Art Knowledge News - Keeping You in Touch with the World of Art...

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• The Winnipeg Art Gallery Surveys the Work of William Kurelek
• The Westmoreland Museum of American Art to Examine America's Oldest Continuous Art Colony
• Russia's Historic Bolshoi Theater Finally Reopens after a Massive Reconstruction
• Ninth Annual Art.Fair 2011 Opens in Cologne
• The Flag Art Foundation Features 2 New Exhibitions in NYC
• The Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show to feature More Than 80 of the World's Top Dealers
• The World Famous Albertina Museum in Vienna Delights Our AKN Editor
• Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Acquires New Work by Walton Ford
• Museum Würth shows " The Collector’s Eye " ~ Recent Acquisitions
• Frye Art Museum’s Summer Exhibitions Celebrate Alaskan Art
• Exhibition About Artist George Ault Opens at the Smithsonian American Art Museum
• The Art Students League of New York Highlights at Lowe Art museum
• The Ogden Museum of Southern Art Shows Work by John Alexander & Walter Anderson
• Hospital Radiologists Analyze Brooklyn Museum's Mummies and Make Discovery
• MOCA Board of Trustees Names NY Gallerist Jeffrey Deitch as Museum Director
• The Canton Museum of Art Shows 'A Celebration of Women in The Arts'
• Pennsylvania Judge Hears Arguments Over Moving of the Barnes Foundation to New Home
• American International Fine Art Fair To Feature Rare Treasures
• Art Knowledge News Presents "This Week In Review"

