ARTTalk - U.S. Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, VA

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Work Commissioned--"New realism" painter Christian Vincent, a native of Los Angeles, has been commissioned by NASA to create a work depicting the space station for the space agency. He joins the ranks of artists such as Rauschenberg, Warhol and Jaimie Wyeth in being selected for the program, which currently includes over 3,000 works that are displayed and archived at both the Air and Space Museum and NASA gallery sites.

Critic Critiqued--Felix de Weldon's renowned U.S. Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, VA, is in the midst of a fray. A group that is lobbying Congress to reverse approval of an Air Force monument just hundreds of feet from the Marine memorial and a congressman from Glens Falls, N.Y., were infuriated by comments from J. Carter Brown. His resignation was called for when the Chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts reportedly referred to the Iwo Jima Memorial as "kitsch," but added it is "very effective as art." The proposed Air Force monument, a 3-D aluminum structure shaped like a star, would tower 50 feet near the site of the first military test flight.

Opening Scheduled--The Whitney Museum of American Art will present a new "face" when it unveils its newly renovated facade and eight gallery spaces to house the permanent collection. The event is scheduled for April 4.

Terra Cottas Exhibited--Until May 3 you have the opportunity to view "Bernini's Rome: Italian Baroque Terra Cottas From the Hermitage, St. Petersburg" at the Art Institute of Chicago. The 35 works are mostly small studies for larger works and have never before been displayed in the U.S.

Warhol Loaned--A 1967 commissioned portrait of former NY State Governor Nelson Rockefeller by Andy Warhol is on indefinite loan to the state from Mrs. Rockefeller. The painting now hangs in the lobby of the Corning Tower of the state office complex in Albany. Rockefeller was an aficionado of modern art, and the state obtained works by renowned abstract expressionist artists during his tenure.

Events Announced--Richmond Galleries in Marblehead, OH, has announced their special guest appearances for the 1998 "Breakfast with the Arts" series. In its second year, the program offers the public a unique opportunity to personally meet national artists while enjoying a free continental breakfast, entertainment, and special door prizes. This event takes place the first Sunday of each month, from May through September. 1-800-441-5631.

Milestone for a Box of 64--Crayola has just celebrated with much fanfare the 40th birthday of the 64-crayon Crayola box--with built-in sharpener. This history-making innovation made its debut on the "Captain Kangaroo" television show in 1958. Despite a national call for the original 1958 Crayola box, only one could be located; and it may be seen in the current crayon exhibition on view at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.

Bequests Granted--Novelist Patricia Highsmith has bequeathed about $3 million to Yaddo, the artists' residence and retreat in Saratoga Springs. The largest single gift since the residence was founded in 1900, the author felt Yaddo was instrumental in her development as an artist and wished to provide the same opportunity to other artists.--Late pop artist Roy Lichtenstein has bequeathed important paintings to three major American museums. "Grrrrrrrrrrr!" was left to the Guggenheim; "Bauhaus Stairway" to the Museum of Modern Art; and "Look Mickey" to the National Gallery of Art.

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