Opinion
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Mass MoCA Winter/ Spring 2013
Exhibitions and Events
By: - Dec 19th, 2012With one show already nearly sold out (Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Mangum on Saturday, February 16), MASS MoCA'sWinter/Spring season has started with a bang before it's even been announced. The first big event of the season is FREE Day on Saturday, February 9. This annual event attracts thousands to MASS MoCA for a full day of art-making, tours, contests, demonstrations, performances, and more.
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On Being Taught Not to Fly
Up Up and Away
By: - Dec 01st, 2012At the Picasso retrospective at MoMA, once again I was startlingly reminded that art has a mind of its own. As I passed by Picasso’s cubist portrait of Diaghilev and paused to look at it, a flash went off in my head. Despite the fact that Diaghilev was embedded in the picture, while I was free to roam, we shared the immediate recognition that both of us were alive.
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Thanksgiving Letter
Response by Jaune Quick to See Smith
By: - Nov 21st, 2012In a Thanksgiving letter to family and friends I described how Natives and Pilgrims sat as brothers in celebration. Followed by a comment that today there are few is any Native Americans in our region. My friend Jaune Quick to See Smith eloquently corrected me. She offers much to think about during this time of annual celebration.
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Does Art Matter
In the Eye of the Beholder
By: - Nov 18th, 2012There are ways to consume culture at affordable prices. There are half price tickets for Broadway shows and lawn access at Tanglewood. A movie costs about ten bucks or you can see it on Netflix. Kids pirate downloaded music and videos. But it takes deep pockets to travel the world visiting great monuments and museums. Only the mega rich can afford to own the contemporary art displayed in galleries and museums. For social and economic reasons the fine arts are more elitist and esoteric than other art forms. Then there are matters of taste- High Brow, Middle Brow and Kitsch.
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Jane Hudson Reflects on Art Education
Former Faculty Member of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts
By: - Nov 17th, 2012We asked Jane Hudson, a now retired faculty member of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, for another opinion on the BFA dialogue "Can Art Be Taught." With her husband Jeff Hudson, a Museum School graduate, they initiated a video art department for the school. Later Jane became involved with the MFA program graduate students in a broad range of media. Currently they live in Williamstown and have the business Hudson's Antiques on the campus of Mass MoCA.
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Can Art Be Taught
Outing the MFA Industry
By: - Nov 10th, 2012Traditionally one became an artist by apprenticing in the studio of a master. Basic skills and ideas were passed along. L'Ecole des Beaux-Arts, or The Academy, was established during the French Revolution to teach artists and architects to design and create buildings and public art paintings and sculptures. In diploma granting artisan programs art schools and conservatories taught the skills to pursue a career as an artist, musician or actor. In recent years this has morphed into the art education industry which self perpetuates by granting more BFA and MFA degrees than necessary. There is more supply than demand.
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Digital Art and Online Art Classes
From John Dewey to No Child Left Behind
By: - Oct 26th, 2012The US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 13% increase in graphic design jobs over the next decade, requiring even more students capable of demonstrating creativity and originality through professional digital and graphic art portfolios. Just how will hard hit arts education during an era of drastic budget cutbacks meet the challenge of preparing the next generation for these much needed new jobs?
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Protests Continue Against WGBH Jazz Cutbacks
Response from Philip L. Redo WGBH Managing Director
By: - Sep 29th, 2012Dismissing Steve Schwartz and cutting back on Eric Jackson\'s show is an insensitive disservice to Boston\'s music community. It will affect all parts involved, at all levels — musicians, promoters, clubs, music students, even tourists(!), and fundamentally, the very listeners that in good faith have provided consistent support to WGBH itself.
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NY's Attorney General Clears National Arts Club
$2 Million Civil Lawsuit Filed Against Former Pres. O. Aldon James
By: - Sep 22nd, 2012The very public and widely reported scandal regarding alleged mismanagement of the renowned National Arts Club in New York's posh Gramercy Park is inching toward resolution. An 18 month investigation of the club has ended with no action against the institution. Simultaneously, a civil lawsuit against former club president O. Aldon James has been launched by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
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Mayor Dick Alcombright Goes Public
Rallies North Adams Constituents
By: - Sep 19th, 2012Last night, Mayor Dick Alcombright rallied his base with an upbeat address. The fundraiser at the restaurant, The Public, in North Adams added to the war chest to run for a third term in 2013. During his first campaign he defeated John Barrett III who served for 26 years. There was a great mix of local politicians and grass roots constituents.
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Peter Gelb: Wagner's Nightmare
PBS uses the Public Airwaves to Pump The Met
By: - Sep 08th, 2012Peter Gelb takes every opportunity to manipulate the media. Not surprising when productions in the house are often so poor. This is the second time in a year he has used purportedly public media to in one case cut a negative comment and in another present a distorted picture of what's up at the Met.
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Aurora and the Gun Delusion
Responding to the Latest Mass Murder
By: - Jul 27th, 2012Last Friday, we woke up to another tragic shooting where a gunman opened fire in a crowded movie theatre. Twelve people have died, and at least fifty-eight are injured. Already, calls for greater gun regulation to prevent disturbed individuals from accessing guns are being contrasted by calls for more guns so that we can protect ourselves from these individuals.
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Anne-Sophie Mutter in All Mozart Program
Participates in 75th Anniversary Tanglewood Gala Concert
By: - Jul 14th, 2012On Wednesday the German born violin virtuoso, Anne-Sophie Mutter, performed in Ozawa Hall accompanied by pianist Lambert Orkis. On Friday she led a baroque orchestra in an all Mozart program. Tonight, she will be a guest among many participating in the Gala 75th Anniversary concert. She has also met with students in the Tanglewood summer program. It was her first Berkshire visit since 1992.
