> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Week in Review: SF Art Institute Announces Closure; Artists Create Masks for Healthcare Workers - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/week-in-review-4/ - Published: 2020-03-27T11:00:35.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-24T16:22:42.000Z - Description: Also, mega-galleries report strong sales from Art Basel Hong Kong online, and more. - Author: Cassie Packard - Tags: News, Transactions, Week in Review, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:41 (2019, 2020, part 2) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2020/03/6947225359_e7acfbe897_o.jpg) Diego Rivera, “Making a Fresco” (1931) at SFAI’s Diego Rivera Gallery (image courtesy Joaquín Martínez/Flickr) *Week in Review is a weekly collection of news, developments, and stirrings in the art world.* [*Subscribe*](https://hyperallergic.com/newsletters?utm%5Fsource=page&utm%5Fcampaign=artmovements) *to receive these posts as a weekly newsletter.* Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, students at the renowned San Francisco Art Institute learned that the institution [does not plan to reopen in the fall](https://hyperallergic.com/sfai/) due to struggling finances. New Dealers Alliance (NADA), a New York-based nonprofit, released a petition calling on the local government to [provide relief programs](https://hyperallergic.com/petition-nyc-galleries/) that would consider the circumstances and needs of artist-run and small and mid-size galleries. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2020/03/mask_amy.jpg) A custom-made, washable coronavirus mask made by artist Amy Wilson (courtesy the artist) Artists and cultural institutions are stepping up to [help health care workers across the United States](https://hyperallergic.com/art-world-medical-supplies/) who have been reporting shortages of face masks and other protective gear while they’re combating the spread of COVID-19. After shuttering due to the coronavirus, MOCA Los Angeles [fired all of its part-time employees](https://hyperallergic.com/moca-los-angeles-fires-97-part-time-employees/). The 97 laid-off workers represent half of the museum’s total staff of 185. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2020/03/img_0826.jpg) University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) strikes in February (photo courtesy payusmoreucsc.com) The Guggenheim Union has shared on its Twitter account screenshots of several e-mails from staff asking the museum to [reconsider its policy of not paying on-call (freelance) workers past March 29](https://hyperallergic.com/guggenheim-on-call-employees/). 82 graduate teaching assistants were [fired during University of California Strikes](https://hyperallergic.com/us-schools-ucsc-wildcat-strikes-82-fired/), which have pivoted to a digital picket line due to the novel coronavirus. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2020/03/05-e1584983244502.jpg) Only one part of the monument — the lower half of the woman’s body — was burned. (all image courtesy Escif and the Valencia Council Press Department) A cultural tradition in Spain has become a [symbol of strength during the coronavirus pandemic](https://hyperallergic.com/valencia-spain-festival/). During the COVID-19 crisis, DreamYard, an arts center in the South Bronx, pivoted its community-forward mission to [provide free lunches on weekdays](https://hyperallergic.com/dreamyard-covid-19/). A few updates from the (remote) Hyperallergic offices: Hyperallergic now [uses Bookshop to support independent publishers](https://hyperallergic.com/hyperallergic-bookshop/) and has been certified as [a Rotten Tomatoes outlet](https://hyperallergic.com/hyperallergic-on-rotten-tomatoes/). ## Transactions ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2020/03/19-irma-stern-south-african-1894-1966-watussi-chiefs-wife-1946.jpg) Irma Stern, “Watussi Chief’s Wife” (1946) (image courtesy Bonhams London) New York-based online auction house **Paddle8** has [filed for bankruptcy](https://observer.com/2020/03/paddle8-bankruptcy-auction-house/?ref=hyperallergic.com) one week after [being sued](https://news.artnet.com/art-world/paddle8-lawsuit-misappropriation-claims-1798980?ref=hyperallergic.com) by the **New American Cinema Group**. The cinema nonprofit alleged that Paddle8 was withholding and misappropriating proceeds from a charity auction held in November. The list of creditors to whom Paddle8 owes money includes the Rema Hort Mann Foundation (over $100,000), Jay-Z’s Shawn Carter Foundation ($65,000), and Justin and Hailey Bieber (over $73,000). At **Bonhams London** the Modern & Contemporary African Art Sale [garnered £1.770 million](https://www.bonhams.com/press%5Frelease/30158/?ref=hyperallergic.com) (about $2.1 million) and set auction records for eight artists. “Watussi Chief’s Wife” (1946), a rare portrait painted by Irma Stern during her second trip to the Belgian Congo, led the sale at £447,000\. The sitter, who dons traditional ceremonial Rwandan dress, was a member