After a $1 billion Sotheby’s investment, Abu Dhabi is reportedly eyeing Art Basel.
Rumors from multiple sources global suggest that Art Basel may soon take over as the operator of Abu Dhabi Art with a $20 million investment. The news follows Sotheby’s recent $1 billion investment from Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, as well as high-profile art-world projects like the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Guggenheim Museum.
The closure of New York’s Wells College puts a slew of preserved architecture at risk.
In Aurora, New York, historic buildings on the former Wells College campus face potential decay following the college’s closure and zoning changes. The Preservation Association of Central New York (PACNY) and Wells Legacy Society warn that cutting off water and heat this winter risks severe damage to the structures, which include the Brutalist Long Library by architect Walter Netsch, from mold, leaks, and degradation.
Philadelphia’s bankrupt University of the Arts is now selling off its real-estate holdings.
After a sudden bankruptcy and closure in June, the former Philadelphia University of the Arts has listed nine campus properties for sale. The move aims to resolve the former university’s financial obligations, which are estimated between $50 and $100 million, through the sale of historic buildings with potential tax benefits.
Maurizio Cattelan’s “notorious” banana artwork is expected to sell for $1.5 million.
Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork Comedian, a banana duct-taped to a wall, is expected to fetch between $1 million and $1.5 million at a Sotheby’s New York auction on November 20. It originally debuted at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019 for $120,000, and has since sparked debate over the concept and value of art, especially as its editions have been eaten by performance artists in public stunts.
Flash floods near Valencia have destroyed the photography studio of Ricardo Cases.
Spanish photographer Ricardo Cases suffered devastating losses when catastrophic floods in eastern Spain destroyed his studio near Valencia. Cases, who is known for his photo books and exhibitions, lost 90 percent of his work, books, and equipment. The photographer reports that backups of his digital files survived, while curator Sonia Berger has launched a print sale to support him in rebuilding and continuing his work.
Today’s attractive distractions:
Climate change and genetic engineering might be creating superweeds.
One writer attests to the transformative power of Michael Heizer’s City.
The decline of cursive has surprising consequences on our elections.
Astronomers’ demand for the Webb telescope shows no sign of slowing.
