ArtPourri

Short List Announced--The Penny McCall Foundation has announced the names of the six finalists for the first Ordway Prize. Given biennially, the prize will recognize two recipients, a mid-career artist and arts writer and/or curator, each of whom will receive an unrestricted monetary award of $100,000. The four remaining finalists will each receive awards of $7,500. And the finalists are Lynne Cooke, curator, Dia Art Foundation; David Rimanelli, freelance art writer and critic; and Ralph Rugoff, director, California College of the Arts' Wattis Institute of Contemporary Arts, all of whom are American; and American artists Sam Durant and Senga Nengudi and Colombian artist Doris Salcedo. The first two recipients will be announced on December 16 at a special event in New York City.

NEA News--The 2005 National Medal of Arts has been presented to ten recipients, including Leonard Garment, arts patron and advocate, New York City; Ollie Johnston, film animator and artist, Burbank, CA; and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA. The National Medal of Arts, established by Congress in 1984, is awarded to those who have made extraordinary contributions to the creation, growth and support of the arts in the U.S.--$14.89 million in federal competitive Save America's Treasures grants has been awarded to 61 organizations and agencies that will act to conserve significant U.S. cultural treasures, which illustrate, interpret and are associated with the great events, ideas, and individuals that contribute to our nation's history and culture.

Laureates Named--The Japan Art Association has announced the five winners of the 2005 Praemium Imperiale, including Robert Ryman for Painting (U.S.), Issey Miyake for Sculpture (Japan), and Yoshio Taniguchi for Architecture (Japan). Recipients of this annual award receive approximately $135,000 along with a medal in recognition of their outstanding achievement in the arts.

Fall Auction Results In--Continued astounding strength in Contemporary art was in evidence last week in New York. Both Sotheby's and Christie's realized their highest totals for evening auctions. Collectors and dealers spent a total of $387,633,680 (including Buyer's Premiums) at the three houses (including Phillips de Pury). The long-standing record for the most expensive post-war work was broken twice, first at Christie's with Mark Rothko's Homage to Matisse and then at Sotheby's when David Smith's Cubi XXVIII took in $23,816,000 - the highest price for any work of art this season.

Holiday Traditional Stamp Available--"Madonna and Child" by Lorenzo Monaco (National Gallery of Art) is once again the holiday traditional stamp available from the U. S. Postal Service this Christmas season. A greeting card based on this painting is available at the National Gallery gift shop.

Exhibitions

Napa, CA -- COPIA (The American Center for Wine, Food and The Arts) -- construction features astounding sculptures made from cans of food that were created during a charitable design/build competition. At the close of the exhibition, all food will be donated to local food banks. Visitors are requested to bring one can of food to add to the donation. Through January 2. Call 707.259.1600.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL -- Museum of Art -- Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs opens December 15 and features more than 130 artifacts associated with the legendary pharaoh as well as 70 objects from the graves of members of the 18th Dynasty, including Tut's great grandparents. Through April 23; then opens at the Field Museum in Chicago on May 19. Call 954.525.5500.

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 16 No. 2 -- December 2005