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WGBH Slashes Jazz Programming
Radio Community Reacts Supporting Eric Jackson and Steve Schwartz
By: - Jun 22nd, 2012This week's news that WGBH is downgrading its local jazz programming by more than 50% has ignited a firestorm in the tightly-knit community of jazz announcers. Veteran announcers Eric Jackson and Steve Schwartz, with combined service of more than 55 years in jazz radio, were informed that Eric's long-running weekday show (Mon-Thurs, 8pm-midnight) would be moved to the weekend, and Steve's Friday evening program will be terminated.
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A Slap in the Facebook
IPO Flatlines on Second Day of Trading
By: - May 19th, 2012Maybe you are among the 900,000, 000 Facebook friends wanting to own a piece of the company. At $16 billion the first day IPO was the third greatest ever. Those initial mega investors planned to flip for huge profits on the second day of trading to the general public. By the end of the day the stock rose a staggering twenty three cents. BFD.
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James Merrill on The Ring
One of America's Finest Poets Reminds Us of Golden Days
By: - May 15th, 2012The Ring is a defining experience for opera goers and other passionate members of the public. My brother and his wonderful poet wife pointed out this James Merrill poem to me.
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Peter Gelb Extends the Metropolitan Opera's Domain
The Great White Way is a New Model
By: - Apr 22nd, 2012Marketing into the Hollywood style and also Broadway musicals, Peter Gelb may have happened upon a solution to developing a new opera audience. Maybe.
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Boston Calendar April 22 - April 29, 2012
Art, Film, Music, Theatre and more ....
By: - Apr 21st, 2012Numerous unique events in Boston this week. Maestro Bernard Haitink leads the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven’s warm and ever-popular Pastoral Symphony. Handel and Hayden presents the memorable Mozart Coronation. The Celebrity Series showcases at Jordan Hall: Emerson String Quartet, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra ends its season with Mahler Triumphant! ArtsEmerson presents Hershey Felder in Maestro: Leonard Bernstein while The Luck of the Irish final weeks continue at the Huntington Theatre. The Institute of Contemporary Art presents the 49th Ann Arbor Film Festival of animation and technical innovation.
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Boston Calendar April 16 - April 21, 2012
Art, Film, Music, Theatre and more ....
By: - Apr 13th, 2012A flurry of activities in both Boston and Cambridge this week. Do not miss the Elliot Norton laureate William Kentridge will present his animated films at the Harvard Archives. The Jewish film festival promises a variety of special movies. Maestro Bernard Haitink will conduct at the Boston Symphony Orchestra Mendelssohn’s incidental music to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Institute of Contemporary Art & World Music/CRASHARTS showcases the unforgettable India Jazz Suites: Kathak Meets Tap.
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Boston Calendar April 9 - April 15, 2012
Films, Music, Theatre and much more
By: - Apr 06th, 2012Do not miss Huntington Theatre Company opening of The Luck of the Irish. The American Repertory Theater continues its creative & invigorating Futurity: A Musical by the Lisps. The Boston Symphony Orchestra presents Ravel, Salonen and Stravinsky under the baton of the acclaimed maestro Esa-Pekka Salonen while the Celebrity Series features the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. The Harvard Film Archives showcases three exceptional films by Michael Glawogger and The Museum of Fine Arts presents films on Gerhard Richter Painting and Hollywood Scriptures series.
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Boston Calendar April 2 - April 8, 2012
Film, Dance, Music and Opera This Week
By: - Apr 01st, 2012Ed Pincus films at the Harvard Archives while the Turkish film festival continues at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The American Repertory Theater showcases Futurity: A Musical by the Lisps and the Boston Symphony Orchestra presents Brahms: A German Requiem. Leon Kirchner’s opera, Lily (a musical adaptation of Saul Bellow’s novel Henderson, the Rain King) will be performed at the New England Conservatory First Monday at Jordan Hall. Happy Passover and Happy Easter.
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Boston Speakers Series at Symphony Hall
Bill Clinton Launches Program October 3
By: - Mar 30th, 2012Like its inaugural season that sold out before the first lecture, The Boston Speakers Series sophomore season features some of the country’s most respected thinkers over seven Wednesday evenings, approximately once a month, beginning with President Bill Clinton in October.
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Boston Calendar March 26 - April 1, 2012
Film, Theatre, Music and More...
By: - Mar 25th, 2012The American Repertory Theater presents Futurity: A Musical by The Lisps while the Huntington Theatre Company features Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and The Luck of the Irish. The Boston Turkish Film Festival continues at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The Harvard Film Archives presents a retrospective on Carmelo Bene. The Coolidge Corner Theater features “She Stoops to Conquer†a play from the National Theater in London. The Boston Symphony Orchestra welcomes Orchestra Greek violinist and conductor Leonidas Kavados.
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Reflections on a Friendship: Don Shambroom and Martin Mugar
Heidegger, Entropy and DeKooning
By: - Mar 21st, 2012A luncheon with Boston artists and a dealer recreates Charles Giuliano's "Beer and Burgers" upped a notch to Pinot Noir and foie gras and leads to reconnecting with well-known Boston artist and erstwhile friend Don Shambroom.
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Lessons of the Soviet Collapse
The Times They Are a Changing Not
By: - Mar 21st, 2012Twenty years ago the mighty Soviet Union collapsed. Its legacy includes many things, from Sputnik to training Palestinian terrorists. One phenomenon especially deserves our attention. I strongly believe that by examining the Soviet failure we can learn something of vital importance.
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