Opinion
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Boston Phoenix Incinerates
Venerable Alternative Weekly to Cease Publication
By: - Mar 15th, 2013It started in 1966 as Boston After Dark a weekly entertainment guide launched by Jim Lewis then a student at the Harvard Business School. Stephen Mindich was its theatre critic and later bought in as partner. After Mindich bought out Lewis he later acquired the Cambridge Phoenix. The renamed Boston Phoenix was the flagship of an alternative media empire that has now crashed and burned. It leaves a remarkable legacy of journalism and criticism.
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Longterm Impact of Monsanto's Roundup Seeds
Supreme Court Screws American Farmers
By: - Mar 14th, 2013Our science correspondent and organic farmer Jimmy Midnight explores in detail why our food ain't what it used to be. He states that. As a farmer myself, I would not use glyphosate, or plant any (Monsanto) Roundup Ready seeds, because I presume they’re not safe to use, eat, or feed. If it’s perfectly safe to eat or feed, why does it suddenly become dangerous in the hands of the world’s small-time agricultural operators? On May 13 The Supreme Court upheld the copyright of Monsanto against a farmer planting cheap, second generation seed purchased from a grain elevator.
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Arts and Culture Demonized
Government Support for Arts Declining
By: - Mar 12th, 2013This is the second in a series of articles on the crisis in the arts by Larry Murray. They are reposted with permission of Berkshire On Stage. He reports that appropriations to state arts agencies grew by 110 percent between 1992 and 2001, reaching an all-time high of $450.6 million in 2001 before decreasing to $354 million in 2008. Since 2008, state appropriations have decreased by 27 percent, close to 1996 spending levels.
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The Arts and The Economy, Interconnected Gears
A Series Exploring Arts and Fiscal Challenges
By: - Mar 10th, 2013With this richly detailed and insightful series on the crisis of the arts we welcome back to Berkshire Fine Arts, Larry Murray, a valued colleague and founding contributor of Berkshire Fine Arts. For the past few years he has been publisher/ editor of Berkshire on Stage and more recently joined Broadway World as its Berkshire Correspondent. He has spent decades involved in and thinking about arts management as marketing and PR manager, administrator, and, for the past several years, critic and reporter.
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A Quick Note From Fast Eddy
Exhibitionism in Paris
By: - Mar 06th, 2013Our correspondent Edward Rubin, known to his friends as Fast Eddy, is currently eating and drinking his way through Paris. He often enjoys outrageously expensive meals at Michelin star restaurants. While on the run he dashed off notes to friends including impressions of less trafficked museums. And the Pompidou.
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Aspects of Chimeric Artificial Plasmids
Consequences of Circular DNA Molecules
By: - Mar 02nd, 2013I’m a longtime student of a group of subjects that could collectively be called, “Molecular Biology." For the last few, maybe several months, I’ve been up on the internet, doing readings in this area, hoping that my “fresh eyes,†which are also those of a rock’n’roller and a visual artist, might see something that regular scholars are missing.
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The Future of North Adams?
A Letter to Mayor Dick Alcombright
By: - Feb 17th, 2013Now in his second term as Mayor of North Adams Massachusetts there was hope and expectation of change when he defeated the long term Mayor John Barrett III. Other than a dramatic rise in property taxes there is scant evidence of progress. Many attribute that to catching up with decades of neglect, collapsed infractucture, decline in schools and social services. An architect, gallerist and pragmatic visionary Ralph Brill in an open letter to Alcombright offers a blue print for change and the creation of jobs for the depressed city.
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Mean Streets: Blizzard of 2013
The Big Dig Out
By: - Feb 09th, 2013In Boston's blue collar neighborhoods digging out parking spots evokes survival of the fittest and the law of the jungle. Shovel out a spot and you own it. Move and mark your space with a lawn chair. Leave and hope that its not occupied when you come back. If not all hell breaks loose.
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Super Bowl Was Just That
A Guy Thing
By: - Feb 04th, 2013A bunch of guys from the loft, all artists, hunkered down in front of Opie's huge, Hi Def, smart TV to scoff snacks and enjoy the super bowl. It was a guy thing; a night of raging testosterone for the annual ritual. Lots of fun and actually a heck of a game.
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Many Happy Returns
Regifting the Holidays
By: - Dec 28th, 2012Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, marks a feeding frenzy and the launch of Holiday gift shopping. Arguably there is an equally notable Blue Monday in which millions flock to malls returning gifts for cash and store credit. We have friends who have perfected returning merchandise into an art form and philosophy.
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Mass MoCA Winter/ Spring 2013
Exhibitions and Events
By: - Dec 19th, 2012With one show already nearly sold out (Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Mangum on Saturday, February 16), MASS MoCA'sWinter/Spring season has started with a bang before it's even been announced. The first big event of the season is FREE Day on Saturday, February 9. This annual event attracts thousands to MASS MoCA for a full day of art-making, tours, contests, demonstrations, performances, and more.
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On Being Taught Not to Fly
Up Up and Away
By: - Dec 01st, 2012At the Picasso retrospective at MoMA, once again I was startlingly reminded that art has a mind of its own. As I passed by Picasso’s cubist portrait of Diaghilev and paused to look at it, a flash went off in my head. Despite the fact that Diaghilev was embedded in the picture, while I was free to roam, we shared the immediate recognition that both of us were alive.
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Thanksgiving Letter
Response by Jaune Quick to See Smith
By: - Nov 21st, 2012In a Thanksgiving letter to family and friends I described how Natives and Pilgrims sat as brothers in celebration. Followed by a comment that today there are few is any Native Americans in our region. My friend Jaune Quick to See Smith eloquently corrected me. She offers much to think about during this time of annual celebration.
