— Jasper Johns Assistant Admits Theft:James Meyer, who served as an assistant to Jasper Johns for more than 25 years, pleaded guilty yesterday to selling 22 of the artist’s unfinished works for a total of $6.5 million. Meyer could face up to ten years in prison. "James Meyer made millions by stealing and selling the valuable artworks that he was entrusted with maintaining," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said. "Meyer will now have to pay for that decision." [WSJ]
— France Gets Arts Head: Earlier this week, Aurélie Filippetti publicly resigned from her role as French Culture Minister in an open letter, and now French President François Hollande has replaced her. Fleur Pellerin, who was previously minister of foreign trade and tourism, has been appointed to the position. [TAN]
— Protestors Want Piss Christ Removed: More than 25 years after it first sparked protests, Andres Serrano’s “Piss Christ” is once again ruffling the feathers of religious groups. The Musée Fesch in Corsica, which is currently hosting an exhibition of Serrano’s work, saw around 50 protestors gather outside earlier this week. “[Corsica] is soiled by the presence of this picture. It’s an insult to every Corsican,” said a member of the Catholic organisation Cristiani Corsi. [TAN]
— Artist to Make Levitating Building: Artist Alex Chinneck, who was responsible for that Kent building façade that looked like it was sliding off, is now attempting to make a Covent Garden structure appear to levitate. [Telegraph]
— Drama at a Legend’s Architecture School: Here’s a look at the complicated politics over at the Frank Lloyd Wright architecture school, which lost its accreditation last week. [NYT]
— More Art/Music Collabs: Singer Kimbra (of “Somebody That I Used to Know” fame) debuted her new album with an art show. [Sundial]
— Look like Andre 3000 is making art as a way to cope with dirty laundry. [Artnews]
— Downtown party fixtures John Tuite and Carlos Santolalla— better known as Jarlos — have a one-night-only photo show tonight. [WSJ]
— “But my recent visit to the Institute of Russian Realist Art revealed a tradition with surprising range and complexity, encompassing not only photographlike portraiture and landscapes, but many artistic approaches: images projected through a dreamy, Impressionist filter; renderings that startle with their bright, radiant colors; and paintings with poignant symbolic messages.” — A report from inside Moscow’s Institute of Russian Realist Art. [WSJ]
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