What’s been happening in the world of art and art-related nonsense, you ask? Excellent question. Enjoy the smattering of links below, and be better informed.
Smackdown at the Tate
The controversy over Tate director Penelope Curtis continues. Basically, she’s given only a few rooms at the Tate Britain to the historical collection (1550-1900) and LOTS AND LOTS of room to the 20th century. So, it feels a bit imbalanced, to put it mildly. Peeps is pissed. Other peeps defend her. Don’t have an opinion yet? No worries.
Sack Her: The Times’s Art Critic, The Burlington Magazine
She’s Brilliant: The Telegraph
Meh: The Guardian
Worthy Reflections
As it’s winter here, I was thinking the other day about Christina Rossetti’s beautiful poem/Christmas carol, In the bleak midwinter. I was then delighted to find that Dinah Roe had written an enlightening article that examines the poem closely.
Did you know that stuffed wombats regularly photobomb the internet? Did you know that this specifically happens on Fridays? Did you know that it was a Pre-Raphelite thing? I need to get a wombat. Maybe a real one, just to up the ante…
Local News
The National Gallery of Victoria is celebrating it’s awesome Italian Masterpieces winter exhibition by turning the whole gallery into a hipster’s dream every Friday night until the end of the month. Art Attack has seen at first hand the late openings, eclectic DJs and folk bands, wine bar and italian-themed food, and some cool feather covered bears. What better way to start the weekend?
Did you know about The Melbourne Art Network? It’s kind of like this page, only updated regularly and useful. It’s not as snarky, though.
Attack of the Week
This week, the Grumpy Art Historian was on form: discussing the way we talk about children and their experience of museums, while championing context and intellectual engagement. My favourite quote: “As you develop the ability to discriminate, Thomas Kinkade and Jack Vettriano will please you less and you might come to appreciate artists like Poussin or Guido Reni more.” Brilliant.