ArtPourri

Prizes Awarded – The 2011 Calder Prize has been awarded to American artist Rachel Harrison.  The prize consists of $50,000, the opportunity to complete a six-month residency at the Atelier Calder in Sache, France, and the gifting of one of the artist’s defining works to a major public collection.

–Architecture’s highest honor, the Pritzker Architecture Prize, has been awarded for 2011 to Eduardo Souto de Moura, from Portugal.  The laureate will receive a $100,000 grant and a bronze medallion at a formal ceremony in Washington, D.C., this month.

—The 20^th annual Whitney Museum American Art Award honors Marissa Mayer of Google.   The award consists of an original artwork commissioned from an American artist and presented to the honoree at a gala dinner. 

Art Fair Scheduled – ART Santa Fe will celebrate 11 successful years when presented July 7-10.  This year’s fair will be hosted at the Convention Center in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, NM.  Featured will be contemporary galleries from all over the globe, cutting-edge art installations and emerging artists and dealers.  www.artsantafe.com.

Museum Space Sold – Because it’s a time of “considerable financial challenge,” the American Folk Art Museum building on West 53^rd St. in Manhattan, which opened at that location in 2001, is being sold to MoMA for $31.2 million.  This will allow for expansion of MoMA, and the folk art museum will re-establish their Lincoln Square space, which for more than 20 years served as a venue for their exhibitions and programs, as their home and primary base of operations.

Auction News – Sotheby’s:  Some highlights of spring sales include a new record for a piece of American Indian art at auction—an Oglala Sioux beaded and fringed hide war shirt that once belonged to the famous Sioux Chief Black Bird sold for $2.65 million;  George Bellows’ Dock Builders sold for $3.89 million;  Picasso’s Femmes lisant (Deux personages) achieved $21.3 million; Warhol’s Sixteen Jackies brought $20.2 million; and John Chamberlain’s Nutcracker sold for $4.7 million,  setting a new record for the artist at auction.

—Christies:  The two-week sales series saw 88 lots offered that surpassed the $1 million price threshold.  Warhol’s Self-Portrait, 1963-64 sold for $38.4 million; a rediscovered painting by Mark Rothko, Untitled No. 17, brought $33.6 million; and Roy Lichtenstein’s drawing Study for Kiss V—acquired for $10 in 1965 at a NYC Happening—brought over $2 million.

New Love Stamp Issued – The US Postal Service has issued the new Garden of Love—ten different first class stamps depicting a colorful mosaic of flora and fauna in a garden setting.  A continuation of the “Love” series, they are intended for use on occasions when love and affection are expressed.  Award-winning illustrator Jose Ortega of New York City and Toronto made a digital file of his original pencil and marker drawings.  Then he added color, improvising until the garden took shape.  Tapestries, textiles and mosaics influenced his choice of colors and patterns.

Scholars Named – The names of the 2011 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts have been announced.  This is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an artistically talented graduating high school senior.  This year’s scholars represent 13 states and eight artistic disciplines.  Winner in the Visual Arts category was Lee R. Heinemann from Pembroke High School, Kansas City, MO.  www.youngarts.org.

Milestone – Bill Gallo, who worked for the New York Daily News for seven decades, has died at the age of 88.  He started as a copy boy and became a cartoonist and columnist of renown for his depiction of major sports figures.

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 21, No. 8 — June 2011