January 26, 2001
CONTENTS:
- Visonic Ltd. - Manufacturers of the PowerArt
- Art world anger at modern museum planning 'snub'
- Judge rules Howdy Doody puppet belongs with Detroit museum
- The Art Newspaper, This week's top stories
- Police tried to ban Lennon's art
- Sean Connery: Elgin Marbles should be returned to Athens
- Egypt's Forgotten Antiquities
(Information about security products are subject to our disclaimer at: http://museum-security.org/disclaimer.html )
Subject: Visonic Ltd. - Manufacturers of the PowerArt
From: ltal@visonic.com (Leron Tal)
Visonic Ltd., a subsidiary of the Visonic Group, has been in the forefront of advanced security solutions since 1973, and has consistently won international acclaim for its technological achievements and its commitment to providing quality security products. Visonic Ltd. is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, and provides worldwide technical and marketing support through its network of subsidiaries, distributors and sales representatives in over 50 countries. The PowerArt: an effective and affordable security system for fine art collections and object d'art. Visonic's PowerArt is the smart and cost-efficient protection system designed especially for the needs of homes and galleries.
More details at:
http://www.visonic.com/powerart
Art world anger at modern museum planning 'snub'
By Beáta Pál
CONTROVERSY surrounds plans to establish a Modern Hungarian Art Museum (MMMM), on the Danube bank of southern Pest in 2002, after experts in the field said they only learned about the project from the press. Several artists' organizations have claimed their professional advice was ignored in the planning process. József Mélyi, modern art historian, was shocked. "The main problem is the Ministry of National Heritage (NKÖM) has presented the whole art profession with already decided facts. "Ministry officials have no concept, they are unable to negotiate and there are all kinds of inconsistencies on their side. They started with an architectural design before art historians even had a hint of what kind of objects would be in the museum," said Mély, program co- ordinator of the C3 Artistic and Communications Center. Soon after Minister of National Cultural Heritage Zoltán Rockenbauer and Sándor Demján, of property developers TriGránit Fejlesztési Rt, signed a declaration of intent in November last year, C3 organized a forum. "The meeting could have served for NKÖM and the art profession to negotiate, but there was no communication at all," said Mély. Trigránit will give credit to the State for 10 years and the total investment costs will be around Ft2.5 billion ($8.8 million) - Ft250 million ($885,000) a year. Critic Judit N Kósa has been quoted in the Hungarian press as saying, "MMMM will not be a real museum, but a building with a 'museum' sign, so it is not important what the collection's concept is and what will be within the walls. "It is absurd that the winner of the architectural tender has already been announced and nobody knows what objects will be inside." However Tamás Ács, NKÖM's Deputy State Secretary, said he did not think professional organizations had been excluded from the planning. "So far, only architectural work has been going on," he said. He continued that there had been a need for a modern museum, where contemporary Hungarian art pieces could be collected, for a long time. "There is a world trend for establishing contemporary museums, such as the Tate Modern in London or the Guggenheim." In Hungary there is only the Nemzeti Galéria (National Gallery of Art), which has a small collection of modern Hungarian art, and the Ludwig Museum, which has a modern but international collection. The Műcsarnok (Art Gallery) houses only temporary exhibitions. MMMM will be located in the "new city center" of Budapest, next to the notorious National Theater site and on the former Expo plot which was originally planned to host the canceled exhibition. It will have an exhibition space of 7,000 sqm out of a total 10,000 sqm, significantly more than the Műcsarnok's 3,500 sqm. Exhibitions will change on a regular basis, according to international trends. Ács thought the museum and theater would add color to Trigránit's conference, hotel and office developments in District IX. MMMM will be the first major museum to open in Hungary in 50 years. Hungarian museums can only operate with an inventoried collection, according to the law. Ács said the Nemzeti Galéria had an inventory rich in modern art that could be the basis of the new museum's collection. Kati Nérai, the Ludwig Museum's Director, said she would welcome such a museum, but added there were problems to be overcome, including which collections would be housed. She said 20th century pieces were mostly in the Nemzeti Galéria's "jammed warehouse". Architect Gábor Zoboki was the winner of the architectural tender. He said he believed art historians from the Nemzeti Galéria would cooperate and the profession would be happy with the new establishment. The Ministry will appoint a new commissioner who will coordinate the project, while a tender for the museum's director will be announced before April.