The Winnipeg Art Gallery Surveys the Work of William Kurelek Posted: 28 Oct 2011 11:24 PM PDT Winnipeg, Canada - The Winnipeg Art Gallery is proud to present "William Kurelek: The Messenger", on view at the gallery through December 31st. Throughout a 20-year career that spanned from roughly the mid-1950's until his death, William Kurelek (1927-1977) and his art have meant many different things to many people. The Alberta-born, Manitoba-raised artist was a painter of innocence and fun, his scenes reminiscences of a simpler and timeless past. He was also a chronicler of the experiences of various cultural groups in Canada, devoting entire series to Ukrainian, Jewish, Polish, Irish, French Canadian, and Inuit peoples. But there is another Kurelek—the tortured man who spent two years in mental hopsitals,  the anguished prophet of a modern apocalypse, whose art is an indictment of the secular age and a testament to unwavering faith. An important and unique aspect of this exhibition for Canadian audiences will be the inclusion of several works from Kurelek's crucial and highly formative period in England from 1952 to 1959. During this time the young artist underwent psychiatric treatment and converted to Roman Catholicism, which profoundly altered his subsequent approach to life and art making. It is in consideration of these early works that the exhibition reveals Kurelek's complex psyche and the central role it played in everything he produced. As the first large-scale survey of William Kurelek in thirty years, The Messenger seeks to bring together the most important and engaging works executed by the artist during his career. The exhibition, which will be mounted in Hamilton and Victoria following its inaugural opening in Winnipeg, includes over 80 key paintings and drawings that encompass the artist's entire practice. The works are drawn from major private, corporate, and public collections in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The exhibition is the result of a partnership between the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Art Gallery of Hamilton, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. William Kurelek was born near Whitford, Alberta in 1927, the oldest of seven children in an Ukrainian immigrant family. His family lost their grain farm during the Great Depression and moved to a dairy farm near Stonewall, Manitoba. He developed an early interest in art which was not encouraged by his hard-working parents. He studied at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto and at the Instituto Allende in Mexico, but was primarily self-taught from books. By his mid-twenties he was living in England. In 1952, suffering from clinical depression and emotional problems he was admitted to the Maudsley Psychiatric Hospital in London. There he was treated for schizophrenia. In hospital he painted, producing "The Maze", a dark depiction of his tortured youth. This 1953 work was used as the cover of the 1981 Van Halen rock album Fair Warning. His experience in the hospital was documented in the LIFE Science Library book "The Mind", published in 1965. He was transferred from the Maudsley to be at Netherne Hospital from November 1953 to January 1955, to work with Edward Adamson, a pioneer of art therapy. At Netherne he produced two masterpieces - "Where Am I? Who Am I? Why Am I?" (donated to the American Visionary Arts Museum by Adamson) and "I Spit On Life" (still in the Adamson Collection). Originally Ukrainian Orthodox, Kurelek converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1957. He painted a series of 160 works on the Passion of Christ, and a series of 20 depicting the Nativity as if Christ had been born in Canadian settings: an igloo, a trapper's cabin, a boxcar, a motel. He maintained a cottage near Wilno, Ontario, where he got his inspiration for a book of paintings entitled The Polish Canadians, and was a friend of the nearby Madonna House Apostolate. He returned to Toronto, writing and illustrating a series of children's books, several of which have become modern classics. In 1974 he illustrated a new edition of W.O. Mitchell's 'Who Has Seen The Wind'. He won the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award for 'A Prairie Boy's Winter' in 1974 and 'A Prairie Boy's Summer' in 1976. In 1976, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. He visited the Ukraine in 1970 and again in 1977, publishing 'To My Father's Village'. He died in Toronto in 1977. His archives, and a substantial body of his work, including the Passion mentioned above, are held at Niagara Falls Art Gallery. The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) was established in 1912 when a group of Winnipeg businessmen, recognizing "the civilizing effects of art," each contributed $200 and rented two rooms in the old Federal Building at the corner of Main and Water Streets. Thus, the WAG was born, becoming the first civic art gallery in Canada. As it expanded, the WAG relocated premises several times to accommodate its growing collection, including its former residence in what is now the Manitoba Archives Building on St. Mary Avenue. Under Dr. Ferdinand Eckhardt, curator from 1953 to 1974, the WAG grew in stature, presenting significant exhibitions. Its juried exhibitions, such as the Winnipeg Show(s), drew entries from across Canada, proving crucial to the definition of Modernism in Canadian art. The collection also grew rapidly with important acquisitions such as the Gort Collection of late Gothic and early Renaissance art. The 1950s also witnessed the beginning of several of the WAG's specialized collections, including that of Inuit Art. The Decorative Arts collection, another area of specialized collecting, also began in the 1950s with the acceptance of a collection of objects at the bequest of Melanie Bolton-Hill. Since then the WAG has amassed over 4,000 pieces of decorative art, covering diverse media of ceramic, glass, metal, and textiles dating from the 17th century to the mid-20th century. The third specialized collection began considerably later in the 1980s with the designation of the photography collection which now numbers some 1,300 works, largely of contemporary Canadian origin. The present WAG building was designed by Winnipeg architect Gustavo da Roza. It was opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, on September 25, 1971. In addition to eight galleries, the building contains a 320-seat auditorium, a rooftop sculpture garden and restaurant, a research library, a gift shop, and extensive meeting and lecture space. The WAG footprint expanded in October 1995 with the opening of the new WAG Studio Building next door in the renovated Mall Medical Building. Home to the Gallery's art classes, the WAG facility is the largest program of its kind in Canada, offering children and adults art classes taught by professional artists. Exhibitions and programs are at the heart of the WAG, and over the years the Gallery has established itself as one of Canada's leading art museums, organizing exhibitions of local, national, and international artists. By developing and maintaining Manitoba's visual arts heritage, it ensures the preservation of this legacy for future generations. The WAG is also at the forefront in promoting Manitoba artists nationwide and abroad. With its connections to international curators and artists, the WAG has toured exhibitions around the world—Spain, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Taiwan, Norway, China, Italy, and the United States. Today the WAG has almost 24,000 works of art ranging from 15th-century European paintings to 21st century American multi-media art, and represents artists from countries and cultures around the globe.  Visit the museum's website at ... http://wag.ca

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art to Examine America's Oldest Continuous Art Colony Posted: 28 Oct 2011 11:23 PM PDT Greensburg, Pennsylvania.- The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is proud to host "The Tides of Provincetown: Pivotal Years in America's Oldest Continuous Art Colony (1899-2011)" on view at the museum from October 29th through January 22nd 2012. Organized by the New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, Connecticut, this exhibition is the first comprehensive survey of America's oldest continuous arts colony from its start to the present day. Provincetown art and artists have played a pivotal role in the development of American art, most notably Modernism, and this exhibition highlights over 100 works of art created by artists associated with Provincetown, Massachusetts over the past 112 years. Artists from Charles Webster Hawthorne to Hans Hofmann found solace and inspiration in the art colony "at the end of the world" and this exhibition examines Provincetown's lasting legacy and impact.

