Sobey Art Award’s shortlist announced
The Sobey Art Foundation and the National Gallery of Canada announced yesterday the finalists for the 14th edition of Canada’s prestigious contemporary art prize — the equivalent of the UK’s Turner Prize.
As part of the award’s mandate to reflect and promote Canadian contemporary art, the five shortlisted artists — four of whom are women — have been selected from five different regions in Canada. Shortlisted artists include Ursula Johnson (Nova Scotia), Jacynthe Carrier (Québec), Bridget Moser (Ontario), Divya Mehra (Manitoba; India; New York); and Raymond Boisjoly (British Columbia).
The total amount afforded by the Sobey Art Award was doubled this year, to $110,000: $50,000 to the winner, $10,000 to the other four shortlisted artists, and $1,000 for each longlisted artist. The winner will be announced at a gala event held at the University of Toronto on October 25, 2017, with the work of the five finalists featured in an exhibition at the Art Museum at the University of Toronto running from October 24 through December 9.
Clockwise from top left: Divya Mehra, We don't stand in line, borrowed shoes hurt your feet OR To India and back: Why we must not give up, 2014. Courtesy Georgia Scherman Projects; Jacynthe Carrier, Les eux, 2013; Ursula Johnson, Elmiet, 2010; Raymond Boisjoly, Contingent Matters, 2011; Bridget Moser, Season of the Witch, 2016.
Christie’s to auction off 2,000 items from the David Rockefeller estate
With estimates in and around the $700 million mark, it looks like the Rockefeller estate will break the record for most valuable collection ever sold at auction when the 2,000 works collection will go on sale at Christie’s 2018 Spring auction.
David Rockefeller, who died earlier this year at 101, was a keen supporter of the arts and his collection includes European ceramics, Chinese export porcelain, silver, American decorative arts, and furniture, in addition to numerous Impressionist and modern works. The series of sales will benefit a variety of charities long championed by the Rockefellers, including the Museum of Modern Art, Harvard University, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Rockefeller Fund. The previous record of such a sale was set by that of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé, coming in at $484 million when it was sold at Christie’s in Paris in 2009. Detail via The Financial Times
David and Peggy Rockefeller, in 1973. The proceeds of the auction of the couple’s personal art collection will benefit a dozen charities. Credit Arthur Lavine/Rockefeller Estate
Banksy’s art-for-votes offer withdrawn following police warning
Just a couple of days after Banksy announced on his website he’d give a free limited-edition print to all voters registered in one of the six Bristol-area constituencies if they voted against the Tories in the upcoming general election on June 8, the British street artist has withdrawn his offer.
"I regret to announce this ill-conceived and legally dubious promotion has now been canceled," the artist said in a statement. This comes in light of a warning issued by the police that any voter accepting a gift or similar in return for voting or refraining from voting would be committing a criminal offence. Details via artforum
