COURTESY METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
Timely
Roberta Smith writes about Sarah Lucas and a forthcoming New Museum show that “may cause some art world jaws to drop.” “Over the years,” Smith writes, “I don’t think any artist’s work has shocked me — mostly in good ways — as often as Ms. Lucas’s.” [The New York Times]
As part of a public art project called “Climate Signals,” flashing road signs relating to the existential threat of climate change have been placed around New York by the artist Justin Brice Guariglia. [The Guardian]
Acquisitions
Aaron and Barbara Levine are donating 35 works by Marcel Duchamp (plus 15 more by Man Ray, Tristan Tzara, and others) to the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C. “This is the art world equivalent of the Wizards getting LeBron James,” said Hirshhorn board chairman Daniel Sallick. “Any museum in the world would want this collection.” [The Washington Post]
An Xbox controller, a mosquito emoji, and a pair of Snapchat spectacles have been added to the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection in England, all by way of a “rapid response collecting” program. [The Guardian]
Collectors
Glenstone, the private museum for the collection of Mitch and Emily Rales, has begun taking online reservations for visits to its expanded premises, which open early next month. [The Washington Post]
The Pinault Collection’s artist residency program in Lens, France, named Hicham Berrada and Bertille Bak as participants. [Press Release]
Art
“No place like the rightful home: FBI finds stolen ruby slippers from Wizard of Oz.” [The Washington Post]
In Kentucky, the Lexington Fayette Urban County Council voted Thursday to approve an ordinance that could generate as much as $300,000 a year for public art projects. [Lexington Herald Leader]
Christopher Knight reviewed a gallery show he likes in L.A.: “For Jon Pylypchuk, scraps of wood, expanding foam insulation, some quick spray paint and a handful of found objects have been constructive materials for making sculpture over the years. Five new works show him running at top form.” [Los Angeles Times]
Tribute
4Columns pays tribute to the Village Voice in the form of “a farewell to the legendary publication.” [4Columns]
Jheon Soo-cheon, the first Korean to win a prize at the Venice Biennale, died on Monday. He was born in 1947. [Korea Herald]
An excerpt from the newly published memoir of famed New York Times fashion photographer and man about town Bill Cunningham tells the story of a pretty insane early show of his own hat designs featuring the cast of My Fair Lady. [Gothamist]
The best new podcast in the world, Everything Is Alive, is not about art but is a work of art itself. [The New Yorker]