Arts news

• Six Must-See Exhibitions in Chelsea this Winter

  14-01-2021 22:06 via artnews.com
  
  Here are our picks of the six must-see shows in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood this season, from the Art in America Guide to Chelsea.
  
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• Barry Le Va, Artist Who Pushed the Boundaries of Sculpture, Has Died at 79

  26-01-2021 03:42 via artnews.com
  
  Barry Le Va, a sculptor whose visually seductive installations often involved subjecting his materials to unseen systems that resulted in their destruction, has died. New York’s David Nolan Gallery, which represents Le Va, said that the artist died on Sunday at 79 but did not state a cause of death.
  Le Va became part of the New York art scene during the late 1960s and went on to be associated with the Process art and Post-Minimalist movements. Unlike the best known adherents of those movem
  
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• The Best Plastic Mesh Canvases for Crafting

  26-01-2021 03:03 via artnews.com
  
  It doesn’t look like much, but plastic mesh canvases are an incredibly versatile base for a variety of crafts. Featuring an openwork-grid surface that has some flex, it can be used to support weavings of yarn, ribbons, and many other materials. You can use single, flat pieces to make small gifts such as bookmarks, jewelry, or coasters, or mold and combine sheets into three-dimensional objects, from a tissue box to a purse. Because they are made of plastic, they are also easy for children t
  
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• The Best Photography Shooting Tents for Working On-the-Go

  26-01-2021 02:55 via artnews.com
  
  Small-scaled and portable, shooting tents are helpful gear for photographers who either don’t have a dedicated studio space or want a mini studio that can travel with them. These boxes, which can typically be collapsed or broken down into a flat package, come with reflective walls and lighting strips to provide a well-lit setting no matter where you are—and no matter the weather. Ideal for product photography, shooting tents come in a range of sizes. The best models are built to redu
  
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• Since the Second World War, scientists have understood the human brain as a predictive machine. Is that still a useful metaphor?   

  26-01-2021 02:46 via aeon.co
  
  Since the Second World War, scientists have understood the human brain as a predictive machine. Is that still a useful metaphor?   
  
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• Pirate publishers saturated the market, then filled their warehouses with unsaleable stock. The result? The publishing crash of 1783

  26-01-2021 02:46 via historytoday.com
  Pirate publishers saturated the market, then filled their warehouses with unsaleable stock. The result? The publishing crash of 1783
  
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• Critics hold that “the question of correctness is generally irrelevant” in poetry. They’re mistaken about poets’ mistakes   

  26-01-2021 02:46 via nybooks.com
  
  Critics hold that “the question of correctness is generally irrelevant” in poetry. They’re mistaken about poets’ mistakes   
  
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• The Best Natural-Light Bulbs for Clarity and Calm

  26-01-2021 02:40 via artnews.com
  
  Light bulbs that emit natural light—light that resembles the atmospheric daylight that streams through windows—are easy on the eye and flattering to virtually all subjects. They are also incredibly handy for artists, helping to create a properly lit work area where colors can be accurately perceived and details can be clearly illuminated. Even more important, a studio with adequate natural lighting can help reduce eye fatigue. Make your atelier a calming and efficient environment wit
  
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• The Best Leather Notebooks for Sketching and Writing

  26-01-2021 02:22 via artnews.com
  
  There’s something special about filling in the pages of a leather-covered notebook. Handsome and sumptuous, the slightly rugged material adds a touch of richness and luxury to what is otherwise a practical everyday object. Leather is versatile too, able to support either an old-timey or a modern look. Whether you are using your notebook as a diary or for sketches, our picks below will help you make the best choice to fulfill your creative vision.
  
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• The Best Hot Press Paper for Watercolors, Sketching, and More

  26-01-2021 00:20 via artnews.com
  
  Named for a fabrication process that involves smashing pulp in heated cylinders, hot press papers present smooth surfaces with virtually no tooth. They are ideal for artworks that require seamless blending and transitions as well as precise mark making, and they are less absorbent than cold press papers. They are also well suited for building up layers while retaining subtleties in strokes and colors. All in all, whether you use these papers for watercolor painting or sketching with ink, choosin
  
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• The Best Handheld Jigsaws for Cutting a Variety of Materials

  25-01-2021 23:44 via artnews.com
  
  As its name suggests, a jigsaw is a power tool that can cut complicated and irregular shapes—like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. A kind of reciprocating saw, it uses a blade that is quite narrow and refined, making it perfect for cutting jobs that require not only power but also finesse. Most jigsaws can cut through everyday materials like wood, plastics, and light metals. Different saws have different speed and orbital capabilities (orbital settings introduce an elliptical motion to the b
  
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• Top Art Collector Leon Black to Depart Investment Firm After Review of Jeffrey Epstein Donations

