— O’Keeffe Museum to Sell Three Works: The news that the O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe plans to auction off three works at Sotheby’s is huge, in light of the strong reaction provoked by other deaccession cases (at the Delaware Art Museum and the Maier Museum of Art) this year. The museum wants to sell the works, which could collectively bring in as much as $19 million, to add to its acquisitions fund. “The museum holds half the artist’s output throughout her life,” said director Robert A. Kret. “But still there are gaps that need to be filled.” [NYT]
— Schwarzenegger Portrait Unveiled: The official painting of Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger has debuted at the California state Capitol. However, Schwarzenegger’s former assistant, Clay Russell, revealed that the portrait went through one key modification since it was first commissioned several years ago: a pin on the governor’s lapel, depicting his now-estranged wife Maria Shriver’s face, has been painted over. The painter, Austrian artist Gottfried Helnwein, cryptically confirmed that the portrait contains “one little interesting detail… which I cannot give away because I am not allowed to tell, but it was very important and meaningful to the governor.” [SFGate]
— Rauschenberg Foundation Creates New Grants: With the newly launched Artist as Activist program, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation is offering assistance to artists with socially engaged practices. Included in the grant is a two-year fellowship and other travel and research grants worth up to $100,000. Proposals are due by October 13. [TAN]
— Art Basel Teams Up with Kickstarter: The Art Basel Crowdfunding Initiative will raise money for nonprofit art groups across the globe, starting with ScupltureCenter in New York, the Society for the Activation of Social Space through Art and Sound in Los Angeles, Gasworks in London, and 4A Center for Contemporary Asian Art in Sydney. [NYT]
— Activists Protesting Koch Detained: During a gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art honoring billionaire David H. Koch, who contributed $65 million to the institution’s renovated plaza, three activists projected the words “Koch = Climate Chaos” onto the front of the building. [ArtNet]
— An Independent Scotland Could Lose Art: Old Master paintings on loan to the Scottish National Gallery might be sold off, as potential changes in tax structure have art collectors questioning their future. [The Art Newspaper]
— Carol Vogel gives us an in-depth look at Bunny Mellon’s $100 million collection, up for sale at Sotheby’s in November. [NYT]
— Here’s a profile of Hobby Lobby owner Steve Green and his D.C. bible museum plans. [WP]
— Lehmann Maupin has added Belgian artist Patrick Van Caeckenbergh to its stable. [Observer]
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