http://www.budapestsun.com/
Judge rules Howdy Doody puppet belongs with Detroit museum
The Associated Press 1/25/01 1:32 PM
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- The original Howdy Doody puppet belongs with the Detroit Institute of Arts -- no strings attached, a federal judge ruled. The ruling, dated Tuesday and issued publicly Thursday, settles a dispute between the museum and the family of Rufus Rose, the puppeteer of Howdy Doody, over who owns the 1950s television star. The Detroit Institute of Arts claimed that Rose, who died in 1975, promised to give the original Howdy Doody to the museum. The Rose family argued that no such promise was ever made and that the grinning, freckle-faced puppet they have may not even be the original. Several copies of Howdy Doody were made, including a stunt "Double Doody." The puppet in question, estimated to be worth $50,000, is being stored in a bank vault in Rhode Island. U.S. District Judge Christopher Droney found that letters between Rose and NBC showed that Rose intended for the museum to have Howdy Doody for its extensive puppet collection. "Although there may be a question as to whether this Howdy Doody puppet was exactly the same in 1960 -- after the wear and tear of over 2,000 shows ... there is no question that the puppet now in the Rhode Island bank and subject to this case is the same that existed at the end of the show," Droney ruled. The museum, which also houses Punch and Judy, Kermit the Frog and other puppets, said it was pleased with the ruling. "Along with our many historic puppets, Howdy Doody will be cared for under the highest standards of museum conservation and will be exhibited for the enjoyment of the public," museum director Graham Beal said. The Rose family is deciding whether to appeal, said their lawyer, Mark Block. "Naturally, we're disappointed with the decision. We'll take a good, hard look at it," Block said. ------
On the Net: Detroit Institute of Arts: http://www.dia.org
From: newsletter@theartnewspaper.com
Subject: The Art Newspaper, This week's top stories
The Art Newspaper.com
http://www.theartnewspaper.com This week's top stories:
EVER MORE GLOBAL GUGGENHEIM
LONDON. The Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and the Guggenheim Foundation announced a collaboration that could be the widest reaching of any accord between museums so far.
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=4496
ARTWORKS DISPERSED
LONDON. Now that the Millennium Dome is being sold off and its contents dispersed, most of the dozen or so major artworks which it once housed will be returned to the artists. Sadly, the story of how the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) dealt with art reflects the general ineptitude of its management. Although seven important sculptures were commissioned for the area between the Dome and the Thames, these were crassly displayed and a promised grant from the Henry Moore Foundation was needlessly lost.
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=4495
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF NICK SEROTA
LONDON. Although no stranger to hands-on curating, Iwona Blazwick has always been at the conceptual helm of her previous projects. Starting at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London (ICA), she had a brief spell at the Air Gallery, before returning to the ICA as head of exhibitions from 1987 to 1993. Since then she has been commissioning editor for Phaidon's contemporary art books division and both co- curator and advisor to many UK and international shows before joining the Tate in 1997.
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=4494
THE GREAT CHINESE BUILDING BOOM
HONG KONG. China has announced the construction of numerous new museums in the coming year, but it is unclear how many of these, publicised mostly through the State- controlled domestic news media, will actually materialise.
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=4492
RECORD PRICE FOR MODERN JAPANESE PAINTING
TOKYO. Shinwa Art Auction, one of Japan's leading "open" auction houses, set a new record for a modern Japanese painting when Ryusei Kishida's portrait of his daughter Reiko (1920) was sold for Y 360 million (Ł2.08m, $3,07m) in December. Buoyed up by its suceess, Shinwa is now planning to take on its larger international competitors by moving into the major Impressionist market.
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=4491
THE VIRTUOUS CIRCLE
LONDON. An extraordinary hoard of 22-carat Roman gold coins discovered recently in the City of London is now on public display in the Museum of London. The cache of 43 aureii bears the heads of eight emperors from Nero to Marcus Aurelius and was found on the site of a second-century villa off Fenchurch Street by archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeological Service (MoLAS). The MoLAS team had been called in by the British Land Company which is developing the site into an office block.