Russia's Historic Bolshoi Theater Finally Reopens after a Massive Reconstruction Posted: 28 Oct 2011 11:04 PM PDT MOSCOW - Russia's Bolshoi Theater reopened after a massive reconstruction effort that restored it to its original imperial splendor. After six years of a painstaking $700-million-plus restoration that was plagued by financial scandals, the historic Russian State Academic Bolshoi Theatre reopened Friday with a gala concert attended by politicians and celebrities from all over the world.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev opened the gala, which was broadcast live on a screen outside the theater, on Russian television, the Internet and in movie theaters in 36 countries. Top Russian and foreign opera and ballet stars, including Violeta Urmana, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Natalie Dessay, performed in the two-hour long concert.  The exterior of the theater was elaborately illuminated in different designs.

Ninth Annual Art.Fair 2011 Opens in Cologne Posted: 28 Oct 2011 10:47 PM PDT COLOGNE, GERMANY - From October 29 to November 1, 2011, the ninth annual ART.FAIR Cologne will celebrate its opening at the Staatenhaus am Rheinpark, Cologne. After the successful opening in the new halls in 2010, with approximately 32,000 visitors, organizers expect even more art enthusiasts this year – because there is plenty to see: the trade fair is expanding into an additional hall. A total of 16,000 m² provide a generous amount of space for even more art. The art fair repertoire ranges from the established figures of the 20th century to young new discoveries, and it mirrors the diversity of the international art scene.

The Flag Art Foundation Features 2 New Exhibitions in NYC Posted: 28 Oct 2011 10:33 PM PDT New York City.- The Flag Art Foundation is pleased to present 2 new shows. "Art²" is a group show featuring contemporary artists referencing another artist, while Jane Hammond's installation "Fallen" honors U.S. soldier killed in Iraq. The title of the exhibition, "Art²", refers to the use of a specific work of art in the visual language of an original work of art. Whether a literal transcription or a point of departure, the featured artists quote from artists ranging from those of their own generation to those from decades, and even centuries before. These works stand on their own while adding another layer of meaning to what may seem familiar at first glance, exploring the constant flux of art, in which artists reimagine and incorporate past works, to ultimately unlock ways in which our visual history informs our present. Both exhibitions will remain on view through December 17th.

The Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show to feature More Than 80 of the World's Top Dealers Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:36 PM PDT Dallas, Texas.- Recognized as one of the finest antique shows in the world, the Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show will be held between November 2nd and 6th at the new, state-of-the-art Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas and will feature more than 80 of the world's most acclaimed exhibitors, including TEFAF Maastricht exhibitors Antiquariaat FORUM BV, Daniel Crouch Rare Books, Dr. Joern Guenther Rare Books AG and Inlibris, who will each showcase their impressive collections of rare books, manuscripts and autographs. Also highlighted at the show will be fine art, antique and estate jewelry, furniture, porcelain, Asian antiquities, American and European silver, glass, textiles, sculpture, contemporary art and more. Notable guests at last year's show included Laura Bush, who charmed exhibitors with a surprise visit during the last day of the show. The former First Lady was accompanied by Debbie Francis and interior designer Ken Blasingame who helped the Bushes with  the décor in the White House residence. Also seen shopping the show were Margot Perot, Catherine Perot, Betty Blake, Alan May, Joanne Stroud, Lynn and Alan McBee, Steve and Anne Stoghill, Phil Lacerte, Larry and Joyce Lacerte, Frank Bonilla and Minnie Carruth. Adding to the show's cultural experience, the Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show will present an educational lecture series that is free to the public as well as show attendees. The lecture series will include presentations on a wide array of captivating topics by respected dealers and industry experts, including Alan C. Lowe, Director of the George W. Bush Presidential Library; Dr. Joern Guenther of Dr. Joern Guenther Rare Books; and Miller Gaffney of Miller Gaffney Art Advisory. "What makes this show so unique is that it brings together more than 80 world-renowned galleries in a location that couldn't be more fitting for an event of this nature," said Scott Diament, President and CEO of the Palm Beach Show Group. "With its iconic design and high-end finishes, the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas is the perfect setting for the Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show." The Palm Beach Show Group is pleased to announce that TACA (The Arts Community Alliance), Dallas' premier umbrella arts organization, has once again  been selected as the charity partner for the prestigious opening night preview party of the Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Since 1966, TACA has promoted a diverse and vibrant North Texas arts scene by providing financial support, building public awareness and increasing participation for performing arts organizations. TACA began as an auction to benefit the Dallas Theater Center, and has grown into a year-round organization that has donated millions of dollars to approximately 75 arts organizations. Recognized as the nation's leading producer of premiere jewelry, art and antique shows, the Palm Beach Show Group owns and operates the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show (February 17-21, 2012), widely recognized as the largest show of its kind in the United States, as well as the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show (August 23-26, 2012) and the Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show (November 2-6, 2011). In addition, the company recently announced the latest addition to its prestigious portfolio of shows, the Naples Art, Antique & Jewelry Show, debuting February 9-13, 2012 at the new 50,000-square-foot Naples Exhibition Center in West Naples, Florida. The Palm Beach Show Group's new online venture, CollectorsNet.com, officially launched in September 2010. CollectorsNet.com is an international marketplace for fine art, antiques and jewelry where members can view and purchase the world's most exquisite treasures 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. Created especially for dealers, collectors and interior designers, the site is unique in that it is the only online resource where members can virtually interact with and purchase from an exclusive, handpicked community of Palm Beach Show Group dealers. Now, collectors can not only travel to a Palm Beach Show Group show to meet face-to-face with the world's top dealers, but they can also conveniently view and purchase the finest antiques in the world year-round on CollectorsNet.com. Visit the fair's website at ... http://www.dallasfallshow.com

