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Fla. Artist Smashes $1M Vase in Miami Museum

“Fla. Artist Smashes $1M Vase in Miami Museum”

by Curt Anderson via “ABC News”

“A South Florida artist is facing a criminal charge after police say he smashed a $1 million vase at Miami’s new art museum in what appears to be a form of protest.

Maximo Caminero, 51, was charged with criminal mischief after Sunday’s incident at the Perez Art Museum Miami. According to a Miami Police Department arrest affidavit, a security guard told officers that Caminero picked up a colored vase by Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei. When told to put it down, the security guard said Caminero smashed it on the floor.

A police affidavit says Caminero told officers he broke the vase to protest the museum’s lack of local artist displays. Caminero, a painter who lives in Miami, declined comment when reached by telephone Monday. He said he will have an afternoon news conference Tuesday. . . . .”

“Detroit Needs Money. Can A ‘Grand Bargain’ Save The City’s Art?”

“Detroit Needs Money. Can A ‘Grand Bargain’ Save The City’s Art?”

by Elizabeth Blair via “NPR”

“Can wealthy art lovers help save Detroit’s pension funds — and one of its museums?

The city is struggling to find ways to emerge from bankruptcy. One idea: sell the city’s art to save the pensions of city retirees. The Detroit Institute of Arts, or DIA, has faced serious financial difficulties over the years, and yet it holds the city’s most valuable assets: a world-class art collection that includes works by Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Matisse. Estimates vary, but Christie’s recently appraised these works at more than $850 million.

Because some of those masterpieces were bought with city funds, they could be auctioned off to pay creditors. “It’s the only source of money that exists in the city of Detroit,” philanthropist Paul Schaap says flatly.  . . . .”

 

Rockfall Destroys 300 year old Italian Farmhouse

“Incredible Video Shows How Boulders Demolished a 300-Year-Old Italian Farmhouse”

“Incredible Video Shows How Boulders Demolished a 300-Year-Old Italian Farmhouse”

Via Yahoo News

“Miraculously, no one was injured when three enormous boulders rolled down a hill and leveled a 300-year old house in Tramin, Northern Italy.

Drone footage captured the aftermath of the 4,000-cubic-meter rock fall. Two boulders leveled the barn, and then a third stopped just short of the living quarters and a car parked outside, sparing those inside.

It is believed that a rock tower that crumbled caused the accident. The property, which lies below a cliff, is owned by the Servite order of the Catholic Church. Philipp von Hohenbühel, who runs the Freisingerhof estate, estimates to Südtirol News that the boulders caused millions of dollars in damage.”