Dakek Madonna and Child...

[fajrdrako]

silverwhistle sent me an article from The Guardian about the Koestler awards, an annual award given to people in prisons for achievement in art. I heartily approve of such programs. The hook here was an exhibit of the winners at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, which featured, among other items, a sculpture called Madonna and Child:



I wonder why the website (and the article) fail to identify the artist. Don't prisoners get credited?

Which I'd say was worth the price of admission. But don't talk to me about price of admission: I just learned that the exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Civilization that I'd wanted to see, of Chinese art, costs $20 for entry. I just can't afford that. I am seriously miffed at the increasing inaccessibility of museums and galleries in Canada due to high entrance fees - aren't they still funded by our taxes? I know travelling exhibits are expensive and China is far away, but $20 per person seems to me excessive.

Comments

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

The works will be credited in the actual exhibition. Press articles often don't credit individual art works unless it's something well-known.

Public museums and galleries here are free, but they do sometimes charge for special exhibitions, which is annoying. But they have to pay huge amounts in insurance & c to get them.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, I understand about the cost of insurance. I just... find it depressing that I can't go to these exhibits any more. On the other hand, I can read about them online, so it isn't all bad!

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

LOL

20$ that is a lot!!

I find the 10 euro entrance to Dutch museums a lot. But you can buy a museumcard for 35 euro (or 17,50 for under 26) and this will give you free entrance (or at least a significant discount) to almost all museums. (So, worthwhile to remember, buy one if you visit the Netherlands and plan to visit some museums). Special exhibitions charge extra. Often. Yes.
I don't think many museums are real moneymakers. I would guess that much of the extra charge is because of insurance.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, it probably is because of insurance and that makes sense; I just find it distressing that these exhibitions are now priced out of my range. I used to go to museums a lot, and to see most of the travelling exhibitits. Now I simply can't.

I suppose the real complaint is about my own standard of living. Still - it's annoying!

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

Many US museums have one afternoon a week that is free or reduced admission, but that sometimes excludes the special borrowed exhibits. (and it's no good
if you have to work on Free Wednesdays).
Does your local library offer discount tickets or coupons off? That is common in Massachusetts, at least.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

No discount coupons or specials. Free admission to the regular collection for a few hours after 5 pm on Thursdays. It used to be all day Thursdays, and I'd drop in sometimes at lunchtime. $75 for an annual membership that gets you in free, including special exhibits, but that sadly is way beyond my price range, too.

I wouldn't mind so much, except that the regular collection used to be free all the time. It's the kind of thing I used to think of as part of my rights as a Canadian citizen, which is now priced beyond my means.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

Exactly. It does feel like these collections that we pay for through our tax dollars are only accessible to the quite-comfortably-off.

Is $15 for the Renoir exhibit also too pricey?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

$15 for Renoir isn't so bad, but it's still high enough to be discouraging, to make me start doing the arithmetic for entertainment-vs-food and decide the sacrifice is too much to be worth it. I think I'd accept $10 comfortably enough and without complaint. It's not so much a matter of whether the exhibit is "worth it" (both are essentially invaluable) but the level of sacrifice it entails in budgeting to be able to see it.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

If I read this correctly:
http://www.civilization.ca/visit/cmcbillete.asp

You should be able to go to China alone for $10 or the museum + China for $15.

Or is this misleading?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Hmm - that isn't the page I was reading, which was different. This does imply that I could get into the Chinese exhibit for $10, which would be feasible and acceptable. I find their prices a little confusing!

[raissad.livejournal.com]

That's adorable!

Btw, the omnibus version of the DW animated adventure is now available in five parts (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Doctor+Who+Infinite+Quest+%28full%29&search=Search).

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Good! It will be fun to see it all together.

DW S3 Concept Art

[raissad.livejournal.com]

...from the official site (http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/gallery/concept_2007/index.shtml).

Re: DW S3 Concept Art

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Fascinating! Thanks so much.

My favourite: the stopwatch that isn't a watch.

Love the Valiant designs, too.

Re: DW S3 Concept Art

[raissad.livejournal.com]

I love all the Gallifrey-related designs. I also think the original Empress of the Racnoss design is better than what we got. The spider bridal wear would have been apt, considering that male spiders usually die or get eaten by the females. Speaking of the Empress, did you get a chance to read my fic, Royal Blue, yet?

Re: DW S3 Concept Art

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes - enjoyed it very much.