Artists Selected--President and Mrs. Bush recently presented eight National Medal of Arts awards for 2004 in an Oval Office ceremony at the White House. Included among the recipients were sculptor Frederick Hart (deceased) and wildlife artist John Ruthven of Georgetown, OH.

Gift Received--The Smithsonian Institution announced that Robert and Arlene Kogod, Washington philanthropists and art collectors, have donated $25 million for the renovation of the historic building in downtown Washington that houses the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. In recognition, the enclosed courtyard--a signature element of the renovated building--will be named after the donors.

Museum Closes--The Terra Museum of American Art in Chicago has closed. However, the Terra Foundation for the Arts will continue to share its collection with the public through exhibitions in Chicago and at other national and international venues. See www.terraamericanart.org.

Masterpiece Acquired--The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, has announced the purchase of a rare and uniquely important early Renaissance masterpiece by the 14th century Italian painter Duccio di Buoninsegna. Known as the Stroganoff Madonna (circa 1300), the painting, in tempera and gold on wood, shows the Madonna and Child behind a parapet. The Met paid more then $45 million for the 8" x 11" painting, the last known by the artist still to be in private hands.

Library Makes Debut--The William J. Clinton Presidential Center has been unveiled with a gala opening in Little Rock, AR. Designed by architect James Polshek, part of the celebration included the dedication of new sculptures on the riverfront and at the airport.

Representative Chosen--At the invitation of the U.S. Department of State, four distinguished American museums have recommended that noted American artist Ed Ruscha represent the U.S. at the 2005 Venice Biennale. Ruscha's work was also included in the American pavilion in 1970.

Auction Results In--Action at this year's annual fall art auctions at the major auction houses was brisk and set a number of records for artists. Among those, a Tahitian masterpiece by Paul Gauguin brought $39.2 million; an exquisite portrait by Amedeo Modigliani brought $31.4 million; Mark Rothko's "No. 6" sold for over $17 million; Henry Moore's "Three Piece Reclining Figure: Draped" brought over $8.4 million; Joan Mitchell's "King of Spades" sold for over $2.6 million; and at Phillips' photography sale, Barbara Kruger's 1983 image, "I Shop Therefore I Am," brought a record for her work at auction--$601,600.

Exhibitions

Washington, D.C. -- The Phillips Collection -- Calder Miro, an exhibition of mobile sculptures of Calder and the poem paintings of Miro, highlights the visual dialogue between these two artistic innovators of the 20th century. Featuring more than 100 works, the exhibition culminates with Miro's 30-foot mural and Calder's 12-foot diameter mobile, commissions for the Terrace Plaza Hotel that are on view outside Cincinnati for the first time since their installation in 1948. Through Jan. 23.

Houston, TX -- Museum of Fine Arts -- Bayou Bend Yuletide: Old Friends and New invites visitors to celebrate the winter holiday season by stepping into an 18th century ice cream party, observing George Washington's wedding anniversary celebration, and attending a 19th century musicale honoring the triumphal return of the Marquis de Lafayette to America. Bayou Bend is the American decorative arts center of the MFA. Through Jan. 2.

New York, NY -- American Museum of Natural History -- Origami Tree/Holiday Dinos present an annual tradition. The Origami Holiday Tree has marked the start of the holiday season for over 30 years. A bountiful array of origami features everything from crabs and lobsters to birds, turtles and dinosaurs. Volunteers are on hand to teach visitors the art of origami folding. The two 19-foot Holiday Barosaurs that greet visitors on the front steps of the museum throughout the holiday season are fabricated of openwork stainless steel and are festively decorated.

Greenwich, CT -- Bruce Museum of Arts and Science -- Drawn by the Brush: Oil Sketches by Peter Paul Rubens, the first such exhibition in this country, explores the central role that oil sketches played in Ruben's creative process and his remarkably successful career. Through Jan. 30.

Pittsburgh, PA -- Carnegie Museum of Art -- The 2004 Carnegie International features more than 400 works by 38 artists from around the world. The 54th installation of this 108-year-old series continues the historic legacy set forth by previous Internationals in presenting new and compelling works by contemporary artists. Through March 9.

Brooklyn, NY -- Brooklyn Museum -- Great Expectations: John Singer Sargent Painting Children investigates how Sargent represented children in portraits and genre paintings. The approximately 43 works include commissioned portraits, portraits of family members and friends, genre paintings and works portraying professional child models. Through Jan. 16.

New Orleans, LA -- New Orleans Museum of Art -- A View to the Past: Old Master Prints and Drawings is a rare viewing that includes many pieces that have never before been shown in public at NOMA, including works by Hendrick Goltzius and Jacques Callot. The 85 works on view range from the 16th to the mid-19th centuries. Through Jan. 2.

Portland, OR -- Portland Art Museum -- Lucian Freud: Etchings from the UBS Art Collection presents nearly 50 etchings that represent willfully distorted forms with rawness and the sense of seeing the human figure afresh. Through Jan. 23.

New York, NY -- Metropolitan Museum of Art -- Annual Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche continues this long-standing holiday tradition with the annual presentation of its Christmas tree. A vivid 18th century Neapolitan crèche scene, embellished with a profuse array of diminutive, lifelike attendant figures and hovering silk-robed angels adorn the candlelit spruce. A lighting ceremony is held Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:00. Through Jan. 6.

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 15 No. 2 -- December 2004