MARCH 2011 BLOG
MUSEUM NEWS
The rumor is true. Front page news on the Feb. 25 issue of the Austin American Statesman was that AUSTIN MUSEUM OF ART is regrouping, restructuring and moving from its downtown location. The board is considering a focus of their resources on the AMOA-Laguna Gloria Campus. JUDITH SIMS, has been artfully directing activities and improvements at the school, the villa and the gatehouse gallery for many years. She has worked at LAGUNA GLORIA with former directors Laurence Miller and Dana Fris-Hansen. Dana recently resigned as director of AMOA and is currently traveling abroad but hopefully will return to Austin and its arts scene. He will be missed by so many of us who considered him the friendly, gentlemanly face of Austin's first important art museum.
AMOA's former administrator JACK NOKES is interim director. He and the downtown staff and some of the "FIFTEEN ARTISTS TO WATCH" were at the Director's Circle gathering on the 23rd of February for a preview of the current exhibition. The crowd was small and the installation incomplete, but food, drink and conversation were not lacking.
ARTHOUSE, located two blocks down on Congress Avenue, was hosting members and the French filmmakers of KOOLHAAS HOUSELIFE. In contrast to the modest gathering at AMOA there were approximately 250 people gathered on the roof deck watching a housekeeper, a lawn service and window washers maintain a celebrated residence designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. Yes, that is how the film was conceived and presented. Unfortunately we left early and missed the Q and A and the art spin. To see a video of Koolhaas Houselife, sans the housekeeper and yard man, go to www.arthousetexas.org and find the Arthouse Blog then scroll down.
At the BLANTON MUSEUM OF ART on the University of Texas campus is "RECOVERING BEAUTY" until May 22nd. In Argentina after the Perons there was a particularly repressive regime followed by a period of great freedom and exuberance. Artists celebrated by producing a variety of diverse works not necessarily political or even serious in nature. The "beauty" recovered was the freedom to produce fun, whimsical art or whatever one wanted to produce. Thanks to Martha Bradshaw, Director of Volunteers who toured us through the exhibition.
Best wishes to JONATHAN BOBER, who is leaving the BLANTON to become Curator and Head of Old Master Prints at the NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART in Washington, D.C. Since 1988 Jonathan has made numerous and important contributions to projects at the Blanton including the procurement of the Suida Manning and Leo Steinberg collections.
A note about the d'BERMAN GALLERY: It will be closing its Austin location and relocating in Wimberly, Texas, "just a conversation away".
The rumor is true. Front page news on the Feb. 25 issue of the Austin American Statesman was that AUSTIN MUSEUM OF ART is regrouping, restructuring and moving from its downtown location. The board is considering a focus of their resources on the AMOA-Laguna Gloria Campus. JUDITH SIMS, has been artfully directing activities and improvements at the school, the villa and the gatehouse gallery for many years. She has worked at LAGUNA GLORIA with former directors Laurence Miller and Dana Fris-Hansen. Dana recently resigned as director of AMOA and is currently traveling abroad but hopefully will return to Austin and its arts scene. He will be missed by so many of us who considered him the friendly, gentlemanly face of Austin's first important art museum.
AMOA's former administrator JACK NOKES is interim director. He and the downtown staff and some of the "FIFTEEN ARTISTS TO WATCH" were at the Director's Circle gathering on the 23rd of February for a preview of the current exhibition. The crowd was small and the installation incomplete, but food, drink and conversation were not lacking.
ARTHOUSE, located two blocks down on Congress Avenue, was hosting members and the French filmmakers of KOOLHAAS HOUSELIFE. In contrast to the modest gathering at AMOA there were approximately 250 people gathered on the roof deck watching a housekeeper, a lawn service and window washers maintain a celebrated residence designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. Yes, that is how the film was conceived and presented. Unfortunately we left early and missed the Q and A and the art spin. To see a video of Koolhaas Houselife, sans the housekeeper and yard man, go to www.arthousetexas.org and find the Arthouse Blog then scroll down.
At the BLANTON MUSEUM OF ART on the University of Texas campus is "RECOVERING BEAUTY" until May 22nd. In Argentina after the Perons there was a particularly repressive regime followed by a period of great freedom and exuberance. Artists celebrated by producing a variety of diverse works not necessarily political or even serious in nature. The "beauty" recovered was the freedom to produce fun, whimsical art or whatever one wanted to produce. Thanks to Martha Bradshaw, Director of Volunteers who toured us through the exhibition.
Best wishes to JONATHAN BOBER, who is leaving the BLANTON to become Curator and Head of Old Master Prints at the NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART in Washington, D.C. Since 1988 Jonathan has made numerous and important contributions to projects at the Blanton including the procurement of the Suida Manning and Leo Steinberg collections.
A note about the d'BERMAN GALLERY: It will be closing its Austin location and relocating in Wimberly, Texas, "just a conversation away".
Comments
Laurence