Some auction items on view at Hôtel Drouot (via flickr.com/colodio) The New York Times reports on a serious scandal that’s rocking the Hôtel Drouot, which is “France’s oldest, largest, most storied and most profitable auction site, a frenetic three-story bazaar of marvels and junk: Picassos and Basquiats, stamps and used handbags, dusty carpets, couches, clattering […]
Hrag Vartanian
Hrag Vartanian is editor-in-chief and co-founder of Hyperallergic.
Posted inOpinion
Who Is NOT an Artist: Lady Gaga, Jennifer Rubell, Pole Dancers
It is a sad day for pole dancers, and those who appreciate them, in New York state. This from the New York Law Journal: “We question how much planning goes into attempting a dance seen on YouTube,” the tax appeals panel concluded …
Posted inOpinion
Brooklyn Museum’s “Art-ocrats” Ball: The Remains
Curator, critic, and blogger Nicole J. Caruth didn’t attend last week’s food event at the Brooklyn Museum but she did get in for the after party. During her post-bacchanalia visit she was able to shoot the remains of the food orgy.
Posted inNews
Targeting Shepard Fairey’s “May Day” Mural
Animal New York has been documenting the steady stream of defacement that artist Shepard Fairey’s May Day exhibition mural on Houston Avenue has been subject to. First it was targeted by a graffiti writer, then holes, and now a clever “Target” logo.
Posted inOpinion
“Food Artist” Jennifer Rubell Discovers Servant-less Buffets
New York Magazine‘s senior art critic has started filing video reports from art events. And on Friday he posted a report from Brooklyn Museum’s “food art” gala created by “food artist” Jennifer Rubell. Her description of the event is priceless … and absurd …
Posted inArt
Thanks for Last Night: 6-Month Anniversary & Launch Party
Thanks to everyone who came out for our informal six-month anniversary celebration, which quickly became a big ol’ party at our rather new Williamsburg office.
Posted inNews
Whack-a-Warhol at the Brooklyn Museum, “Long Live the Art-ocrats!”
If the image of the Warhol piñata at the Brooklyn Museum didn’t freak you out enough, the videos of everyone from Jennifer Rubell to Jerry Saltz taking a whack at the thing (and right in the mouth no less) will surely disturb you to no end. If the art world ever needed a good therapist then now is the time, I mean even if it’s just to deal with members of the art-ocracy “bashing a gay guy” thing as a form of dessert!
Posted inArt
The Whitney Biennial in Photos
This year’s Whitney Biennial may be my favorite in memory. I’ve been thinking about it for over two months now and will publish my review here next week but until then I wanted to post some photos that I snapped during the press preview back in February.
Posted inArt
Earth Day Is As Relevant As Ever
On the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, Fekner revisited one of his classic videos from 1981 titled “Toxic Waste From A to Z,” and has inserted a new soundtrack. While the original work was inspired by the environmental disaster that was Love Canal, this latest remix is part of an effort to stop a potential disaster in the making, Wastebed 13.
Posted inOpinion
Tate Liverpool Offers Free Virtual Picasso With Visit
According to Fast Company, Britain’s Tate Liverpool Museum is offering visitors to its Picasso: Peace and Freedom exhibition a virtual gift: a virtual copy of the artist’s “Monument to the Spaniards who Died for France” (1945-7) on your mobile phone to show and share with friends.
Posted inOpinion
Is Street Photography Under Threat?
Writing for the Guardian, Sean O’Hagan is wondering how our recent laws governing privacy and surveillance are impacting the art form we’ve come to know as Street Photography.
Posted inNews
Guitar Boy To Reunite in LA for Lawrence Weschler’s “Wonder Cabinet”
In the late 1990s, the folk punk duo Guitar Boy was playing small music venues in Los Angeles and building a fan base. Unfortunately, the group consisting of Nancy Agabian and Ann Perich slowly faded away. This Saturday, they will reunite to perform as part of the Wonder Cabinet showcase at Occidental College, a day-long event curated by Lawrence Weschler. Guitar Boy may be an unknown band nowadays but I couldn’t resist posting their still relevant song about Getty Center … ENJOY!