The World Famous Albertina Museum in Vienna Delights Our AKN Editor Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:31 PM PDT The Albertina is one of the most visited museums in Austria and a highlight for Vienna-travelers. The name Albertina was established in 1921. In March 1945, the Albertina was heavily damaged by bomb attacks. The Albertina was completely refurbished and modernized from 1998 to 2003, but the graphics collection did not reopen until 2008. The Albertina is a museum in the Innere Stadt (First District) of Vienna, Austria. It houses one of the largest and most important print rooms in the world with approximately 68,000 drawings and approximately 1 million old master prints, as well as more modern graphic works, photographs and architectural drawings. Apart from the graphics collection the museum has recently acquired on permanent loan two significant collections of Impressionist and early 20th century art, some of which will be on permanent display. The museum also houses temporary exhibitions.The Albertina in Vienna is one of the most important art collections in the world. Since 1805 it has been founded in one of the most magnificent neoclassical palaces in Europe: the Palais Albertina. To safeguard the unity of their distinguished collection in perpetuity, the Batliners set up the Herbert and Rita Batliner Art Foundation, which transferred the artworks to the Albertina as a permanent loan. Together with works from the Swiss collection of Eva and Mathias Forberg, which is also on permanent loan to the Albertina, around 100 works from the Batliner Collection are on display at the Albertina in a permanent new exhibition that traces the development from Impressionism to modern art. Since May 2009, the Albertina has been presenting a permanent exhibition from its own holdings. This has become possible through the transfer of the Batliner Collection to the Albertina in 2007. Outstanding works by Paul Klee from the Carl Djerassi Collection and major works from the collection of Eva and Mathias Forberg complete the new presentation, which is additionally rounded off by exhibits from other collections handed over to the Albertina. The permanent exhibition spans the most fascinating chapters from more than 130 years of art history, from Impressionism to the most recent present. Paintings by Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, Miró, Klee, Kandinsky, Chagall, and other masters offer a survey of French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, the Fauves, Expressionism, and the Russian avant-garde. With late works by Picasso and exhibits by Rothko and Bacon, the exhibition leads over to the second half of the twentieth century, before it ends with works by contemporary artists such as Anselm Kiefer and Gerhard Richter. Although the Albertina is a state museum, it is particularly fortunate because it gets a larger proportion of its budget from the private sector than other museums in Austria. The museum's original collection was started during the 18th century by duke Albert of Saxen-Teschen (after whom the museum has been named), together with Genoan count Giacomo Durazzo, who was at the time the Venetian ambassador to Austria. In Giacomo Durazzo's words, the purpose of the museum is to "gather a collection for later generations that serves a higher meaning than any other purpose: education and the strength of morality, distinguishing this collection from all others". The Albertina is a must see for any art lover visiting Vienna. View website at : http://www.albertina.at The Albertina in Vienna is one of the most important art collections in the world. Since 1805 it has been located in one of the most magnificent neoclassical palaces in Europe: the Palais Albertina. The name comes from the collection's founder Duke Albert von Sachsen-Teschen (1738-1822). The Batliner Collection is augmented by works from the Forberg Collection in Switzerland, which was also transferred to the Albertina on permanent loan. Herbert and Rita Batliner began collecting art nearly half a century ago. Due to their close friendship with the legendary art dealer Ernst Beyeler, French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting formed a cornerstone of the collection from the very beginning, along with the work of; Edgar Degas, Two dancers, around 1905; Alberto Giacometti. Exceptional works by Monet such as The Water-Lily Pond, Edgar Degas' Two Dancers, or Cézanne's Arc-Tal and Mont Sainte-Victoire landscapes attest to the couple's passion for French art; Picasso became an additional focal point. Today he is represented in the collection with over 40 works, including ten paintings and numerous drawings and one-of-a-kind ceramics. In the course of his travels, Herbert Batliner gained familiarity with Russian avant-garde art. He and his wife were inspired by the works they saw in Amsterdam's Stedelijk Museum, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, and the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, to build their own fine collection of Russian avant-garde art from 1905-35. The focus of their acquisitions was on Marc Chagall, but they also sought out works by Natalia Goncharova, Liubov Popova und Mikhail Larionow. The collection also includes a major work by Kazimir Malevich, painted as a defiant memory image immediately following the artist's release from a Stalinist prison. Special Collections and Archives : including; around 360 sketchbooks, predominantly by Austrian and German artists of the 19th and 20th century, including precious examples of works by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka; around 300 miniature works, including precious masterpieces by Jean Baptiste Isabey, Friedrich Heinrich Füger and Moritz Michael Daffinger; roughly 24,000 posters and poster designs from between 1870 and the present. Prime of place must be accorded the numerous posters made by artists in the early days of poster art. Worth a particular mention are the works by Alfons Maria Mucha, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Josef Hoffmann, Oskar Kokoschka and Egon Schiele; the collection of historic sheets, comprises several hundred graphic art prints from the 16th to the 19th century, documents historic events and personalities of Europe, with a focus gravitating towards Vienna; illustarted books, cimelia and portfolios, including masterpieces ranging from examples of early book art to large-scale, exclusive portfolios of contemporary art; and the archives devoted to individual artists. Current exhibitions include William Kentridge - "Five Themes" and Roy Lichtenstein - "Black & White" until May, 2011. A major "Blue Rider" exhibition opens 4 February featuring the works of August Macke, Franz Marc, Wassily Kandinsky, and other artists of Blue Rider fame.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Acquires New Work by Walton Ford Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:30 PM PDT BENTONVILLE, ARK.- Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has acquired a major new work by Walton Ford, an artist winning international acclaim for his highly detailed, monumental watercolors of exotic birds, reptiles and mammals. In 'The Island', Ford presents a writhing pyramidal mass of Tasmanian wolves (thylacines) grappling with each other and a few doomed lambs. The violent extermination of the thylacines, which were hunted to extinction in the early 20th century, calls into question who is hunter and hunted in this savage tableau.

