One-man interdisciplinary mash-up Rodney Graham tackles photography, filmmaking, acting, and music as elements of his artistic practice.
The Vancouver-based artist has shown all over the world, in galleries from Chicago to Mexico City, and in blockbuster exhibitions at MOCA and the Whitney Biennial. He’s also known for the occasional intimate club performance. But it’s not just genres Graham splices together; a master of lush production values, he’s capable of communicating compelling, comedic, and politically salient messages with a single charismatic gesture.
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And the verdict is in. After much tongue wagging via the art press this weekend (including some Twitter chatter by the likes of artist/instigator William Powhida and Saltz-archrival Tyler Green), MOCA Los Angeles has confirmed the selection of New York gallerist Jeffrey Deitch as the museum’s new director. Way to start 2010 with a boom, LA — never before has a major US museum hired a leader from the commercial side of the market. One has to wonder: Can Deitch man up for such a significant role at a nonprofit? And what will become of his baby, Deitch Projects? (UPDATE: definitely closing shop.) After the jump we take a walk down memory lane.
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The LA Times reports there’s something fishy happening at the Orange County Museum of Art, so fishy that they used the word “sketchy” in the editorial’s headline. The scandal involves some paintings — “stellar examples of California Impressionism” — secretly sold by OCMA’s director Dennis Szakacs and the museum’s board at a price that is making most people’s jaws hit the floor. Read More »
Starck speakers on the market: Attention last-minute holiday shoppers: design star Philippe Starck just came out with an aesthetically pleasing and minimalistic set of wireless iPod speakers. Starck is known for his ability to combine the everyday with his artistic visions, but with a suggested retail price of $1,500, you better hope you’ve been mighty nice. [IBT]
Piven quits Mamet play: Jeremy Piven abruptly left the cast of Speed-the-Plow, David Mamet’s acclaimed revival of the play. Piven cited high mercury levels as the reason for his departure, to which Mamet (bitterly?) responded that perhaps Piven should take up a career as a thermometer. The show must go on without the exhausted actor, though a replacement has yet to be named. This is NOT good for the producers, who are likely to have plenty of people angry that they paid $200 only to find that the guy they paid said $200 to see is out. If it were Raul Esparza or Elizabeth Moss (sorry Peggy!), different story. [Playbill]
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The Wright Stuff?: Lionsgate has nabbed the rights to Loving Frank, a piece of historical fiction by Nancy Horan that explores the famous architect’s affair with Chicago socialite Mamah Borthwick Cheney. John Burnham Schwartz — who previously worked on Reservation Road — will write the script, and judging from this picture, we’d cast another Frank (Langella) in the lead role. It’s funny, once we started thinking about it, we realized that there aren’t too many architects in the movies. [Variety]
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XOXO, you know you love this: OMFG there might be a Gossip Girl spinoff! CW is considering using one of GG’s episodes later in the year to test the waters for a long-talked-about spinoff. The book series spins off into The It Girl, following the trials and tribulations of Jenny Humphrey, but sources say the TV version wouldn’t focus on poor raccoon-eyed Little J (which is a good thing, because we don’t think tiny Taylor Momsen is ready to helm her own ship), but on another of the nine characters. Please let it be Chuck. (Or Dorota!) [Variety]
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