The most-talked-about stories on ARTINFO, January 2-6, 2011:
– The New Year kicked off with the Republican primaries. Looking at the antics of some of the candidates and would-be candidates, we asked, “Is Politics the New Performance Art?” We also outlined the views of the top Republican contenders on art, concluding that Jon Huntsman would be the best candidate for the arts. He has no chance.
– Downtown environmental artist Colette accused Lady Gaga of biting her style for her arty Barney’s window display.
– New ARTINFO performing arts editor Nick Catucci surveyed reactions to Van Halen's exclusive New York gig previewing their new album and tour.
– Shane Ferro explained the rise of a new investment category: SWAG (Silver, Wine, Art, and Gold)
– Noah Charney reviewed the new book by Leonardo scholar Martin Kemp on how cultural icons become, you know, iconic.
– Judd Tully surveyed the career of AbEx painter Helen Frankenthalen, who recently passed away, asking how its legacy would endure.
– Ben Davis asked what the YouTube-sponsored “Life in a Day” project tells us about how the video sharing site has affected our ability to appreciate art.
– At the Louvre, controversy erupted over the recent cleaning of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Virgin and Child With Saint Anne," with some conservation experts resigning in protest that it is now too clean.
– The Village Voice sacked revered film writer J. Hoberman. Our own film correspondent Graham Fuller asked why.
– Kyle Chayka talked to the Russian anarchist Voina collective about why its members considered their latest incendiary act a work of art. (And when we say "incendiary," we do mean incendiary!)
– Japanese art megastar Takashi Murakami declared war on the "Cool Japan" campaign.
– Kanye West announced his ambitions to found the grandious new design super-collective, codename: DONDA. Janelle Zara offered some suggestions for projects DONDA might take up.
– Shane Ferro connected the dots between the upcoming auction of artifacts from the Titanic and the controversial cadaver exhibition, “Bodies.”
– Ben Davis reviewed rising star Mary Reid Kelley’s rhyming art-film version of French history at Fredericks & Freiser gallery.