Art News

WASHINGTON, DC.- George H. Miller, FAIA, partner at Pei Cobb Freed & Partners LLP, was inaugurated as the 86th president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) during ceremonies held on December 4th. He succeeds Marvin J. Malecha, FAIA, and will represent the more than 86,000 AIA members in the coming year. Miller was elected at the AIA 2008 annual convention in Boston, and has served as AIA first vice president this past year. His inaugural speech highlighted the need to elevate the voice of architects in their communities and to enhance the public’s understanding of the value of design. His term will be highlighted by the theme, “Design Matters” as a way to draw attention to the core values of design – beauty, sustainability, health, safety and productivity. He also called on AIA members to focus their efforts on designing better schools, affordable housing, mass transportation and sustainable communitie

By: Nicolas Vaux-Montagny, Associated Press Writer

PARIS (AP).- Preliminary charges have been filed against nine employees of Paris’ respected Drouot auction house after police found stolen art, including a painting by 19th-century realist master Gustave Courbet, prosecutors said Monday. An auctioneer and eight commission agents were given preliminary charges, including “organized theft,” the prosecutor’s office said. Three others detained last week in the police raids on Drouot, its warehouses and homes of employees were released with no charges filed against them. When the bust was announced last week, there was initial confusion about which Courbet work had been recovered. The painting — stolen several years ago from a collection whose owner had recently died — was not clearly identified, and the heir had confused it with another work, an official close to the inquiry said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing. Police initially identifie

STOCKBRIDGE, MA.- Norman Rockwell Museum Director/CEO Laurie Norton Moffatt has been appointed by the American Association of Museums (AAM) to serve as an official delegate on a cultural diplomacy trip to Russia with the United States Department of State and the President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities. Ms. Norton Moffatt will be joining a delegation of American and Russian officials and several private sector leaders in Moscow from December 7 to 9, to discuss ways to continue fostering positive relations between the United States and Russia, and how various organizations might support the objectives of the commission. Funding to support Ms. Norton Moffatt’s trip has been made possible by The Henry Luce Foundation for American Art, The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, and The Berkshire Taconic Foundation. “I am honored that the AAM has invited me to represent our country through this unique opportunity,” says Nor

LONDON.- Digitally growing plants and a mechanical eye that mirrors the blink of a visitor’s gaze will be among the digital works that will feature in “Decode: Digital Design Sensations”. The exhibition will show the latest developments in digital and interactive design, from small screen based graphics to large-scale installations. Curated in collaboration with leading digital arts organisation onedotzero, there will be works by established international artists and designers including Daniel Brown, Golan Levin and Daniel Rozin

NEW YORK, NY.- Bronx Architecture” is an online guide to the architecture of the borough developed by Lehman College Art Gallery/CUNY. Designed as a companion to “Public Art in the Bronx,” the Web site features over 75 buildings, background on architects, neighborhood walking tours, maps, lesson-plans for high school teachers, neighborhood histories, a resource section, and glossary. Like the Web site devoted to public art, we hope that this guide will provide a useful resource for the general public as

WASHINGTON, DC.- Since 2005, as part of the Hirshhorn‘s commitment to the creative possibilities of new media, the Black Box has presented the work of a range of emerging and established international artists, such as Francis Alÿs, Mircea Cantor, Ori Gersht, Jesper Just, Rivane Neuenschwander and Guido van der Werve. From single camera shots to computer-generated animation, the Black Box explores the wide variety of film, video and innovative media that have become so pervasive in contemporary art.

SACRAMENTO, CA.- The Crocker Art Museum recently appointed Randy Roberts as Deputy Director. As Deputy Director, Roberts will be a part of the Crocker’s senior management team and provide strategic leadership for managers of the education, marketing and development departments. She will also work closely with the director to prepare staff and operations to move into an expanded facility, scheduled to open to the public on October 10, 2010. Roberts brings 25 years of museum experience in management, education, visitor services and marketing. Most recently, she served as manager of the Visitor Studies

LONDON (AP).- A Scotland-based painter known for destroying his large-scale wall murals after they have been exhibited won Britain’s best-known art award, the Turner Prize, on Monday. Richard Wright said he was surprised he beat three other finalists to win the annual 25,000 pound ($40,000) prize, which was announced at London’s Tate Britain gallery. The award was presented by British poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy. “I’m shocked — is there another kind of reaction?” the artist said. “I wasn’t expecting it, not at all.” Wright is known for painting intricate, large-scale patterns on walls or ceilings, as well as for his insistence that his work be destroyed after the exhibitions end. He said he gave up painting on canvas because those paintings were “rubbish” and didn’t represent who he was.

NEW YORK, NY.- On 17 December 2009 at 2pm, Sotheby’s New York will hold its bi-annual sale of Important 20th-Century Design beginning with works from the Art & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and American Modern movements, and concluding with Mid-Century and Contemporary design. Highlighting the sale is an offering of 25 lots collected by Stephen Gray, one of the foremost authorities on the Arts and Crafts movement. The Important Tiffany auction will follow at approximately 3:30pm and features a topcaliber range of objects representing the diverse disciplines of Tiffany Studios.