More stories from the week ended June 23:

  • Paul McCarthy’s massive White Snow show opens at the Park Avenue Armory.
  • RIP: Seth Siegeblaub, who died at the age of 71 in Basel, Switzerland.
  • RIP: Norbert Schwontkoski who died at the age of 64.
  • Swiss government starts internet portal to help claimants, museums & researchers track art looted by Nazis.
  • First 500 of 4,500 books from disputed Schneerson library to new Jewish Museum & Tolerance Center.
  • Spat over allegedly looted art overshadows Merkel’s Russia visit & event where she was to speak canceled.
  • Group of Trees, a watercolor by Cézanne, surfaces at National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa & owner is sought.
  • 2013-2014 budget for California will feature a 7.6% cut to arts funding, which amounts to drop of $412,000.
  • Brooklyn Bridge becoming increasingly vandalized by tourists and locals.
  • Raphael drawing purchased by Leon Black has a temporary export ban placed on it by UK until July 3.
  • Brand X Editions sues Christopher Wool & Luhring Augustine alleging violated terms of a production agreement.
  • Picasso’s Paris studio at center of legal battle involving eviction of cultural organization from the historic loft.
  • Orlan suing Lady Gaga on charges of having ripped off her art for the “Born This Way” album & video.
  • Michigan attorney general says DIA art collection  is held in charitable trust & could not be sold by the city.
  • The Cleveland Museum of Art closes for one day for the filming of Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
  • Sotheby’s marketing its NYC headquarters building to possible buyers, hoping to do a short-term leaseback.
  • Statue of Diana at Philadelphia Museum of Art getting a coat of gold to restore figure to her Gilded Age beauty.
  • Bloomberg charity to underwrite $15 mill. commitment to provide support for mobile guides for five museums.
  • Russia’s State Hermitage Museum scheduled to open the five-star, 126-room Hermitage Hotel next month.
  • In terms of donations, arts & culture was Americans’ fastest-growing charitable cause in 2012, rising 7.8%.
  • UK research shows nearly a third of those between 18 & 34 have purchased artwork in the last 12 months.
  • NPR goes online to find artwork to invest in for financial and personal enriching purposes.
  • Study finds learning music can boost students’ IQ, visual arts likely help students’ understanding of geometrical reasoning.
  • Chinese government’s official press agency, Xinhua, opens gallery in Paris devoted to exhibiting Chinese art.
  • LACMA Art+Film Gala, Eva Chow & Leonardo DiCaprio (co-chairs), to honor Martin Scorsese & David Hockney.
  • Paddle8 launches new Editions sale featuring artist (ie Warhol, Lowman, KAWS, Auerbach) prints & multiples.
  • Zurich’s auction houses are attracting a growing number of international buyers for Swiss art.
  • Due to numerous reasons, market for artworks portraying the crucifixion of Jesus Christ has gone downhill.
  • Robbie Antonio’s Koolhaas-designed house filled with portraits of himself by Murakami, Huan, Minter, etc.
  • Renzo Piano designs 2.5m by 3m building, called Diogene.
  • Painting by Thom Yorke and Stanley Donwood to go up for auction at Bonham’s.
  • Howard Rachofsky tells us why people are buying art and why right now is a good time to buy.
  • It’s been twenty-five years since Damien Hirst organized his Freeze exhibition.
  • Jeremy Deller’s acclaimed exhibition at Venice Biennale helped push prices for his work up at Art Basel.
  • Sam Taylor-Johnson chosen to direct big screen version of the novel 50 Shades of Grey.
  • Maurizio Cattelan interviewed about his capsule sweatshirt collection with MSGM and possible comeback.
  • Kymia Nawabi interviewed about her post-Work of Art career.
  • Interview Magazine interviews Carl Andre.
  • Classical sculptures dressed as hipsters give them an entirely new look.