• “It’s exhilarating for a man to be shot at unsuccessfully”: Filmmaker Werner Herzog discusses getting shot at, his unequivocal opposition to the death penalty, and his new film, Into the Abyss.
• To commemorate publication of the book Saul Bass: A Life In Film & Design (designed by Bass’ daughter Jennifer), Art of the Title‘s Ian Albinson created a visual history of some of the late designer’s most memorable film sequences. (Albinson curated the film titles section of the Walker exhibition, Graphic Design: Now In Production.)
• Despite protestations by Yvonne Rainer and 52 others, a Marina Abramović performance the choreographer dubbed “grotesque” and a “public humiliation” went on as scheduled over the weekend. LA MOCA’s $2,500-a-plate (minimum) fundraiser included human centerpieces and prone nudes topped with skeletons. The LA Times quotes several attendees who said Rainer’s “exploitation” charge was a stretch, while C-Monster offers a cheaper alternative to Abramović’s centerpieces: a $12 version using an Angry Birds piñata.
• Reader Marianne writes in to Letters of Note: “In 1989 my husband passed on; I was 36-years-old and left with 3 small children. For some reason I wrote to Kurt Vonnegut and thanked him for his books and his compassion. I did not expect a reply. He must have been a kind man, as he sent this to me within a month of writing to him.” Read the letter.
• The Guardian reports that, concerned about global warming and gallery expenses, Tate director Nicolas Sirota is urging fellow museum heads worldwide to drop long-held rules on gallery temperature and humidity. “We need to devise imaginative new solutions to resolve the dichotomy between long-term collections care and expensive environmental conditions,” he reportedly said at a recent conference. I’m curious if Liberate Tate, the activist group that’s trying to pressure Serota and the Tate to drop oil giant BP as a sponsor, will have a response to the plea.
• Minnesota Public Radio and the City of Minneapolis have teamed up to launch Sound Point, “a new interactive audio tour that allows visitors to use their mobile devices to access stories about works of public art in Minneapolis.”
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