Museum Würth shows " The Collector’s Eye " ~ Recent Acquisitions Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:29 PM PDT   KUNZELSAU, GERMANY -  The Collector's Eye the latest Museum Würth exhibition, is devoted to multifarious developments in the Würth Collection. It features a selection of recent acquisitions made during the past three years as the result of discussions between the collector, Reinhold Würth, and his Art Advisory Committee. On exhibition 15 January, 2009 through 6 January, 2010.

Frye Art Museum’s Summer Exhibitions Celebrate Alaskan Art Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:28 PM PDT SEATTLE, WA.- The Frye Art Museum's summer exhibitions celebrate the tenure of former Frye Director Ida Kay Greathouse, the role that Alaska played in the history of the Museum, and the artwork of Fred Machetanz, who captured the rugged mountains and brilliant light of Alaska. On Arctic Ice: Fred Machetanz (June 12–September 6). Working in the isolated wilderness, Fred Machetanz (1908-2002) produced a body of artwork that encompasses the rugged mountains and brilliant light of Alaska. On Arctic Ice: Fred Machetanz showcases a selection of stone lithographs produced by Machetanz between 1946 and 1980 that depict the flora, fauna, and people of America's northernmost state.

Exhibition About Artist George Ault Opens at the Smithsonian American Art Museum Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:27 PM PDT WASHINGTON, DC.- "To Make a World: George Ault and 1940s America" is on view at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., from March 11 through Sept. 5. Alexander Nemerov, the Vincent Scully Professor of the History of Art at Yale University, is the curator of the exhibition. Following its presentation in Washington, D.C., the exhibition will travel to two additional venues. During the turbulent 1940s, artist George Ault (1891-1948) created precise yet eerie pictures—works of art that have come to be seen, following his death, as some of the most original paintings made in America in those years. The beautiful geometries of Ault's paintings make personal worlds of clarity and composure to offset a real world he felt was in crisis.

The Art Students League of New York Highlights at Lowe Art museum Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:26 PM PDT The Art Students League of New York, Highlights from the Permanent Collection, featuring some seventy -five paintings, works on paper, and sculptures, will be on view at the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, from December 15, 2007 through February 3, 2008. As one of America's oldest art schools -- established by and for artists -- The Art Students League of New York has attracted outstanding talents as teachers and helped prepare others who left their mark on twentieth-century American art.

