People can be forgiven for not realizing that one of the masterpieces of Brutalism, an architectural style with a name that isn’t exactly soft and fuzzy, is just north of New York City in Orange County, New York. But then again you may not need to remember that fact since the Paul Rudolph-designed Orange Country Government Center (aka the “masterpiece”) may be facing demolishing very soon in order to be replaced by an unoriginal colonial-wannabee structure that looks like the architectural equivalent of clipart.
News
Some Answers in Cyclist Mathieu Lefevre’s Death
Last October, we reported about the death of Williamsburg artist Mathieu Lefevre, who was killed by a truck. Now, recently discovered court documents explain why the NYPD’s Accident Investigation Squad decided not to charge the truck driver who ran over cyclist Lefevre. It’s worth mentioning that the explanation isn’t exactly satisfactory for everyone, except the NYPD.
Occupy Museums Offered Free Art at Armory
Last weekend during the New York art fairs, the OWS-affiliated Occupy Museums group reminded attendees of the 2012 Armory Show that having a big bank account wasn’t the only way to enjoy or obtain the artwork of others.
Ritual Blessing Launches Rotterdam Art Center’s New Program
It’s just another day in the life of the art world and we just learned that New York-based Canadian art legend AA Bronson will be ritually blessing New York/Shanghai/Rotterdam-based Defne Ayas’ new program at the Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art in Rotterdam.
The People in the Paintings
The Michael Rosenfeld Gallery’s mission is partly to highlight the achievements of artists who have been historically marginalized in the mainstream art world on the basis of race or gender. Benny Andrews, Alice Neel and Bob Thompson, the gallery’s current exhibition, executes the institution’s objective with quiet diligence.
Gerhard Richter Movie Opens in NYC Next Week
Next Wednesday, March 14, Gerhard Richter Painting will open at Film Forum in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. The feature length film is the follow up to a 2007 short by filmmaker Corinna Belz called Gerhard Richter’s Window.
30 Ft Naked Guy Arriving in New York Today!
We JUST received a photo of Serkan Özkaya’s “David (inspired by Michelangelo)” sculpture as it makes its way through New Jersey on its way to downtown Manhattan tonight.
National Magazine Award Recognizes Utility of Poetry
LOS ANGELES — The POETRY App has been selected as a finalist for a National Magazine Award for Digital Media. As their press release noted, this is remarkable because the award basically recognizes that poetry — at least in the form of a cool app — has utility in our lives.
Former Billionaire Works to Preserve China’s Cultural Heritage
LOS ANGELES — A new report in China Daily points to “former billionaire” Wang Yongchao in Shaanxi, China, who’s been snatching up priceless antiques and cultural relics. But rather than sell them for profit, he’s become a one-man movement to preserve China’s cultural heritage.
The LowLine Brings a Park Underground
LOS ANGELES — A good portion of New Yorkers’ lives are lived underground. Whether riding the train or waiting for the train, the subterranean world of Gotham is famous the world over for its grungy, dirty character. Few people, however, actually want to hang out underground. The Delancey Underground project, nicknamed “The LowLine,” aims to change this.
Sotheby’s Art Handlers & OWS Protest Whitney Biennial VIP Party
Tonight’s Whitney Biennial VIP Party brought together two sectors of the art world that continue to butt heads in this post-Occupy Wall Street world. Chic art world partygoers were lined up on Madison Avenue waiting to drink champagne at the Sotheby’s-sponsored Biennial, while a few dozen protesters and an inflatable cat were bringing attention to the museum’s association with the auction house that has locked out union art handlers since early August.
OWS Arts & Labor Working Group Calls for End to Whitney Biennial By 2014 [UPDATED]
This week, the Whitney Biennial opens but Occupy Wall Street’s Arts and Labor working group has already started to question the usefulness of the exhibition for artists and cultural workers, many of whom are unpaid to participate.