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The Headlines
RIP. Sunday, The New York Times paid tribute to musician Klee Benally, a Navajo man who has died at a Phoenix hospital. He was only 48 years old. The cause of death has not been disclosed. The musician, who was known for advocating on behalf of Indigenous people and defending environmental causes, was also an artist. âI rarely have an opportunity to offer or exhibit my artwork. This piece is up for silent auction until July 10th to benefit the Coconino Center for the Artsâ, he posted on Instagram in 2021, about “ÃstÅâaldahgo ÃÅkaâinÃdaajahÃgÃÃi”, a digital print, matte paper & ink, which spoke to movement, transformation and Indigenous survival through mutual aid. âI performed there numerous times with Blackfire [his punk rock band] including a multimedia piece with modern dancer David Ramos that addressed mental health, incarceration, and colonial violence many many years ago [â¦]â. May he rest in peace.
STEELâS STEAL. Over 30 years ago, Flora Steel bought a unique brooch at an English antique market for about $25. She had no idea then that it was designed by William Burges (1827-1881), a Victorian-era Gothic Revival virtuoso. Now, the brooch is scheduled to go under the hammer in the spring for up to $19,000 at Gildings. Steel contacted the auction house after coming across a 2011 clip from BBCâs âAntiques Roadshiwâ where jewelry expert Geoffrey Mann presented a page of sketches from Londonât Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) depicting similar pieces to hers, all made by âthe greatest genius of the 19th century designâ.Â
The Digest
Steven Salvatâs series “The Petite Nature” was the subject of a focus by Kathryn Bromwich. Her works start with dried flowers and plants collected from forests and fields around Paris, around which she draws small creatures, such as salamander, mise, geckos⦠âThe first time I pasted in the street was a gamechangerâ¦â [The Guardian]
On Sunday, âVan Gogh: Poets and Loversâ (from 14 September to 19 January 2025) made The Guardianâs list of cultural highlights for 2024. The âonce-in-a-lifetimeâ exhibition, which follows the painterâs days in Provence, from Arles to Saint-Rémy, will be part of the celebrations for the bicentennial year of The National Gallery in London. [The Guardian]
The âWelcome to Wet Paint in the Wildâ gossip column continues in 2024. The artist invited to chronicle a week of her life with a disposable camera is Jeanette Hayes, who takes the readers to the unveiling of her collages in a Swedish subway station. [Artnet]
The Istanbul Biennial at the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (Ä°KSV) has announced that curator Kevser Gülerwas was appointed as the new director of the event. She will be filling in for Bige Ãrer, whose departure after 15 years at the job was made official on 2 January. Ä°KSVâs announcement highlights that Güler has worked with the biennial between 2007â2014. [ArtReview]
The Kicker
A prospective site for the proposed $20-million ArtMuseum of Kangaroo Island (AMKI) in South Australia, meant to show works by local artists-in residence, as well as from traveling exhibitions, has been revealed. The AMKI Establishment Association has announced that it intends to secure a block outside Kingscote, overlooking the Bay of Shoals. The committee will be seeking a combination of state and federal funding, in addition to philanthropic financial support. [ArchitectureAU]
Christmas is officially behind us. Without the pressure of having to buy gifts, you may appreciate more a top 7 of the most beautiful department stores around the world. Whether the plan is to treat yourself or to window-shop only, this selection by Katherine McLaughin invites you to step inside stunning shops, âwhere architecture and design rival with the products themselvesâ, starting with Milanâs Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II in Italy. The fun may not lie in purchasing, but rather in the simple act of walking with your eyes wide open. [AD]
Source: artnews.com