— Sarajevo Struggles to Build Museum: A $1 million grant from the Italian government and a fundraising campaign from coffeemaker illycaffe are helping to raise money for a modern art museum in Sarajevo. Enver Hadziomerspahic, who was the director of the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies, has gathered 150 works worth $27 million and Renzo Piano designs for a yet-to-be-built museum. He hopes the Italian campaign will attract more private partners for the project. “I am happy and sad at the same time, happy that we are moving forward but sad that Italy, and not our own politicians, should be behind the drive for promoting the project,” Hadziomerspahic said. [Reuters]
— Ridgewood Artists Battle Landlord: Artists at 17-17 Troutman Street in Ridgewood, Queens, are embroiled in an eviction battle with the building’s landlord, David Steinberg. Just before May’s Bushwick Open Studios, the landlord threatened to cut off utilities for several artists who have studio space in the building. Other recent disputes with the landlord have led a number of the building’s gallery spaces to seek shelter elsewhere, including Regina Rex, which moved in May. Ortega y Gasset Projects, Underdonk, and Harbor all plan to leave at the end of June. [NYT]
— Norton Simon Fights for Nazi-Looted Triptych: The Norton Simon Museum still struggles to keep an Adam and Eve triptych by Lucas Cranach the Elder that seems to have been Nazi-looted. A federal appeals court in California has reversed a previous decision and allowed a lawsuit to reclaim the artwork to proceed. In a statement, the museum said it “remains confident that it holds complete and proper title” to the paintings and that it would “continue to pursue, consistent with its fiduciary duties, all appropriate legal options.” [NYT]
— Michigan Governor to Speak at DIA: Michigan Governor Rick Snyder is set to make a major announcement today regarding Detroit’s “grand bargain” plan at the Detroit Institute of Arts. [Mining Journal]
— Istanbul to Get 40 Artist Residencies: London’s Moving Museum is spearheading a three-month artist residency project in Istanbul and will commission 40 international artists to complete “a local project aimed at making a lasting impact on the city,” with a final exhibition to be held in October. [TAN]
— Tiananmen Artist to be Deported: Australian-born artist Guo Jian, who was detained last week for his Tiananmen Square-related artwork, will be deported from China. [NYT]
— Banksy’s former agent has curated a selling show of the street artist’s work at Sotheby’s London. [The Guardian]
— The CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts has named Jamie Stevens as curator and head of programs. [Artforum]
— Christina Yu Yu will be the new director of the USC Pacific Asia Museum. [LAT]
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