Art News. Vasari Codex

article local schedule May 17, 2026 visibility 7 link 5 artists, 1 gallery

A skateboarder’s lament: the dismantling of San Francisco’s iconic and divisive fountain

San Francisco's Vaillancourt Fountain, a controversial concrete sculpture and centerpiece of Embarcadero Plaza since 1971, caught fire during its dismantling in early May 2025 after the city voted to potentially replace it with a grassy park. Designed by artist Armand Vaillancourt, the fountain was a landmark for the city's skateboarding scene in the 1980s and 1990s, but fell into disrepair and became a flashpoint in debates over modernist public art. The removal, costing $4 million for storage and assessment, was mourned by skateboarders and preservationists who saw it as a loss of cultural and architectural heritage.

newspaper The Guardian open_in_new Read original

article local schedule May 13, 2026 visibility 8 link 6 artists, 1 gallery

Memorial Art Gallery raises $9 million to make admission free in 2027

The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) at the University of Rochester has raised over $9 million through its "Free for All, Forever" fundraising initiative, surpassing its original goal and timeline. The museum will now open its doors free of charge to all visitors sometime in 2027, much sooner than anticipated. Key donors include Alexander and Lucy Levitan, who contributed a $1 million capstone gift; Doug and Abby Bennett and the Sands Family Foundation, who gave a $3 million leadership gift; and Mary Ellen Burris, who donated $2 million. The announcement was celebrated at MAG's Flourish For All, Forever gala on May 9, 2026.

newspaper University of Rochester open_in_new Read original

article local schedule May 16, 2026 visibility 9 link 5 artists

Il fotoreport Andy Rocchelli morto nel Donbass nel 2014 ha un giardino a lui dedicato a Pavia

On May 24, the Collegio Ghislieri in Pavia inaugurated the Giardino della Ricerca, a garden dedicated to photojournalist Andy Rocchelli, who was killed in 2014 in the Donbas region of Ukraine alongside human rights activist Andrei Mironov. The garden, opened on the twelfth anniversary of his death, features a commemorative plaque and includes speeches by Gherardo Colombo and Michele Serra, as well as a podcast by Agostino Zappia and Enrico Rotondi. Italian courts have ruled that Rocchelli and Mironov were killed by Ukrainian army fire, but no one has been convicted.

newspaper Artribune open_in_new Read original

article local schedule May 18, 2026 visibility 5 link 3 artists

Art, research, and Night at the Museum: The flourishing partnership between UC Santa Cruz Humanities and the Museum of Art and History - UC Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz Humanities and the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) have deepened their decade-long partnership, marked by the MAH's 30th anniversary in April 2025. The collaboration includes co-sponsored exhibitions like "This is Thirty" and the ongoing "Night at the Museum" public event series, which brings scholars, artists, and community members together for free panel discussions and exhibits. Notable past projects include the 2016 Kinsey African American Art & History Collection exhibition and the 2023 California premiere of "Resettlement: Chicago Story."

newspaper News open_in_new Read original

article local schedule May 14, 2026 visibility 10 link 1 gallery

Clark Art Invites People With Dementia, Caregivers for Gallery Talk

The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, is launching a free gallery talk program called Meet Me at the Clark on May 18, designed specifically for people living with dementia and their care partners. The tours take place on select Mondays from 1–4 pm when the museum is closed to the public, offering private access to the galleries with specially trained educators leading guided, open-ended conversations about art.

newspaper iBerkshires.com open_in_new Read original

article local schedule May 17, 2026 visibility 9 link 2 artists, 3 galleries

No Regrets: Artists Decide To Sell Buffalo’s Legendary Hitching Post Gallery

Father-and-son artists William and Hugh Jennings have closed the Hitching Post Gallery in Buffalo, Wyoming, after 30 years of operation. The gallery, which opened in November 1993 on Main Street, was a longstanding fixture in the community, showcasing works from many area artists alongside gifts, books, and tobacco products. William stepped away about seven years ago, and Hugh recently decided to retire, locking the doors for the last time at the beginning of May. Hugh expressed no regrets, saying he wanted to focus more on his own art.

newspaper Cowboy State Daily open_in_new Read original

article local schedule May 17, 2026 visibility 7 link 2 artists, 3 galleries

Medium Art Center Celebrates Five Year Anniversary

Medium Art Center in Ukiah, California, celebrates its five-year anniversary. Founded during the pandemic by a small team of local artists and community members including Chris Pugh and Lillian Rubie, the center began as an online exhibition series called "Dear America" before securing a vacant storefront at the Pear Tree Center in 2021. Run entirely by volunteers for its first three years, the center has hosted in-person exhibits, traditional Chinese brush painting workshops with artist William Shi, and outreach programs to support local artists. Recently, it received a grant from the RISE program administered through Redwood Coast Regional Center to support people with disabilities or neurodivergence.

newspaper Fort Bragg Advocate-News open_in_new Read original

article local schedule May 15, 2026 source 2 sources visibility 6 link 2 artists

Arts Foundation of Cape Cod offers grants for artists

The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod is now accepting applications for its annual grant program, which funds arts-related projects across Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. Applications must be submitted by May 29, and the program is open to both individual artists and organizations, with a focus on innovative projects that increase access to the arts and enhance community engagement.

newspaper AOL.com open_in_new Read original