— Liebermann Painting Determined to be Nazi Loot: Experts researching the works of the Gurlitt trove have determined that Max Liebermann’s 1901 painting “Two Riders on the Beach” was, in fact, stolen by the Nazis during World War II. Furthermore, they declared that rightful ownership of the artwork belonged to the family of German-Jewish art collector David Friedmann, who are currently suing the Bavarian government for the piece. The Liebermann painting is one of two artworks thus far that have been verified as looted by the panel of experts. [WSJ, NYT]
— Smithsonian Shows 300 Shoes: Before she represents Japan at next year’s Venice Biennale, Chiharu Shiota will install 300 shoes at the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler gallery. Donated by members of the public who tied a note detailing a memory to each shoe, they will be on view near the entrance of the museum. Shiota says the installation is inspired by living as a student in Germany. “I felt this gap in my imagination that reminded me of trying on old shoes,” she said. “They fit, but they don’t fit me anymore.” [WSJ]
— Study Shows Flipping is Cyclical: The New York Times hired “two companies that specialize in evaluating art market data” to do statistical analyses on art flipping at auction and the results seem to reveal that the trend of “soaring prices and quick resales” is cyclical. Current market trends closely mirror sales in the late ’90s, according to study. “Reselling art at auction is not a new phenomenon,” wrote Fabian Bocart, a founder of Tutela Capital S.A., “or at least, not very different from what has existed since 1995.” [NYT]
— Palestinian Artist’s Travel Ban Lifted: Palestinian artist Khaled Jarrar has finally been able to leave Palestine for Helsinki, after the Israeli Security Agency prevented him from traveling to New York for the opening of the New Museum’s “Here and Elsewhere” exhibition. [TAN]
— Conservancy Board Member Calls For Museum Boycott: Turtle Conservancy board member Andy Sabin, acting independently from the organization, has called for a boycott of the Aspen Art Museum until the institution dismantles its controversial showing of Cai Guo-Qiang’s “Moving Ghost Town.” [9 News]
— What is Main Street’s Role in Ferguson? “Does a largely white police force see protestors in the middle of a strip like that, only recently abandoned by white residents, and feel as though its own turf — or its own culture — is threatened?” — L.A. Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne on the protests and landscape surrounding Ferguson, Missouri. [LAT]
— Ben Tufnell and Matt Watkins, who were formerly directors at Haunch of Venison, are launching new London space Parafin this September. [Art Daily]
— Here’s a profile of Shinique Smith ahead of her show at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. [Boston Globe]
— DC gallerist Randall Scott is moving to Baltimore. [WP]
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