German Cultural Minister Prompts Mass Art Exodus German cultural minister, Monika Grütters is embroiled in a controversy over her draft proposal for a Cultural Property Protection Act, which can have dire consequences as artists and collectors threaten to withdraw works on loan to German museums. The draft proposes what many are viewing as draconian restrictions…
Month: July 2015
Art Appreciation: When collectors cash in on museum reputations
The Smithsonian’s recent Cosby quagmire stands as the latest, most public, instance of an unfortunate trend and its consequences: art collectors are leveraging public educational institutions and spaces to build reputations and provenance that add value to their collections. This is a whopping conflict of interest that has been, until now, only periodically acknowledged, and…
Cosby Power: the Smithsonian NMAfA feels it
Here’s the bottom line and then let’s be done with it: Dr. Camille O. Cosby sits on the board of advisors at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art (NMAfA). She is also President of the National Visionary Leadership Project, formed to help preserve the priceless legacy of African American elders. Dr Johnnetta Cole, who…
Phillips Day Sale: Disaster or Purge? Tomayto Tomahto?
Recently this reporter’s inbox became a sort of debate forum with art world talking heads giving The Art Machine their two cents about what appears to be a “short career” phenomenon amongst emerging artists. Spurred by results of the recent Phillips London Contemporary Art Day Sale, one art advisor, communicating via e-mail on background called…
