terra non firma

LA art: the good, the bad and the stolen

Artkrush sent out their bi-monthly (or is it biweekly? I forget. whichever means every other week) email newsletter and lo and behold, this week's issue is all about LA:

To trace the growth of the current scene, we touch on the city's prominent artists and profile the young abstract painter Mark Grotjahn. We interview Ann Philbin, director of UCLA's Hammer Museum, about her transformation of the institution into a cutting-edge source for underground art. The SoCal art journal ANP Quarterly is our media pick this issue, and solo shows of Shahzia Sikander and Abbas Kiarostami round out our survey of current exhibits.

But if you really need evidence of LA's thriving art scene (and collector community), check out the LAPD's Art Theft Crime Report, which lists art crimes that include a Man Ray photograph, a letter from Ayn Rand, and a 600 pound victorian gate that have all been swiped. awesome.

off to new york tomorrow for a week, so hoping to at least catch the AngloMania exhibit at the Met and the flatware exhibit at the cooper hewitt. yes, I want to see a show about forks. but with birthdays, family obligations, a high school reunion, several meetings and work to do, not sure how much time I'll have. at least I know I'm in for a couple of great meals.

posted by marissa @ 5:16 PM