— DIA Fund Gets $40M More: The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has promised an additional $40 million to the growing fund that would protect the Detroit Institute of Art’s collection as well the city’s retirees. Just last week Governor Rick Snyder pledged $350 million in state funds bringing the grand total to $720 million. “I think this is [an] incredibly generous gift on the part of the Kellogg Foundation,” said DIA’s chief operating officer, Annmarie Erickson. “We are continuing to negotiate and we feel very optimistic about the direction the negotiations are taking.” [Detroit News]
— Good News and Bad News in Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum has denied a claim that there are eight fakes in the museum’s unfortunately titled upcoming show “Van Gogh: Repetitions.” In a recently published eBook, writers Benoit Landais and Hanspeter Born assert that the paintings in question are actually the work of Claude-Emile Schuffenecker, a contemporary who ran in Van Gogh’s circle. But the good news is that the museum’s recent $350 million renovation cost $30 million less than expected. [Cleveland, Cleveland]
— Gurlitt Task Force Complete: Thirteen more art history, provenance, and restitution experts have been appointed to the group assigned with investigating the Cornelius Gurlitt trove, completing the assemblage of the task force. The appointees will first tackle the ownership histories of 590 works before moving on to the 380 pieces that are thought to have been taken by the Nazis. “I am grateful for the broad-based, international support for our work,” Ingeborg Berggreen-Merkel, a former deputy culture minister, said in a statement. “Having nationally and internationally recognized experts on the task force will guarantee that our work is objective and of high quality.” [NYT]
— Gates Taps Golden for Performance: Studio Museum director Thelma Golden will critique 12 local artist’s portfolios for one day on February 9 as part of a Theaster Gates performance at the museum. [DNAinfo]
— Queens Museum Gives Nod to Spacey: The Museum of Moving Image in Queens will honor actor Kevin Spacey for its 28th annual Salute in April. [Reuters]
— “Super Pope” Street Art: The Vatican tweeted a photo of a Pope Francis-themed “Super Pope” street art piece that turned up in Rome. [HuffPo]
— Sotheby’s is predicting that the value of red paintings is going to increase dramatically, because the color is considered lucky in China. [Telegraph]
— Jerry Saltz penned a cute piece about his standing Friday night date with Roberta Smith at the Met Museum. [NY Mag]
— Hayward Gallery director Ralph Ruggoff has been tapped to curate the 2015 Biennale de Lyon. [Art Forum]
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