Record Price Realized--Christie's auction house recently sold a leaded glass lamp designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for a record price: $1,989,500. The lamp was created circa 1903 for the Susan Lawrence Dana House in Springfield, IL, and was one of a pair.

Gift with a Caveat--Peter Lewis, chairman of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, recently gave the museum a gift of $12 million--but only after director Thomas Krens cut the budget, as directed, under threat of losing his position. The funds will be used to pay off debt.

Artworks Taken--Two paintings were recently stolen from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The paintings were painted early in the artist's career and were the second theft from the museum in 10 years.

New Museums Planned--Despite the economy, two new museums are being planned for NYC. The Rubin Museum of Art, which will house Himalayan and Tibetan paintings, is being developed in Chelsea and is scheduled to open in 2004; and The New Museum of Contemporary Art will build a new 60,000 sq. ft. home at Prince Street to open by 2005.

Prize Awarded--Painter and sculptor Keith Tyson has won Britain's prestigious Turner Prize. Administered by the Tate Museum, this annual award of $31,000 goes to a British artist under the age of 50.

Remains "Moove" On--New York City's famous CowParade of 2000 ended with most of the hand-painted fiberglass cows sold at auction. However, those left behind were recently sold at a "cattle auction" in Union Square. Winning bids were considerably lower than the first auction and benefited the Historic House Trust of NYC.

Exhibitions

Dallas, TX -- Dallas Museum of Art -- "The Voyage of the Icebergs: Frederic Church's Arctic Masterpiece" focuses on the monumental landscape painted by Church in 1861. Also included is a suite of oil sketches that Church made while sailing in the North Atlantic around Labrador. Through Jan. 19.Greenwich, CT -- Bruce Museum of Arts and Science -- "Stairway to Nowhere: the Art of M. C. Escher" features more than 40 of the most classic and memorable examples of Escher's graphic art, including Reptiles, Drawing Hands, and Day and Night. Of particular interest is an extensive set of working drawings and proof prints, and a spectacular highlight is the inclusion of his original lithographic stone for Flatworms and the complex set of carved color woodblocks for Depth. Through Feb. 2.

San Francisco, CA - Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Legion of Honor -- "Casting a Spell: Winslow Homer, Artist and Angler" includes 65 paintings, mostly watercolors, and is the first exhibition to look closely at the other life-long passion of this major American artist--fly-fishing. Through Feb. 9.

Brooklyn, NY -- Brooklyn Museum of Art -- "Judy Chicago: The Dinner Party" is a symbolic history of women of achievement in Western civilization and employs numerous mediums--including ceramics, china painting, and needlework--to honor women's accomplishments. An immense open table is covered with fine white cloth and set with 39 place settings, each commemorating a goddess, historic personage or other important woman. This exhibition will be permanently installed in the Museum in Fall 2004. Through Feb. 9.

Bronx, NY - New York Botanical Garden -- "Fruits and Flowers of Winter" highlights images of wintertime plants from rare books and original artwork, dating from the 17th century to modern times. Among the nearly 65 works are representations of orangeries and indoor gardens, a glimpse of winter horticulture in early New York, a walk through the garden in winter, and nursery and floral offerings of the season. Through Feb. 16.New York City - Whitney Museum of American Art -- "The Quilts of Gee's Bend" features approximately 70 quilts made from the 1920's to the 1990's by more than 40 African-American women from the small rural community of Gee's Bend, AL. Originally created for practical use in the home, the quilts are outstanding examples of a great American art form. Historical photographs and a documentary video are also presented. Through March 9.

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 13 No. 3 -- January 2003