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art Shows Work by John Alexander & Walter Anderson Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:25 PM PDT New Orleans.- The work of Southern artists is often infused with a deep sense of place and time. Whether inspired by the small-town of the artist's birth, the land, the waters, be it river, lake or sea, the music, the people or even the animals, that sense of place shows up in subtle, surprising or literal ways, unique to each artist. "One World, Two Artists" will attempt to show how the Gulf Coast was a shared source of inspiration to two native artists: John Alexander and Walter Anderson. The "One World, Two Artists: John Alexander and Walter Anderson" exhibition is currently on view at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and remains open until mid-July. Walter Inglis Anderson was born in 1903 in New Orleans to George Walter Anderson, a grain merchant, and Annette McConnell Anderson, an artist. His mother's love of art, music, and literature strongly influenced Walter and his two brothers. Anderson was educated at a private boarding school, then attended the Parsons Institute of Design in New York and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where his drawings earned him a scholarship for study abroad. Anderson felt that an artist should create affordable work that brought pleasure to others, and in return, the artist should be able to pursue his artistic passions. In the 1930s, he worked on regional Works Progress Administration mural projects and began to view his role in art as a muralist. It was in the late 1930s that Anderson first succumbed to mental illness. He was diagnosed with severe depression and spent three years in and out of hospitals. In 1947, with the understanding of his family, Anderson left his wife and children and embarked on a private and very solitary existence. He lived alone in a cottage on the Shearwater compound, and increased his visits to Horn Island, one of a group of barrier islands along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  Anderson's obsession to "realize" his subjects through his art, to be one with the natural world instead of an intruder, created works that are intense and evocative. Walter Anderson died at the age of 62 in a New Orleans hospital of lung cancer. Much of the work survived only by chance; it was discovered in drifts, like autumn leaves, throughout his cottage after his death. Those found treasures present the viewer today with a fascinating opportunity to share Anderson's vision. Born in 1945 in Beaumont, Texas, John Alexander remained in southeast Texas until entering graduate school at Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 1969. Upon completing an MFA in 1970, he moved to Houston, established a studio and became a member of the art faculty of the University of Houston. In the late 1970's Alexander left Texas for New York where he is to this day. The artist currently divides his time between New York City and Amagansett. John Alexander has exhibited extensively in the United States and around the world, most recently in Beijing. He has had a major retrospective at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. His work is included in the permanent collections of leading museums including the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; the Dallas Museum of Art; The Meadows Museum in Dallas, The McNay Museum in San Antonio, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Nevada Museum of Art, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans; the New Orleans Museum of Art; the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC; and the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, as well as many other distinguished public and private collections worldwide. John Alexander has also been a frequent visitor to Horn Island, chasing the same shared muse as Walter Anderson. Two artists from different eras and places in the South, but both attuned to their surroundings, bringing forth beauty through their expressive talent. The Ogden Museum of Southern Art/University of New Orleans is home to the largest and most comprehensive collection of Southern art in the world, and includes the Center for Southern Craft and Design. Here you will find the story of the South, both the old and the new, as told through its art, music and education programs. The museum includes Stephen Goldring Hall, which opened in 2003, and two buildings under construction and renovation: the Clementine Hunter Education Wing and the Patrick F. Taylor Library, designed by American 19th-century architect, Henry Hobson Richardson. Among the many artists represented in the museum's collection are Benny Andrews, William Dunlap, Ida Kohlmeyer, Will Henry Stevens, Kendall Shaw and George Ohr. Visit the museum's website at ... http://www.ogdenmuseum.org

Hospital Radiologists Analyze Brooklyn Museum's Mummies and Make Discovery Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:24 PM PDT BROOKLYN, NY.- Four human mummies from the Brooklyn Museum's renowned Egyptian collection underwent computed tomography or CT scanning at North Shore University Hospital on Long Island yesterday. Hospital spokeswoman Michelle Pinto said to MSNBC that the testing enables radiologists to learn about the bones and skeletal system of the mummies in extraordinary detail, without having to do invasive or damaging procedures. However, it's the type of news no patient wants to hear and no doctor wants to deliver. So the radiologist looks over the scans, then might say, in a firm but sympathetic voice: "I'm sorry, sir, but by the look of these images it appears nearly all of your organs have been removed. Moreover, you've been dead for thousands of years".

