– Sarah Lucas Slams Tracey Emin: YBA artist Sarah Lucas, who opened up "The Shop" in East London with Tracey Emin in 1993, has come out with a pretty unfavorable review of Emin’s work, branding it as "cheap." This isn’t the first time Lucas has spoken out against her former friend — just last year she described Emin’s work as "second-rate." (In the past Lucas has also accused Emin of being in love with her.) "In the same way that I wouldn't wear high heels or lippie," Lucas explained, "the confessions and the puerile sex stuff — I just would never do that." [Telegraph]
– Saatchi Art Sell-Off Continues: Following the news that Charles Saatchi was selling off several large-scale works last month, the collector has elected to sell of his collection of Middle Eastern contemporary art online with new online-only auctioneer, the Auction Room. The works for sale are drawn from a 2009 Saatchi Gallery exhibition called "Unveiled: New Art from the Middle East," and include pieces by Hayv Kahraman and Sohelia Sokhanvari. The collection, which is expected to draw more than £250,000, will be on view in two adjacent galleries in London’s Cork Street through the end of the online auction. [Telegraph]
– British Raids Collar 19 Art Thieves: An investigation by U.K. agents involving 26 police forces and the Serious Organized Crime Agency— and stemming from a series of six burglaries that took place over four months in 2012, resulting in the theft of a rhinoceros horn and Chinese artifacts from museums and auction houses — resulted in a series of early morning raids today in which 19 people were arrested. "The series of burglaries last year had a profound effect on museums and similar institutions and we are committed to bringing all those who were involved in the conspiracy to justice," said chief constable Mick Creedon of the Association of Chief Police Officers. "Many of the stolen Chinese artefacts are still outstanding and a substantial reward remains on offer for information which leads to the safe return of those priceless items." [BBC]
– Church of Vezzoli Comes to PS1: As part of his upcoming exhibition at MoMA PS1, artist Francesco Vezzoli will disassemble a decrepit, 1,500-square-foot church that he bought in southern Italy and rebuild it at the New York City institution, where it will be used to display his celebrity cameo-filled video art. [WSJ]
– Berlin Wall Whitewashed for Gentrification Protest: Artists have begun plastering the 1.3 kilometer-long section of the Berlin Wall known as the East Side Gallery with white paper as a protest against the recent removal of a section of the wall by a developer building luxury housing. [TAN]
– Dutch Heist Ringleader Wants Trial Relocated: As the trial of six men accused of carrying out last year's heist at Kunsthal Rotterdam resumes today in Bucharest, suspected ringleader Radu Dogaru said that he would only return the five paintings still in his control if the trial were moved to the Netherlands. [Guardian, AFP]
— A rising class of wealthy Nigerian art collectors are funding a revival in art forms steeped in traditional spirituality. [Business Day]
– Artist Richard Wilson is planning a "ships’ opera" for London’s Thames Festival, in which a symphony of ships’ horns and whistles will ring out on the river. [Telegraph]
– A Swiss journalist smashed a glass artwork by Luciano Fabro during a gallery party at Grace Uno gallery. He is being called the "Swiss Mr Bean." [Independent]
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