  25-01-2021 23:41 via artnews.com
  
  Amid controversy over his alleged ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein, Leon Black, a private equity investor well known in the art world for his collecting and patronage of museums, will depart the firm that he cofounded. The Wall Street Journal reports that Black, who currently serves as the chair of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, plans to leave Apollo Global Management Inc. as its chief executive on or before July 31, the 70th birthday of the firm’s cofounder Marc Rowan. He will rep
  
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• The Best Gels for Lights Will Set a New Mood in Your Space

  25-01-2021 23:39 via artnews.com
  
  Despite their name, lighting gels aren’t really gels but rather simple sheets of translucent plastic, popular among studio photographers and available in many colors. Placing one over a light source can alter the entire mood of the space in which you’re shooting or fix undesirable lighting conditions. Depending on your chosen color, you can warm a room, add fluorescence, or create a dreamlike, surreal atmosphere. Because you can also layer them, the creative possibilities with gels a
  
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• The Best Electric Erasers Are Efficient and Easy

  25-01-2021 23:34 via artnews.com
  
  Whether you erase to revise, refine, or restart, your task can be a lot simpler with the help of an electric eraser. Typically battery powered, these handheld tools can move faster than the human hand, wiping away marks quickly and neatly. Often they can get rid of not only pencil marks but also colored pencils and other tough pigments. Plus, using one will save your finger and wrist joints from fatigue and aches. Ready to ditch your manual eraser? Browse our favorite electric models below.
  
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• Paris’s Centre Pompidou Faces Years-Long Closure Amid Renovation Effort

  25-01-2021 23:30 via artnews.com
  
  The French minister of culture, Roselyne Bachelot, has announced that the Centre Pompidou in Paris will undergo a three-year-long restoration beginning at the end of 2023. According to a report by Le Figaro, the institution will plan to reopen in 2027 following the project.
  “We no longer have a choice, the building is in distress,” Centre Pompidou president Serge Lasvignes told Le Figaro of the extensive upkeep needed for its Renzo Piano- and Richard Rogers-designed exterior of
  
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• The Best Cordless Drills for Intensive Installations

  25-01-2021 23:29 via artnews.com
  
  Whether you’re working on an installation art piece or just hanging your work on the wall, a cordless drill is a handy tool to have around the studio. When shopping around for one, though, the considerations can be overwhelming. A good, simple rule of thumb is to err on the side of more power—it will make your life easier and your work less arduous. At the same time, you should keep portability in mind. You don’t have to stick to professional brands to find a quality product, e
  
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• The Best Cup Turners for Crafting

  25-01-2021 23:19 via artnews.com
  
  If you enjoy creating custom tumblers with epoxy, one way to upgrade your setup is to purchase a cup turner. These devices consist of a motorized arm that holds your cup in a horizontal position while rotating it, thereby keeping its sides exposed and moving as you apply layers of epoxy resin. A good turner should move at a consistent rate so you can achieve a neat finish with your desired detail and texture. Ease your crafting process and be on your way to more perfect tumblers with one of our
  
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• Build Frames with the Best Corner Clamps for Canvases and Panels

  25-01-2021 23:09 via artnews.com
  
  Whether you want to display a panel or stretch a canvas, you’ll need a sturdy, evenly edged frame. Making your own is an economical solution that is also relatively simple, especially if you have one or more corner clamps. These handy little devices hold two pieces of material together and center them at a right angle so you can nail or glue the parts in place. They ensure precision, reduce gaps in joints, and speed up the whole process. Owning one is like having an extra hand, and buying
  
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• The Best Colored Light Bulbs for Installations, Photo Sets, and More

  25-01-2021 23:00 via artnews.com
  
  An easy way to change the atmosphere of a room is to install some colorful light bulbs. Whether you want to design a creative set for a photo shoot, cast your studio in a certain glow, or simply decorate for a party, bulbs are an economical way to achieve your ideal look. When choosing a product, you should consider not only the vibrancy and accuracy of its color but also its brightness, which is measured in lumens. There’s also the issue of flexibility: Some bulbs are straightforward, unf
  
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• Soulages First Owned by Senegalese Poet-Politician Léopold Sédar Senghor Sells in France

  25-01-2021 22:40 via artnews.com
  
  A 1956 painting by French modernist Pierre Soulages that once belonged to the poet, intellectual and former president of Senegal Léopold Sédar Senghor, who died in 2001, sold on Saturday at French auction house Caen Enchères for €1.5 million ($1.8 million), against an estimate of €800,000.
  Senghor, an advocate of modern art during his tenure as Senegal’s president from 1960-80, purchased the abstract painting titled “Painting 81 x 60 cm, December 3, 195
  
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• ARTnews in Brief: Stanford University’s Cantor Arts Center Creates Asian American Art Initiative—and More from January 25, 2021

