Miró, Picasso and Chagall (all works on paper), urban art from the States, plus British 20th- century favourites such as Henry Moore, David Hockney, Mary Fedden et al, together with many emerging and less well known artists who work will be there to be discovered and enjoyed. The fair, now in its fifth year, has carved out a place for itself in the arts calendar and such is the demand for stands, the organisers are taking more space at the Royal College. There will now be a total of 60 exhibitors ... More | More News | A Swedish Court Convicts 3 Men of Unnoticed Art Theft STOCKHOLM (AP).- A Swedish court has convicted three men of stealing a valuable painting by Edvard Munch from a museum that didn't realize it was missing. The Malmo District Court says the men, who were not identified, were guilty of stealing the Norwegian expressionist's canvas and two works by Swedish artists with a total value of $1.5 million (10 million kronor). Police found the stolen goods while investigating other crimes. The Malmo Art Museum had taken down the paintings, including Munch's "Two Friends," earlier this year and placed them in a storeroom. It was not clear when or how the thefts occurred. The court on Wednesday jailed one of the men for six months, fined the other two and ordered all three to pay damages amountin ... More
Utah Native, Tibetan Book Collector Smith Dies NEW YORK (AP).- Ellis Gene Smith, the son of a Mormon family from Ogden, Utah, who is believed to have compiled the largest collection of Tibetan books outside of Tibet, has died in New York at age 74. The New York Times reports that Smith died Dec. 16 at his Manhattan home. The cause of death was not released. But Jeff Wallman, executive director of the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center in New York, said Smith had had diabetes and heart trouble in recent years. Smith and a small group of friends founded the center in 1999. It holds nearly 25,000 books dating from the 12th century, including many of the seminal texts of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as secular works on a range of topics. Smith was a scholar who became so interested in Tibetan culture that he converted to Buddhism as a young man and began acquiring the books. He was known for his vast knowledge of Tibetan literature ... More
Diamonds Shine in $4.2+ Million Heritage Jewelry Auction DALLAS, TX.-- It was all about big diamonds on Monday, Dec. 13, as some truly stunning rocks took center stage at Heritage Auctions' Signature(r) Fine Jewelry Auction, with an almost 88% sell-through rate by value adding to the stellar $4.2+ million total for the jewelry, certainly Heritage's finest result in the category to date. All prices include a 19.5% Buyer's Premium. "This collection was all about certified diamonds ranging in sizes from 3.00 carats up to 18.00 carats," said Jill Burgum, Director of Jewelry at Heritage, "and our clients clearly responded to the selection. It's also safe to say that big diamonds are back in demand. This particular auction showcased five diamonds, each weighing more than 10.00 carats. The top jewelry lot was a stunning Diamond, Platinum Ring, featuring one emerald-cut diamond weighing 18.40 carats, enhanced by triangle-shaped diamonds weighing a total of approximately 5.00 carats. It rose, am ... More
Offbeat Miami: the Miami Modern District or MiMo MIAMI (AP).- For travelers looking for respite from South Beach clubs and the oh-so chic Design District, the offbeat Miami Modern District also known as MiMo offers a welcome change of pace. No Segway tours here. This is the real Miami, a place to pass a lazy afternoon by the bay, peruse independent boutiques and enjoy some surprisingly delicious local bistros including celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein's flagship restaurant, Michy's. The stretch along Route 1, which recently received a historic designation, lies just north of midtown, dividing Biscayne Bay's hidden residential neighborhoods from Miami's Little Haiti corridor. MiMo is easily distinguished by a string of 1950s-era or Mid-century Modern motels along Biscayne Boulevard, and by the original, kitschy, three-story sign of the Coppertone Girl and her dog on a building overlooking the traffic at 7300 Biscayne Blvd. The hotels flourished in the 1950s as affordable, family friendly lodging before the ... More
Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art Presents Works Made by Artists Born from 1961 Onwards OPORTO.- The Serralves Museum in Oporto, Portugal presents an exhibition titled To the arts, citizens! Inspired by the refrain from the Chant de guerre pour l'armée du Rhin [The War Song of the Army of the Rhine] , this exhibitions title To the Arts, Citizens! embodies a desire to forge a community: the creation of a platform for discussion, that will foster encounters between artist and spectator, while highlighting the common power shared between them. Primarily linked to political rights and duties, the concept of citizenship originated in Greece and is intimately connected to democracy, i.e. the sovereignty of the people. This exhibition set against the centenary commemorations of the Portuguese Republic has been developed from this participatory perspective. It aims to highlight certain contemporary artistic forms that reveal intersections between ar ... More
Colossal Blossoms to Bloom Along Park Avenue in Will Ryman's Inaugural Public Art Exhibition NEW YORK, NY.- Paul Kasmin Gallery, in conjunction with New York City's Department of Parks & Recreation, and the Fund for the Park Avenue Sculpture Committee, will present Will Ryman's The Roses, a new site-specific installation to bloom along Park Avenue from January 25 through May 31, 2011. Transforming Park Avenue into a fanciful garden, Will Ryman's 38 sculptures of rose blossoms towering as high as 25 feet, complimented by 20 individual scattered rose petals, will festoon Park Avenue Mall between 57th and 67th Streets in the artist's inaugural public art exhibition. Reflecting Ryman's flair for the dramatic and absurdly wonderful, roses painted in shades of pink and red will spring up in vibrant contrast to the traditionally bleaker winter months preceding spring in the artist's large-scale love letter to New York City. Envisioned for the unique setting of Park Avenue, Will Ryman's The Roses will present viewer ... More
Nilbar Güres: Window Commission 2010 at Institute of International Visual Arts LONDON.- Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts) is presenting a new commission by artist Nilbar Güres, for Rivington Places front window. This is the first solo presentation of the artists work in the UK following her recent inclusion in the 6th Berlin Biennial. Güres, who lives and works between Vienna and Istanbul, produces theatrical tableaux of women, moving between performance and the everyday. Using a range of media including photography, she subverts representations of femininity and cultural identity. Güres declares war on the prevailing relations between the sexes by playful means, her weapons ranging from sewing needles to boxing gloves. In drawings, collages, performances, videos, and photographs she overstates the norms of the majority society, countering them with hybridized enactments of female identity. Kolja Reichert, author. For her new commission at Rivington Place the artist sho ... More
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