Collection Acquired--The Library of Congress has announced the acquisition of more than 30,000 original political cartoons, comic strips, animation cels and illustrators' drawings from the world-class collection of award-winning political cartoonist J. Arthur Wood Jr. A portion was donated and the balance was made possible in part by a generous contribution. Many items have been included in major museum exhibitions and historical publications.

Workshops Offered--The Folk Art Institute of the American Folk Art Museum, New York City, is offering workshops for the fall semester. Reservations are required. For a complete schedule, call 212.265.1040, Ext. 105.

Grants Announced--The Arts Endowment has announced $1.5 million in grants in the Resources for Change: Technology category. Awards were made to 13 non-profit organizations to help develop distinctive ways of using new technology to advance the arts and better serve the public. Included among the recipients were the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive and the Whitney Museum of Art.

Craft Show Scheduled--The 27th Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show will be held Nov. 13-16 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. See the best of contemporary American craft in clay, fiber, metal and wood, as well as wearables and jewelry by 190 artists from across the country. Admission. 215.684.7930.

Internet Portal Launched--The American Association of Museums has launched the Nazi-Era Provenance Internet Portal, a central registry of objects in U.S. museums that could have changed hands in Continental Europe during the Nazi era, 1933-1945--www.nepip.org. A person seeking a missing object can search by artist's name, nationality of artist, title or keywords, among other options.

Arts Festivals Abound--Two Paradise City Arts Festivals will be held this fall in Massachusetts. From Oct. 11-13 the 3-County Fairgrounds in Northampton will offer works from 270 juried exhibitors, art activities for kids, live music, delicious food, a landscaped Sculpture Garden and more. From Nov. 21-23 the Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough will offer the largest show of museum quality art and craft in the Boston area with 175 juried exhibitors from 24 states. 800.511.9725.

Exhibitions

The Art Institute of Chicago -- Chicago, IL -- Manet and the Sea opens October 20. Using Manet's sea pictures as a point of departure, this exhibition aims to trace the complex interactions that link the artist with his predecessors and with his successors. Included are approximately 100 objects--paintings, watercolors and drawings--from 60 public and private collections on sea-related themes by a variety of artists with differing ambitions. Through January 19. Travels to Philadelphia Museum of Art in February.

Portland Art Museum -- Portland, OR -- Opening Oct. 11, The Triumph of French Painting--17th Century Masterpieces from the Museums of FRAME (French Regional and American Museum Exchange) includes 41 stellar works that present the very highest level of work from a century when painting emerged as one of the splendors of French culture. The best-known French painters of the age, such as Georges de La Tour and Nicolas Poussin, are represented along with other extraordinary masters who brought France to artistic preeminence in Europe. Through January 5. Travels to Birmingham Museum of Art in January.

Kingston, NY -- Kingston Sculpture Biennial -- The fifth biennial comprises works by more than 60 artists--from established artists that include Ursula von Rydingsvard, Mark di Suvero, Sol LeWitt and Jim Clark, to emerging artists to discover that include Jamie Hamilton, Ashley Kyber, Myung-Jin Choi and Jesse Meyer. Works are displayed throughout the city, connecting the three business districts of Uptown, Midtown and Rondout, as well as the Hudson River Waterfront. Maps are available at the Kingston Heritage area Visitors Center, 20 Broadway, 845.331.7517. Through October 31.

Norton Simon Museum -- Pasadena, CA -- Treasures from the Himalayas: Sacred Images from Tibet, Nepal and Northern India celebrates the Museum's renowned collection of artworks. Approximately 20 masterpieces from the permanent collection will be on view, including sculpture, paintings and wooden book covers. A highlight is a stunning gilt bronze image of the Buddhist goddess Tara, the largest Himalayan bronze in the collection. A recently donated fourteenth century plaque from Tibet will also be featured. Through October 27.

AIRBRUSH WORKSHOPS ARTtalk.com Gallery at the Square, Beacon, NY Two-Day Advanced Airbrush Workshop Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 4-5 Instructor: Pamela Shanteau Tuition for all above workshops includes the use of equipment and all materials used in class. Seating is limited, so sign up now! This is an opportunity not to be missed! For further information, see www.arttalk.com/workshop/workshop.htm or call 845.831.4458

The Art Institute Online is looking for graphic designers interested in learning additional skills, or in getting their bachelor's or associate's degree in graphic design. Make yourself more marketable in the graphic design industry. Click here to find out more. (http://quinst.com/clk/kittedatoukumushiigyo)

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 13 No. 12 -- October 2003