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=4490
MILLENNIUM WINNERS AND LOSERS
LONDON. London celebrated the millennium with a string of spectacular museum and gallery openings and renovations, which are now pulling in the crowds. Tate Modern and the British Museum's Great Court alone should together attract over 12 million visitors this year. But the worry is that the public are heading for the new and glitzy, ignoring venues which missed out on a millennium make-over.
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=4470
REVEALING ANOTHER REMBRANDT
LONDON. The British Museum is showing rare Rembrandt erotica for the first time, including an etching which was acquired as long ago as 1848. "The monk in the cornfield" has finally been brought out of the print room store, for an exhibition on "Rembrandt the Printmaker". As the catalogue coyly explains, it depicts "a deed as old as humanity", on this occasion with a willing milkmaid. Running until 8 April, the show is the most ambitious display of Rembrandt's etchings ever shown, with works from the world's two greatest collections, the British Museum and the Rijksmuseum (where it was shown earlier).
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=4450
THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION: NOT A FRIENDLY NEIGHBOUR?
WASHINGTON DC. Residents of DC' s Dupont Circle neighbourhood are contesting a proposed expansion of the Phillips Collection. The Phillips' neighbours along 21st Street NW are protesting the addition of a 40,000 square foot, $15.5 million facility.
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=4430
ICOLLECTOR ALLIES WITH EBAY
LONDON. The British-based art and auction portal icollector (icollector.com) has announced it is forming an alliance with eBay, and will soon offer live bidding on its site. The deal comes as eBay revamps its high-end art site Great Collections, which is being transformed into a new art-and-antiques site, eBay Premier (ebaypremier.com).
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=4411
Anna Somers Cocks, Editor
contact@theartnewspaper.com
The Art Newspaper
70 South Lambeth Road London SW8 1RL UK
tel +44(0)207 735 3331 fax +44(0)207 735 3332
http://www.theartnewspaper.com
Police tried to ban Lennon's art
Official police documents released yesterday after more than 30 years of secrecy reveal a war between pornography and artistic merit sparked by an exhibition in London of John Lennon's erotic lithographs. The documents disclose that police tried to close an exhibition of the soon-to-be-ex Beatles' art in January 1970. A D etective Inspector Frederick Luff was sent to a central London gallery to view the exhibition that had already caused controversy.
http://features.scmp.com/ZZZPREUL2IC.html
Sean Connery: Elgin Marbles should be returned to Athens
Dr Yes. Scottish actor Sean Connery, best-known for his screen impersonation of Ian Fleming's James Bond, talks to journalists during a visit to the Acropolis yesterday, where he was shown around by composer Vangelis Papathanassiou (c) and veteran filmmaker Jules Dassin (c-r). The 71- year-old actor, who is in Greece for the opening of an exhibition of his wife's paintings, said he thought the British Museum's Elgin Collection of marbles from the Parthenon should be returned to Athens.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/
Egypt's Forgotten Antiquities
By Robert Partridge, Egypt Revealed magazine Mention "Egyptian antiquities" and most people think of pyramids and temples, all managed, maintained and conserved by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA). What is often not realized is that the SCA is also responsible for many important and more recent monuments, many in the heart of Old Cairo.
Most tourists are probably unaware that Cairo contains the largest concentration of Islamic monuments in the world. Some manage just a glimpse of the Old City, but a walk through the historic center can reveal many monuments every bit as impressive as the Pharaonic remains.
In 868 A.D., Ahmad Ibn Tulun was appointed governor of Egypt and later pronounced himself the independent sole ruler, founding the Tulunid Dynasty. He was a great builder and remodeled much of the city, erecting palaces and a hospital creating public open spaces. His greatest building was the huge mosque which still bears his name and is the only building to survive from his time.
Still the largest place of worship in Cairo, the mosque, with arched colonnades, is laid out around a huge courtyard. There is an unusual spiral minaret, and the building is decorated with bold, but simple, stucco work. This mosque became the prototype for many others built in the following centuries.
Another seldom-visited mosque, currently being restored by the SCA, is the Blue Mosque, founded in 1346 A.D and later decorated with vivid blue floral tiles from Istanbul.
Today the domes and minarets of Cairo's mosques are dwarfed and obscured by modern buildings. Less then a hundred years ago, they would have stood high and proud above the houses in the narrow, bustling streets. Today the streets still bustle, and the mosques remain a haven of tranquillity and a place for worship and contemplation.
http://www.usatoday.com/