Richard Dorment at the Telegraph goes on one about the risk of major works of art being damaged or destroyed whilst moving from one museum to another. His solution - all art from permanent collections gets grounded for one year…
I know how he feels - I never let my kids out of the house in case they get run over.
Read all about this silly idea here
The director in charge of the Tate’s collections, Jan Debbaut, has decided to leave in February. Another slap in the face for Sir Nicholas Serota?
After a controversial year at the Tate, with allegations of corruption still causing grief, is this another nail in someones coffin?
Louise Jury at the Independent has a good overview of the whole sordid mess here
Sculptor Rachel Whiteread, currently showing in the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern, has been awarded the CBE.
Nothing serious to read about this really - I just thought you might like to know 
Examples of her work here
From today’s Guardian:
“This year’s African art exhibitions were meant to make us think again about the continent. But if admiring art was enough to change the world, Africa would have got justice long ago, says Jonathan Jones. He decided to go in search of the art that doesn’t get into galleries, but has real function in the lives of ordinary Africans “
I have to ask, why?
3,800 words meander across the page leaving me feeling like I have just been to a lecture by a social worker - not informed or challenged or excited or riled by an art critic. Maybe one of us hasn’t recovered from Christmas yet.
Make your own mind up here
Not content with their own website sending up all they disagree with, I had a visit from a Stuckist (or an imposter) who copied and pasted an amusing “alternative” take on the news of Anish Kapoor’s appointment as a trustee at the Tate.
I had a quick look around their website and have to admit to the odd chuckle or two - check it out yourself here
Festive hilarity notwithstanding…
If you have a comment or even a strong opinion on any posts on Artistica, please feel free to post. I will always allow people to comment with their point of view. However, I like my graffiti by Banksy - and only Banksy 
Thanks
Despite a major change in exhibition spaces coming soon 2006 (more of this in the new year) - here’s a heads up for 2006 Tate Modern Exhibitions
Current
The Unilever Series: Rachel Whiteread
Until 2 April 2006 - More
Jeff Wall: Photographs 1978-2004
Until 8 January 2006 - More
Henri Rousseau: Jungles in Paris
Until 5 February 2006 - More
Level 2 Gallery Catherine Sullivan
Until 5 March 2006 - More
New for 2006
Martin Kippenberger
8 February – 14 May 2006 - More
Albers and Moholy-Nagy: From the Bauhaus to the New World
9 March – 4 June 2006 - More
Kandinsky
22 June – 1 October 2006 - More
Pierre Huyghe
5 July – 24 September 2006 - More
David Smith
18 October 2006 – 21 January 2007 - More
Peter Fischli & David Weiss
18 October 2006 – 21 January 2007 - More
Excellent review of Tracey Emin’s new book, Strangeland, by Henry Hitchings in the Times Literary Supplement.
The book consists of three sections - Motherland, Fatherland and Traceyland and Hitchins teases us with glimpses of the sad/lurid/shocking details of Emin’s life, relationships and art. After reading his piece I did wonder if Hitchins had some sort of deal with Amazon
I can’t wait to see if Santa will make my day tomorrow - but if he doesn’t I can console myself with Banksy’s Wall and Piece - and yes, I’m excited!
Read Hitchins review here
If you are a bit of an Ebenezer at Christmas you can read Warren Feeney’s mean spirited review here
Following in the footsteps of Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, sculptor Anish Kapoor has been made a trustee of the Tate Gallery.
Born in Mumbai in 1954, Kapoor is the UK’s leading sculptor and has exhibited worldwide - in response to the appointment by Tony Blair, he is quoted as saying, “I am delighted to have been asked to be a trustee of Tate. I look forward to working with the other trustees in the hope that I can further the cause of art.”
Kapoor won the Turner prize in 1991.
Read the Indian Telegraph story here
See examples of Kapoor’s work here
Added 30/12/05 - Two more articles give more depth to this story - The Times is here and The Independent here
Thanks to Charles Thomson at the Stuckism site for these links
Opening today at Tate Modern is Maurizio Cattelan’s Wrong Gallery. Originally a doorway in New York, Cattelan was evicted and the Tate stepped in and offered him a similar space on the third floor with free reign over it’s content. Measuring only 2.5 square feet, the first exhibit will be the Dorothy Iannone “orgasm box”.
Christopher Turner does a nice article on Cattelan and his “Merry Prankster” mates in the Guardian.
The Guardian piece is here
Pictures of the New York Wrong Gallery here
Tate Modern Director Sir Nicholas Serota is back in the news in a dispute that began in August this year when the Daily Telegraph published an article questioning the Tate’s purchase of a work by Turner Prize winning artist Chris Ofili.
Chris Hastings of the Telegraph claims that “Confidential documents obtained by the Sunday Telegraph reveal that the gallery included incorrect information in its application for funding towards the cost of The Upper Room” - a 13 panel installation by Ofili, a trustee of the Tate.
Sir Nicholas, 59, has blamed “a failing in his head” for the oversight.
Read the Telegraph article here
Pictures of The Upper Room here