BEST?
Up FRONT and Personal – artnet News’s own native Clevelander Tim Schneider was at the inaugural FRONT International Triennial and captured highlights and politically inflected takeaways from the sprawling art extravaganza.
Art Criticism, Courtesy of Netflix – Viral stand-up sensation Hannah Gadsby is giving viewers a dose of art historical criticism as part of her biting Netflix comedy special, Nanette, which Julia Halperin says puts the performer at the vanguard of art criticism.
Mos Def Becomes an Art Dealer – The former hip-hop artist born as Yasiin Bey is planning to open a gallery in the South Bronx together with advertising executive Free Richardson.
The Worlds of David Wojnarowicz – The late artist is the subject of three concurrent shows in New York that together provide a fuller picture of the man beyond the myth, exploring his personal and professional life before he became a symbol of the ’90s Culture Wars and the AIDS Crisis.
A New Way for New Yorkers to Get Into Museums for Free – Library card holders from around the boroughs are eligible for free entry to a slew of the city’s best museums, courtesy of the Culture Pass initiative.
The Next Venice Biennale Will Tackle Fake News – The title of next years Venice Biennale is “May You Live in Interesting Times,” and curator Ralph Rugoff says his edition of the unparalleled event will tackle the misunderstandings, miscommunications, and mishaps inherent to our fact-challenged media environment that have far-reaching effects on a global scale.
Chalamet Meets Courbet – Indie actor Timothée Chalamet is making (surprisingly convincing) cameos all throughout art history, thanks to a viral new Instagram account that photoshops him into iconic paintings.
WORST?
Foul Play – Four members of Pussy Riot were sentenced to jail time and a ban from sporting events by Russian authorities after the activists were arrested for storming the field during the final game of the World Cup on Sunday.
Feeble Foot Traffic at Art Galleries – What does a marked decrease in foot traffic mean for art galleries moving forward? The rise of internet-based art experiences and a stiff market for top-tier collectors is having a major impact on gallery-heavy art districts. One idea came from the ADAA, which hosted an inaugural Chelsea Gallery Walk this week, where we caught up with some of the visitors to find out who, exactly, goes to galleries these days.
PS1’s Parenting Problem – A petition has gained more than 20,000 signatures calling on MoMA PS1 to amend its policies that it claims discriminate against mothers; the petition follows a lawsuit filed by a woman who claims her job offer was rescinded when the museum found out she had just given birth to a child.
MoMA’s Union Dispute – Employees at MoMA who are currently pushing for better healthcare, overtime compensation, and a host of other issues are poised to go on strike at the museum if a new and improved contract is not negotiated soon.
We Explain What GDPR Means for the Art World: Headaches – Lawyers Thomas and Charles Danziger have created a handy guide to Europe’s new internet guidelines, which are creating problems for businesses across industries, including the art world.
An Art Advisor Gets Pranked on “Who Is America?” – Sascha Baron Cohen’s new gotcha-style show took a shot at an art consultant in California, although she held up surprisingly well in the face of the merciless prankster.