MOCA Board of Trustees Names NY Gallerist Jeffrey Deitch as Museum Director Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:23 PM PDT LOS ANGELES, CA.- Following a worldwide search, the Board of Trustees of The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), announced today it has voted unanimously to appoint Jeffrey Deitch as the museum's new director, effective June 1st.  Deitch [DIEtsch], 57, is one of New York's leading gallerists, specializing in modern and contemporary art, and he has a 30-year career as an independent curator who has produced innovative exhibitions at museums and galleries around the world. As an art advisor to some of the world's leading institutional and private collectors, he has helped build a number of major international contemporary art collections. He also advised Mori Building Company in Tokyo on the development of the Mori Art Museum and the Roppongi Hills Public Art & Design Project.

The Canton Museum of Art Shows 'A Celebration of Women in The Arts' Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:22 PM PDT Canton, OH.- The Canton Museum of Art is proud to present the last in its 6 part xhibition "A Celebration of Women in the Arts". The final exhibition in this series is an exhibit by sculptor, Barbara Stanczak, opened in the newly named Sara E. Schneider Gallery.  Stanczak's exhibit is one of 6 exhibits in the "A Celebration of Women in the Arts: Director's Choice II" exhibition, on display through July 24th. She joins companion exhibits by Shirley Aley Campbell, Patricia Zinsmeister Parker, Juliellen Byrne, Li Hertzi and an exhibit of 19th, 20th and 21st century women from the Museum's Permanent Collection.

Pennsylvania Judge Hears Arguments Over Moving of the Barnes Foundation to New Home Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:21 PM PDT NORRISTOWN (AP).- The Barnes Foundation's new home is well under construction in Philadelphia but a long and bitter fight continues over whether the world-famous art collection should stay in its longtime suburban home. Montgomery County Orphans' Court Judge Stanley Ott presided over a packed two-hour hearing Monday afternoon on the ongoing Barnes saga. He approved the proceeding after a request from a citizens group that argued he didn't have all the evidence when he approved the relocation in 2004. The state Attorney General's Office simply did not do its job when it agreed several years ago that the financial perils of Merion's Barnes Foundation would best be remedied by moving the fabulous art trove to Philadelphia, opponents of the move say.