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Does Art Matter
In the Eye of the Beholder
By: - Nov 18th, 2012There are ways to consume culture at affordable prices. There are half price tickets for Broadway shows and lawn access at Tanglewood. A movie costs about ten bucks or you can see it on Netflix. Kids pirate downloaded music and videos. But it takes deep pockets to travel the world visiting great monuments and museums. Only the mega rich can afford to own the contemporary art displayed in galleries and museums. For social and economic reasons the fine arts are more elitist and esoteric than other art forms. Then there are matters of taste- High Brow, Middle Brow and Kitsch.
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Jane Hudson Reflects on Art Education
Former Faculty Member of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts
By: - Nov 17th, 2012We asked Jane Hudson, a now retired faculty member of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, for another opinion on the BFA dialogue "Can Art Be Taught." With her husband Jeff Hudson, a Museum School graduate, they initiated a video art department for the school. Later Jane became involved with the MFA program graduate students in a broad range of media. Currently they live in Williamstown and have the business Hudson's Antiques on the campus of Mass MoCA.
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Can Art Be Taught
Outing the MFA Industry
By: - Nov 10th, 2012Traditionally one became an artist by apprenticing in the studio of a master. Basic skills and ideas were passed along. L'Ecole des Beaux-Arts, or The Academy, was established during the French Revolution to teach artists and architects to design and create buildings and public art paintings and sculptures. In diploma granting artisan programs art schools and conservatories taught the skills to pursue a career as an artist, musician or actor. In recent years this has morphed into the art education industry which self perpetuates by granting more BFA and MFA degrees than necessary. There is more supply than demand.
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Digital Art and Online Art Classes
From John Dewey to No Child Left Behind
By: - Oct 26th, 2012The US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 13% increase in graphic design jobs over the next decade, requiring even more students capable of demonstrating creativity and originality through professional digital and graphic art portfolios. Just how will hard hit arts education during an era of drastic budget cutbacks meet the challenge of preparing the next generation for these much needed new jobs?
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Protests Continue Against WGBH Jazz Cutbacks
Response from Philip L. Redo WGBH Managing Director
By: - Sep 29th, 2012Dismissing Steve Schwartz and cutting back on Eric Jackson\'s show is an insensitive disservice to Boston\'s music community. It will affect all parts involved, at all levels — musicians, promoters, clubs, music students, even tourists(!), and fundamentally, the very listeners that in good faith have provided consistent support to WGBH itself.
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NY's Attorney General Clears National Arts Club
$2 Million Civil Lawsuit Filed Against Former Pres. O. Aldon James
By: - Sep 22nd, 2012The very public and widely reported scandal regarding alleged mismanagement of the renowned National Arts Club in New York's posh Gramercy Park is inching toward resolution. An 18 month investigation of the club has ended with no action against the institution. Simultaneously, a civil lawsuit against former club president O. Aldon James has been launched by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
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Mayor Dick Alcombright Goes Public
Rallies North Adams Constituents
By: - Sep 19th, 2012Last night, Mayor Dick Alcombright rallied his base with an upbeat address. The fundraiser at the restaurant, The Public, in North Adams added to the war chest to run for a third term in 2013. During his first campaign he defeated John Barrett III who served for 26 years. There was a great mix of local politicians and grass roots constituents.
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Peter Gelb: Wagner's Nightmare
PBS uses the Public Airwaves to Pump The Met
By: - Sep 08th, 2012Peter Gelb takes every opportunity to manipulate the media. Not surprising when productions in the house are often so poor. This is the second time in a year he has used purportedly public media to in one case cut a negative comment and in another present a distorted picture of what's up at the Met.
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Aurora and the Gun Delusion
Responding to the Latest Mass Murder
By: - Jul 27th, 2012Last Friday, we woke up to another tragic shooting where a gunman opened fire in a crowded movie theatre. Twelve people have died, and at least fifty-eight are injured. Already, calls for greater gun regulation to prevent disturbed individuals from accessing guns are being contrasted by calls for more guns so that we can protect ourselves from these individuals.
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Anne-Sophie Mutter in All Mozart Program
Participates in 75th Anniversary Tanglewood Gala Concert
By: - Jul 14th, 2012On Wednesday the German born violin virtuoso, Anne-Sophie Mutter, performed in Ozawa Hall accompanied by pianist Lambert Orkis. On Friday she led a baroque orchestra in an all Mozart program. Tonight, she will be a guest among many participating in the Gala 75th Anniversary concert. She has also met with students in the Tanglewood summer program. It was her first Berkshire visit since 1992.
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WGBH Slashes Jazz Programming
Radio Community Reacts Supporting Eric Jackson and Steve Schwartz
By: - Jun 22nd, 2012This week's news that WGBH is downgrading its local jazz programming by more than 50% has ignited a firestorm in the tightly-knit community of jazz announcers. Veteran announcers Eric Jackson and Steve Schwartz, with combined service of more than 55 years in jazz radio, were informed that Eric's long-running weekday show (Mon-Thurs, 8pm-midnight) would be moved to the weekend, and Steve's Friday evening program will be terminated.
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A Slap in the Facebook
IPO Flatlines on Second Day of Trading
By: - May 19th, 2012Maybe you are among the 900,000, 000 Facebook friends wanting to own a piece of the company. At $16 billion the first day IPO was the third greatest ever. Those initial mega investors planned to flip for huge profits on the second day of trading to the general public. By the end of the day the stock rose a staggering twenty three cents. BFD.
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