Megan Krug continues her series on the economic impact of the Overture Center.

Philadelphia’s fascinating Barnes Foundation is set to move downtown (from the Main Line) to Museum Row. Virtual Properties has a VR scene of the exterior here. Founder Albert C. Barnes, a patent medicine millionaire, never wanted this – he loathed the downtown art crowd. Visit the Barnes before it moves… Carol Vogel has more. Background links: Alltheweb Clusty Google MSN TeomaYahoo Search
“Everything these days doesn’t have to be a tourist trap.”

Wyland is battling the destuction of a Milwaukee whale mural he painted in the late 1990’s. Background links: Alltheweb Clusty Google MSN TeomaYahoo Search

Christo and Jean-Claude are planning to bring saffron to Central Park next February according to Carol Vogel. Reading this reminded me of their work in Paris from 1975 to 1985. A fresh UW grad, I was in Europe for an extended stay when I came upon Christo and Jean-Claude’s The Pont Neuf Wrapped. I snapped these photos in 1985:

I commend and admire their work.

Nova Safo on the recent resignation of Deborah Gribbon’s, Director of the Getty Museum in LA. I shot two panoramas at the Getty on a gorgeous clear day a few years ago.

The exciting Overture Opening was brought back to reality via Tom Laskin’s Isthmus article (apparently not online) on the financial challenge that several local arts groups face as they migrate to the new facilities:

Off the record, members of the local arts community have suggested that the Rep’s problems stem from lavish spending by artistic Director Richard Corley, who joined the company in 2002. But (acting Rep managing director) Fadell says that such speculation is off the mark. Problems with the bottom line had been building for years.

This quote, surprisingly unattributed reminds me of the challenges Wisconsin faces in business as well as arts.
I remember being pleased years ago, while living in San Francisco, with the can do and risk friendly business (and arts) culture. People are willing to try, fail and try again, generally without fear.
Our local culture is not so tolerant of risk and change, despite the image we try to present. In fact, we tend to protect the status quo (Overture itself is testament to this with it’s compromised facade), rather than relish in it’s demise (and therefore let others benefit – see WARF’s biotech offices in California).
It’s the rare local banker/investor that is willing to take a risk. Better to invest in treasuries, evidently. There’s plenty of cash in Madison & Wisconsin. It just needs to be put to good use, for our children.
Jerry Frautschi and Pleasant have thrown down the gauntlet. Let’s all take advantage of that risk taking. After all, there would be no $700M had they not started Pleasant Company years ago (and Jill Barad’s willingness to write the check).
Corley has certainly stepped up the Rep’s tempo. I hope he continues to push.
We already have one Miller Park….. [All Hat No Cattle]

Clearing storms produce incredible light, as this photo illustrates. This 9MB Quicktime movie says it all. Gorgeous….!!!

Book cover of ‘Iron: Erecting the Disney Concert Hall.’ Credit: Gil Garcetti
Former L.A. County District Attorney Gil Garcetti is known for his high-profile prosecutions of O.J. Simpson and the Menendez brothers.
But he left the district attorney’s office in 2000 and got out his cameras, turning a lifelong hobby — photography — into a second career. He talks with Scott Simon about his images of the ironworkers who built the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, designed by architect Frank Gehry.

Henry Allen on Photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson’s death.