of Rwandan King Yuhi V Musinga’s Royal Court. When Belgium deposed him in 1931, she became a political exile. Another work by Stern, “Still life of roses and earthenware” (1936), sold for £87,000; [Art Market Monitor](https://www.artmarketmonitor.com/2020/03/20/irma-sterns-royal-portrait-leads-bonhams-1-8m-modern-and-contemporary-african-art-sale/?ref=hyperallergic.com) has noted recent growth in her market. **David Zwirner**, **Gagosian**, and **Hauser & Wirth** have [reported solid sales](https://news.artnet.com/market/art-basel-hong-kong-online-viewing-rooms-1810584?ref=hyperallergic.com) at this year’s online-only edition of **Art Basel Hong Kong**. Mega-galleries sell art by PDF all the time so, as Gagosian director Sam Orlofsky notes, the only surprise was that there were big-ticket buyers amid a global crisis. On the higher end, David Zwirner reportedly sold a work by Marlene Dumas for $2.6 million and a piece by Luc Tuymans for $2 million, while Gagosian reported selling a painting by Georg Baselitz for $1.3 million. ## This Week in the Art World ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2020/03/les-nucleaires-et-les-choses.jpg) Fuji Hikaru, “Les nucléaires et les choses” (2019) (image courtsey Tokyo Contemporary Art Award) The **Swedish Royal Academy of Fine Arts** awarded **Francis Alÿs** the **Rolf Schock Prize in Visual Arts**. | [Artforum](https://www.artforum.com/news/francis-alys-wins-40-000-rolf-schock-prize-in-visual-arts-82545?ref=hyperallergic.com) **Lorenzo Fusi** was appointed Artistic Director and Chief Curator of the inaugural **Yerevan Biennial**. | [e-flux](https://www.e-flux.com/announcements/324460/lorenzo-fusi-appointed-artistic-director/?ref=hyperallergic.com) The **Ogden Museum of Southern Art** selected **René Morales** as the juror of the ninth Louisiana Contemporary exhibition. | via email announcement The 2020–2022 **Tokyo Contemporary Art Award** was awarded to **Fujii Hikaru** and **Yamashiro Chikako**. | [Oculus](https://ocula.com/magazine/art-news/recipients-tokyo-contemporary-art-award/?ref=hyperallergic.com) **Mel Douglas** received the 2020 **Tom Malone Prize**. | [AGWA](https://artgallery.wa.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/tom-malone-prize-2020?ref=hyperallergic.com#Winner) **Helen Jean** was named Curator of Fashion Design at the **Phoenix Art Museum**. | [Artforum](https://www.artforum.com/news/phoenix-art-museum-appoints-helen-jean-curator-of-fashion-design-82551?ref=hyperallergic.com) **Jaynelle Hazard** was appointed Executive Director & Curator of the **Greater Reston Arts Center**. | [Tysons Today](http://tysonstoday.com/2020/jaynelle-hazard-appointed-executive-director-curator-of-the-greater-reston-arts-center/?ref=hyperallergic.com) The **Eye Filmmuseum** in Amsterdam awarded **Kahlil Joseph** the 2020 **Eye Art & Film Prize**. | [ArtReview](https://artreview.com/news/news%5F20%5Fmar%5F2020%5Fkahlil%5Fjoseph%5Fwins%5Feye%5Ffilm%5Fprize/?ref=hyperallergic.com) ## In Memoriam Maurice Berger (1956–2020), writer and chief curator at the UMBC |[*Baltimore Sun*](https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/bs-md-umbc-curator-dies-from-coronavirus-20200325-mrndfpcvujfjpjutvfucpa4g2y-story.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) Floyd Cardoz (1960–2020), chef and co-owner of Bombay Canteen | [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/floyd-cardoz-chef-obit-coronavirus/index.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) Suzy Delair (1917–2020), French chanteuse and actress | [France 24](https://www.france24.com/en/20200316-french-actress-suzy-delair-who-won-fame-in-the-1940s-dies-aged-102?ref=hyperallergic.com) Manu Dibango (1933–2020), Cameroonian musician | [NPR](https://www.npr.org/2020/03/24/820598340/afro-funk-saxophonist-manu-dibango-dies-of-covid-19?ref=hyperallergic.com) James V. Hatch (1928–2020), archivist of black theater | [Antelope Valley Press](https://www.avpress.com/news/archivist-of-black-theater-dies-at/article%5F9d459196-6cbf-11ea-abca-2b2a190b640e.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) Paul Kasmin (1960–2020), Chelsea gallerist | [*Architectural Digest*](https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/paul-kasmin-pioneering-gallerist-and-champion-of-chelsea-art-scene-dies-at-60?ref=hyperallergic.com) Jeremy Marre (1943–2020), English filmmaker | [*New York Times*](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/arts/music/jeremy-marre-dead.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) Terrence McNally (1938–2020), Tony Award-winning playwright | [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/playwright-terrence-mcnally-dies-coronavirus-complications-200324203649200.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) Merry Norris (1940–2020), LA MoCA cofounder | [*Artforum*](https://www.artforum.com/news/merry-norris-1940-2020-82522?ref=hyperallergic.com) Nashom Wooden (1970–2020), drag performer | [*Paper*](https://www.papermag.com/mona-foot-drag-legend-2645572884.html?ref=hyperallergic.com)