More stories from the week that ended Dec 8 (click on bolded words for more information):

  • George Clooney x Yayoi Kusama x Giorgio Armani featured in W Magazine’s art issue.
  • Manny Silverman Gallery and Martin L Cohen sue Knoedler for selling them fakes.
  • Marguerite Hoffman’s lawsuit due to breach of confidentiality regarding sale of her Rothko piece.
  • Aaron M. Freedman, assistant to accused antiquities smuggler, pleads guilty to possessing looted items.
  • Tom Dewhurst aka DNB, spared jail time because judge thinks he can be the next Banksy.
  • Bavaria considering changing law to make it easier for government to claim Munich Nazi collection.
  • Kenny Schachter’s story about how auction houses are after his father in-law’s art collection.
  • Art fair week in Miami becoming less and less about art?
  • Detroit is eligible to enter bankruptcy, judge rules, putting issue of sale of art from DIA front and center. Appraisal for DIA’s art collection surprisingly low. A. Paul Schaap gives $5mil. toward protecting DIA art and Detroit pensions. How Banksy could help the city.
  • Rhode Island to become first U.S. state to stop collecting sales tax on original and editioned art sold there.
  • USPS sued for using Robert Davidson’s version of Statue of Liberty for its stamps.
  • $504 billion or 3.2% of US’s Gross Domestic Product in 2011 was attributable to arts and culture.
  • Dani Levinas proposes opening Institute for Contemporary Expression kunsthalle in Washington at Franklin School.
  • Afghan art project could be early casualty of US pullout from Afghanistan.
  • Sotheby’s first auction in mainland China turns out to be a success.
  • eBay plans to launch an online venture that will focus on fine art. Josh Baer is consulting.
  • Alice Walton said to be the buyer of the Warhol Coca-Cola piece that recently sold at Christie’s.
  • The economic trend of the contemporary art market over the last ten years.
  • Should auction houses be more transparent with reserves?
  • Joel Mesler’s guide to the art of art dealing.
  • Art Basel Miami Beach had $3bil. worth of artwork this year. Marc Spiegler says that Art Basel will remain in Miami despite concerns over renovation of convention center. Miami to have trolleys with direct service to Midtown and the convention center and satellite fairs. Bloomberg’s Art Basel market report.
  • Van Gogh Museum Edition limited edition works are coming to the US.
  • Norman Rockwell biographer suggests that he may have been gay.
  • Inventor solves mystery of how Vermeer may have painted his photorealistic effects?
  • Rob Pruitt 2013 Art Awards winners revealed in A.i.A.’s December issue.
  • Some think Banksy may be doing a project in Paris. His Flower Girl street piece offered at auction.
  • Damien Hirst and Qatar Museums Authority create another Hirst challenge with prizes. The artist also plans to build 750 homes in North Devon.
  • Behind The Scenes Of Salvador Dali’s In Voluptas Mors shoot.
  • Jerry Saltz reviews Lucy Dodd’s show.
  • Jeff Koons waits 15 minutes to get into an event. It becomes news.
  • KAWS and James Jebbia featured by i-D.
  • Marian Goodman will have a solo show with Oscar Murillo in Paris in May.
  • Jim Kay commissioned to give Harry Potter a artistic visual makeover.
  • Interview with Anne Pasternak.
  • Vanessa Prager gets interviewed.
  • Tim Barber’s new site Time & Space – formerly tinyvices.com.
  • 11-year old Charles Gitnik’s gun art.
  • Sophie Gamand’s pictures of wet dogs.
  • Jee Young Lee’s photographs staged in her studio.
  • Gracie Hagen demonstrates how the way you pose matters.
  • New art project edition incorporating sound with Bjarne Melgaard.
  • Doug Harvey’s Less Art Radio Zine biweekly radio show.
  • Karen Kilimik George Clooney print released.
  • Nate Lowman ornaments and more available at RxArt shop.
  • Richard Serra signed posters available at Gagosian shop.
  • Daniel Arsham Future Relic No 1 Mobile Phone released by OHWOW.
  • Alex Rodriguez buys $140,000 Nate Lowman piece at Art Basel from Massimo De Carlo Gallery.
  • Justin Bieber accused of spraying graffiti on an Australian hotel wall and told to clean it up.
  • Kanye West hires Andy Warhol’s cousin Monica to paint Kim Kardashian’s portrait.
  • Lindsay Lohan participates in the Miami Beach fair festivities, attending the Art of Bullfighting.
  • Jeffrey Deitch mistakenly calls Diddy “Kanye” at ABMB. Happens to all of us.
  • The Kardashian’s Christmas card, by David LaChapelle.
  • Celebrities like Masta Killa and Ryan Reynolds invade Miami for fair week.