  25-01-2021 22:24 via artnews.com
  
  Monday, January 25
  Stanford University’s Cantor Arts Center Creates Asian American Art InitiativeThe Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University in California has established the Asian American Art Initiative (AAAI) as part of an effort to acquire, preserve, exhibit, and study art related to Asian American and Asian diaspora artists. The initiative’s founding co-directors are Aleesa Alexander, assistant curator of American art at the Cantor, and Marci Kwon, ass
  
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• The Best Cold Press Paper Will Create Mesmerizing Effects In Your Paintings

  25-01-2021 22:18 via artnews.com
  
  Though it can’t quite be called rough, cold press paper has a surface texture with more tooth than its counterpart, hot press paper. It is also more porous, more absorbent, and easier to erase and rework. You can achieve refined textures with your paint, and washes are easier to control. There is no single paper that will work best for everyone, but our guide covers a range of qualities and prices for both beginners and seasoned painters. Here are the best ones in our book.
  
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• MCA Chicago Makes Round of Layoffs, Intensifying Divisions Between Staff and Leadership

  25-01-2021 22:15 via artnews.com
  
  The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago laid off dozens of workers on Thursday, just days after two of the museums’ most senior curators announced plans to depart. According to an email sent to the museum’s staff that was obtained by ARTnews, 17 out of 162 full-time employees, or 11 percent of that workforce, were laid off across departments due to budgetary constraints. Another 24 out of 49 part-time employees were also laid off.
  The Chicago Tribune first reported the cuts just days
  
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• The Best Books On Photography Will Guide Your Image-Making Practice

  25-01-2021 22:07 via artnews.com
  
  Looking to expand your understanding of photography? There are plenty of resources online, but a web page can’t compare to flipping through a beautifully bound tome filled with glossy pages of striking images. Books on photography can be not only instructive but also transportive: They can open your mind, change your perspective, and compel you to pick up your own camera. Whether you are curious about how photographers work, are in your own creative rut, or simply want to see some stunning
  
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• Phillips Sees 16 Percent Decrease in Sales For 2020, With Asia Sales Up 24 Percent

  25-01-2021 21:56 via artnews.com
  
  On Monday, Phillips announced its overall sales totaled $760.4 million for 2020. Together, the house’s auction sales realized over $648 million, while private sales brought in $113.2 million.
  The total is down 16.3 percent from the 2019 annual sales of $908 million, a better outcome than its larger competitors Sotheby’s and Christie’s who saw an average 25 percent decrease in year-on-year sales as a result of the ongoing pandemic’s economic impact. Auction sales were down
  
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• For 2020, Phillips Brought in Total of $760.4 M., Down 16 Percent from 2019; Asia Sales Up 24 Percent

  25-01-2021 21:56 via artnews.com
  
  On Monday, Phillips auction house announced its overall sales totaled $760.4 million for 2020. Together, auction sales realized over $648 million, with private sales ending the year at $113.2 million.
  The total is down 16.3 percent from the 2019 annual sales of $908 million, reaching a better outcome than its larger competitors Sotheby’s and Christie’s who saw an average 25 percent decrease in year-on-year sales. Auction sales were down 12 percent over the $736 million realized in 20
  
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• A History of Presence

  25-01-2021 18:22 via artnews.com
  
  The website for Facebook Reality Labs promises that augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will soon “become as universal and essential as smartphones and personal computers are today.” Facebook is investing billions of dollars to fulfill this prophecy. It acquired the VR headset company Oculus in 2014, and in 2019 it bought CTRL-Lab, a startup developing a neural interface that allows users to control a computer with their thoughts. As part of the push to “build the f
  
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• A Scholar Takes a Deep Dive Into a Painted Homage to Abraham Lincoln

  25-01-2021 17:39 via smithsonianmag.com
  
  U.S. artist George Peter Alexander Healy’s presidential portraiture, conceived years after the sitter passed away
  
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• From Medicis to Mythologies: How Sandro Botticelli Became One of History’s Most Influential Artists

  25-01-2021 16:57 via artnews.com
  
  It’s possible that Western art history wouldn’t have been the same without Sandro Botticelli. With members of the influential Medici family as his top patrons, Botticelli received many high-profile commissions, some of which are considered the Renaissance movement’s best achievements. Throughout the latter half of the 15th century, he produced secular portraits of Florentine elite, as well as religious and mythological scenes that defined a new era of artistic achievement. 
  
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• The Fate of Samsung Executive Lee Kun-hee’s Art Collection, an Alleged Yayoi Kusama Swindle, and More: Morning Links from January 25, 2021

  25-01-2021 16:01 via artnews.com
  
  To receive Morning Links in your inbox every weekday, sign up for our Breakfast with ARTnews newsletter.
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  WHEN THE LONGTIME SAMSUNG LEADER LEE KUN-HEE DIED LAST YEAR at the age of 78, speculation began about what would happen to his formidable collection of ancient Korean and contemporary art. His heirs are said to be facing a tax bill from the South Korean government in the realm of 11 trillion won (about $10 billion), and sales of his holdings co
  
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