Museum to Expand--In a major step towards expansion, the Walters Art Museum (Baltimore, MD) has signed a contract with the Maryland Historical Society to purchase a building just west of the museum for $1.5 million. The purchase was made possible by a donor gift, and closing on the purchase was expected before the New Year.

Prize Winner Announced--The Tate Britain has announced that the Turner Prize 2005 has been awarded to Simon Sterling. The artist transforms and reframes existing objects using a rigorous process of research to develop his sculptural installations.

Shortlist Announced--The Guggenheim Museum has announced the shortlist for the Hugo Boss Prize 2006 at Art Basel in Miami. The seven finalists are from Puerto Rico, Germany, UK and Mexico and include Aida Ruilova from the U.S. (video).

Book Award Made--The Colorado Center for the Book recently awarded their history book of the year award to the Denver Art Museum's New World Art Department. Painting a New World: Mexican Art and Life, 1521 to 1821 is a catalog of the largest exhibition of Mexican colonial painting ever assembled outside of Mexico, was edited by Donna Pierce, and is available in the Museum's Shop.

Plaster Cast Sold--Sotheby's and SCP Auctions recently sold the original plaster cast of the Heisman trophy sculpture from 1935, used as the model for the most famous and significant individual award in college football, for $228,000 in an auction of Important Sports Memorabilia and Cards. The cast was consigned directly from the family of the late artist Frank Eliscu, who completed it at the age of 23 in 1935. His finished product was used to create the mold for the bronze trophy that is awarded each year.

Artists Named--Curators have announced their selection of artists for the 2006 Whitney Biennial, which opens to the public on March 2 and remains on view through May 28 at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY. This is the first Biennial to have a title attached to it; "Whitney Biennial 2006: Day for Night" takes its title from the 1973 film by Francois Truffaut, whose original French name denotes the cinematic technique of shooting night scenes artificially during the day using a special filter.

National Endowment for the Arts News--The NEA will award $20.4 million in a round of FY 2006 funding to nonprofit national, regional, state and local organizations across the country, funding Access to Artistic Excellence grants as well as Literature Fellowships for individuals. The grants support the creation and presentation of work in the disciplines of design, folk and traditional arts, local arts agencies, media arts, museums and visual arts, among others, and will fund 794 projects out of 1,353 eligible applications.--Over $1.3 million will be awarded through the Challenge America: Reaching Every Community program. One hundred and thirty-five grants of $10,000 each will be given to primarily small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations.

Exhibitions:

Indianapolis, IN -- Indianapolis Museum of Art -- International Arts & Crafts is one of the largest arts and crafts exhibitions ever and the first to showcase the movement's influence in Europe, America and Japan. Featured are nearly 300 objects, and highlights include two reconstructed furnished interiors of the period, an American Craftsman room inspired by Gustav Stickley and a Japanese room. Through January 22.

New York, NY - Metropolitan Museum of Art -- Fra Angelico is the first American retrospective devoted to the work of the great Italian Renaissance artist known as Fra Angelico (1390-1455) and the first comprehensive presentation of his work assembled anywhere in the world in half a century. Featured are nearly 80 drawings, paintings and manuscript illuminations from throughout his career, supplemented by 45 additional works by his assistants and closest followers. Through January 29.

New York, NY -- Museum of Modern Art -- Pixar: 20 Years of Animation features over 500 works of original art on loan for the first time from Pixar Animation Studios. The show includes paintings, concept art, sculpture and an array of digital installations that reveal the intricate hands-on processes behind Pixar's computer-generated films--including Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo, etc. Through February 6.

Los Angeles, CA -- Hammer Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art (on view simultaneously) -- Masters of American Comics is a large-scale exhibition comprising in-depth presentations of work by 15 artists who shaped the development of the American comic strip and comic book during the past century. With over 500 objects on view, the exhibition provides understanding and insight into the medium of comics as an art form. Through March 12. Travels to Milwaukee Art Museum (April 27) and The Jewish Museum, NY (Sept. 15).

Chicago, IL -- The Art Institute of Chicago -- Illustrations from the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, 2001-2005 features a selection of original works of art from books that have received either winner or honor awards for their illustrations. This award commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and work and honors his wife for her "courage and determination in continuing the work for peace and brotherhood." Through April 23.

Happy New Year 2006

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 16 No. 3 -- January 2006