This week in art news, the fight over Norman Rockwell paintings gets legal, sexual harrassement charges impact an art publication and South Florida art museums grab the spotlight with renovations both planned and executed. Read on for these headlines and more news from the art world.
Artforum longtime publisher Knight Landesman resigned after a lawsuit was filed on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, in New York Supreme Court alleging sexual harassment, announced Artforum. After curator and art fair director Amanda Schmitt filed suit alleging years of unwanted abuse that continued after she left the publication, other female art professionals came forward and joined the legal action, reported Nate Freeman for ArtNews. Landesman's resignation was accepted by Artforum in the days leading up to the lawsuit, Artforum announced that they had undertaken an internal inquiry and current employees relayed Landesman had created a hostile work environment and engaged in unacceptable behavior. Artforum also announced they will form a special committee of women to transform their work environment into one of transparency and zero tolerance for sexual harassment, the magazine announced. Click here to read the full statement. Following the publication's announcements, another was issued by staff and published by ArtForum to clarify their position and call for change. Click here to read.
Preceding Landesman's departure this week was Artforum Editor-in-Chief Michelle Kuo's, who resigned on October 18, 2018 following the initial news of allegations of sexual harassment by Landesman, reported Andrew Russeth for ArtNews. She relayed in a statement issued on October 26, 2017 to ArtNews that she resigned because conditions at the company led her to conclude she "...could no longer serve as a public representative of Artforum...," according to ArtNews. Kuo will be replaced by Artforum Editor David Velasco, reported ArtNews.
Two lawsuits have now been filed to prevent the Berkshire Museum from selling part of its art collection and, specifically, two Norman Rockwell paintings given by the artist to the museum to remain for the benefit of the public in perpetuity, reported Larry Parnass for The Berkshire Eagle. Nineteen artworks from the museum's collections are scheduled to be part of Sotheby's November 13, 2017 auction in New York. Filling suit this week are three residents of Lenox to try and halt the sale, according to The Berkshire Eagle. Last week, relatives of Norman Rockwell filed a suit that was joined by community and museum members, reported Parnass for The Berkshire Eagle. Both legal actions aim to block the sale of the artworks offered by the art museum, located in Pittsfield, MA, to close its budget gap and refocus the museum from art to science and history.
Boca Raton Museum of Art announced yesterday it will undertake a $1.5 million renovation to update the museum's facade and its natural surroundings, reported Robin Scher for ArtNews. The project will be led by Glavovic Studio and Studio Roberto Rovira. It is set to begin in November 2017 and be completed in January 2018, according to ArtNews.
The Bass Art Museum officially reopens to the public on Sunday, October 29, 2017, with a Grand Re-Opening after completing a renovation that spanned around two years and cost $12 million, announced the museum. The renovation expanded the internal structure of the museum and stayed within its existing footprint. The museum gained 50% more programmable space including four additional new galleries, a museum store and cafe and an educational facility, according to the museum.
Nashville is getting its first art fair. Applications are now being accepted for the inaugural Art Nashville to be held October 17-21, 2018. The art fair is co-founded by Matthew Eck, who also serves as director. He previously launched two art fairs in Miami: X Contemporary and the now defunct SELECT art fair. ck is the director of the newest art fair to hit the circuit.
Paul Kasmin Gallery now represents the Jane Freilicher Estate, the gallery announced. A solo show is planned for April 2018 in the gallery and a solo presentation at ADAA Art Show in February 2018. Eric Brown Art Group has been named Advisor to the Freilicher Estate and will work with Paul Kasmin Gallery to present the shows. Eric Brown represented Freilicher's art for years as co-director of Tibor de Nagy Gallery, who gave Freilicher her first solo show in 1952. Brown recently left the gallery to go out on his own. Jane Freilicher, the Water Mill and New York City painter who broke ranks with the Abstract Expressionists in the 1950s to focus on color and light saturated landscapes and still lifes, died at her apartment in Manhattan on December 9, 2014. Click here to read more.
Barbara Kruger is scheduled to give her first live performance. "Untitled (The Drop)" will be performed in Brooklyn for Performa 17. Performances are scheduled for Thursdays, November 2, 9 and 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. Many of the dates are already sold out. Click here to register.
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"Be Here Now" by Barbara Kruger. Courtesy of the artist and Performa.
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