American International Fine Art Fair To Feature Rare Treasures Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:20 PM PDT PALM BEACH, FL.- Rare finds abound at The American International Fine Art Fair (AIFAF), slated for February 3-8, 2010 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. The only American international art and antiques fair rated 5-stars by The Art Newspaper, AIFAF has established itself as a premier destination for sophisticated dealers and collectors. The fair has emerged as the most prestigious art and antique show in the United States and has been recognized as the "crown jewel" of American art fairs. As one of the world's leading sources for museum-quality paintings, sculpture, and antiques, AIFAF reflects traditional, modern and contemporary collecting trends. Eighty dealers from more than a dozen countries including Great Britain, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria convene in the tony enclave of the Palm Beaches to showcase their finest offerings, all strictly vetted. Dealers exhibiting important old master, 18th and 19th century paintings include Richard Green Gallery, Waterhouse & Dodd, S. Bohm Antiquitäten (Berthe Morisot's Jeune Fille En Blanc), MacConnal-Mason Gallery, Messum's Fine Art (The Harvesters, an imposing canvas by the artist Lucy Elizabeth Kemp-Welch), Guarisco Gallery (Emile Munier's Pardon, Mama), Simon Capstick-Dale Fine Art, Salis & Vertes, Rehs Galleries (La Moisson by Léon-Augustin Lhermitte), Lawrence Steigrad Fine Arts and Trinity House (a rare and mysterious horse & rider portrait painted in 1781 by renowned British equine painter George Stubbs, once owned by famous American art collector Paul Mellon). Contemporary and modern art is strongly featured by dealers including Rudolf Budja Galerie, Galerie Terminus and Galerie Thomas (Le Coq Fleuri by Marc Chagall). Goedhuis Contemporary displays striking artwork by China's contemporary artists and Robert Hall features the work of Lu Shoukun, one of the most important artists in the history of Hong Kong. Important American paintings will be on display at Adelson Gallery (noted artwork by Andrew and Jamie Wyeth), Hollis Taggart Galleries, Guarisco and Berry-Hill Galleries (Untitled, by Sam Francis). Photography is presented by the Holden Luntz Gallery, as well as Rudolf Budja (the "Hollywood Legends" collection by celebrity photographer Frank Worth). Exceptional artwork is on display at every turn exhibited by the many world-renowned dealers at the fair. Among the most extraordinary paintings on offer this year is The Park of the Hospital St. Paul by Vincent Van Gogh at the Dickinson Gallery, which displays paintings from the Renaissance to contemporary times. "Collectors in Palm Beach are very sophisticated in targeting quality paintings," said Hugo Nathan, Dickinson president. A growing number of contemporary art collectors are including top tier antiques in their collections. "We're seeing younger collectors with contemporary art in their homes' minimalist interiors now buying truly important antiques, which they perceive as works of art," said Stefanie Rinza, managing director of Carlton Hobbs. The gallery is bringing a 20th century dining table by Henry Moore. Other dealers exhibiting prized 18th and 19th century antiques include Mallett (a pair of Louis XV gilt bronze three branch wall lights), A.B. Levy (a grand Viennese mother-of-pearl-mounted silver and enamel "jeweled" nef), Koopman Rare Art (an exquisite George II silver soup tureen), and John Atzbach Antiques (an exceptionally rare Russian porcelain tobacco jar, made by the Imperial Porcelain Factory during the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna). A seminal work of literature can be found at 19th Century Shop. Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations (1776) is regarded as the most celebrated book in the history of economics and an iconic tome for financiers, economists, and captains of industry around the world. Imperial Books also offers bound sets and first edition books. Vintage jewelry will be featured by Véronique Bamps, Hancocks, Macklowe Gallery, and Richter's. On view at Bamps are glittering period jewels by such masters as Cartier, while Hancocks brings an Egyptian revival necklace bought by The Prince of Wales (Edward VII) for his mistress, actress and socialite Lillie Langtry in 1880. The latest in haute couture jewelry will be shown at Buccellati, David Morris, Graff, Gioia, Scavia, Sabbadini, Tiffany & Company and Van Cleef & Arpels. For watch collectors, Somlo Antiques offers a broad selection of prestigious vintage timepieces. The fair is also home to one of the world's most prominent arms and armor dealers, Peter Finer. "Our collectors hail from Latin America, Europe and New York, and Palm Beach is an ideal location to reach out to them," said Redmond Finer. The gallery is bringing 16th to 19th century European suits of armor including a rare composite North Italian half-armor from 1590. Also represented at AIFAF are 20th Century decorative arts at dealers including The Silver Fund and Lebreton Gallery, ancient art at Royal-Athena Galleries and Numisart Ancient Art, highly sought-after porcelain and ceramics at Lillian Nassau and MS Rau and sculpture at Galerie Koch (including Alexander Calder's mobile Red and Blue on Black and White) and Galerie Terminus (which displays works by renowned British sculptor Tony Cragg). To assure the highest standards of authenticity, all artwork on display goes through a rigorous vetting process. The AIFAF 2010 Vetting Committee is made up of over 35 international museum professionals and experts in every field. Certain to interest serious collectors is the noted AIFAF lecture series, which features pre-eminent museum curators, scholars and specialists. Bertrand du Vignaud, president, World Monuments Fund Europe, will be the featured speaker for the presentation "Discovering Unknown Fine European Interiors." Talks will also be given by Sir Timothy Clifford, formerly the director of the National Galleries of Scotland, and Geza von Habsburg, art historian and von Habsburg family member. A number of exclusive cocktail parties supplement the lecture series throughout the fair. The glittering Vernissage preview evening, a highlight of the Palm Beach social season benefiting the Norton Museum, will open the fair Tuesday, February 2 from 6-10 p.m. AIFAF then opens to the public beginning Wednesday, February 3. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. through February 7 and noon to 6 p.m. on February 8. General admission fees are $25 for a one day pass, $35 for a multi-day pass or $45 and $55 respectively with a catalogue.

Art Knowledge News Presents "This Week In Review" Posted: 28 Oct 2011 09:19 PM PDT This is a new feature for the subscribers and visitors to Art Knowledge News (AKN), that will enable you to see "thumbnail descriptions" of the last ninety (90) articles and art images that we published. This will allow you to visit any article that you may have missed ; or re-visit any article or image of particular interest. Every day the article "thumbnail images" will change. For you to see the entire last ninety images just click : here . When opened that also will allow you to change the language from English to anyone of 54 other languages, by clicking your language choice on the upper left corner of our Home Page.  You can share any article we publish with the eleven (11) social websites we offer like Twitter, Flicker, Linkedin, Facebook, etc. by one click on the image shown at the end of each opened article.  Last, but not least, you can email or print any entire article by using an icon visible to the right side of an article's headline.

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