The most-talked-about stories on ARTINFO, January 9-13, 2011:
– The story of the week was Ann Binlot's piece on Louis Vuitton's new team-up with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, known for her spots, gourds, and phallic imagery.
– Meanwhile, it turns out that Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci also designed a chic handbag, and Florentine fashion house Gherardini is recreating it.
– ARTINFO performing arts editor Nick Catucci took apart the sketch show Portlandia, which returned for its second season amid much hype.
– Ann Binlot took a look at fashion It girl Alexa Chung's reality show hosting turn on Lifetime's 24 Hour Catwalk, and dubbed it a dud.
– Kyle Chayka caught the New York preview of Damien Hirst's epic global "Spot" painting show.
– The Tate launched a video game for the iPhone which had art-lovers playing the role of a chameleon traversing art-history-themed levels.
– What lucky artist will get the chance to paint the royal portrait of Kate Middleton? ARTINFO UK offered up five candidates.
– Ever wonder why artists are poor? Ben Davis reported on an Artists Space lecture on the subject by economist Hans Abbing, though he found the answers wanting.
– The NADA art fair announced that it is coming to New York opposite the new Frieze New York in May.
– In a clip about November's controversial Marina Abramovic-engineered L.A. MOCA gala, the performance artist took a stand against government art funding.
– Julia Halperin reported on moves by the government that could lead to the establishment of a small claims court for artistic copyright cases.
– The Metropolitan Museum snagged Tate Modern curator Sheena Wagstaff for its contemporary art program. Andrew M. Goldstein offered ideas about what she could do to turn the Met into a powerhouse in the field.
– The online-only VIP art fair announced it was launching three new virtual art events this year.
– In an ARTINFO Video interview, Japanese artist Mariko Mori talked about her new project "Journey to Seven Light Bay."