The most-talked-about stories on ARTINFO, December 5-9, 2011:
– The big story of the week was Julia Halperin's breakdown of the forgery charges swirling around the just-shuttered Knoedler Gallery.
– Liz Taylor mania led to long lines to see her gems at Christie's before they go on sale on December 13 and 14, while tickets to the actual sale proved to be in high demand. Shane Ferro looked through the online sale of some smaller Taylor lots, and found some suprisingly affordable trophies (including a golden safety pin and Liz's Flintstones bowling ball).
– The annual Kennedy Center Honors went to stars including Meryl Streep and Neil Diamond. Funnyman Stephen Colbert did a tribute to Yo Yo Ma, with Elmo.
– A consortium of international museums including the Louvre and the new Crystal Bridges struck a deal to bring classic works of American art to a global audience.
– We interviewed David and Victoria Farhi, the wunderkinds behind Chelsea's new Vicky David Gallery.
– Emma Allen talked to collaborators of Merce Cunningham about the legacy of the late dance genius.
– Julia Halperin talked to Amy Phelan to get a glimpse of a day in the life of a major collector at Art Basel Miami Beach.
– In the UK, Scottish sculptor Martin Boyce won the Turner Prize.
– ARTINFO China summed up the Hong Kong auction season, where business seemed to be cooling and even once unstoppable wine sales went sour.
– Sienna Miller is set to star in a BBC movie about Alfred Hitchcock's obsession with Tippi Hedren, ARTINFO film editor Graham Fuller reported.
– We had two videos this week: "Boardwalk Empire" actress Paz de la Huerta talked with photographer Warwick Saint about his new pics of "Hardcore Tattoed Women," and artist Marilyn Minter talked about her most recent video of frolicking babies, "Play Pen," which was on view recently at Salon 94.
– In his "Net Work" column, Kyle Chayka explored some of the strategies Internet art supporters are exploring to monetize the medium, including "micro patronage."