Literatest. That’s us. Minneapolis surpassed Seattle as America’s most literate city, according to new research by Central Connecticut State University president, Jack Miller. St. Paul comes in third in the study based on factors including newspaper circulation, internet access, and the number of bookstores, publishers and libraries. Balm for democracy. Aftershave, too. Greg.org highlights “1600 for Men,” a…

The process leading to a new building — particularly when that building is home to a major arts institution — is anything but slapdash. Just ask the people who spearheaded the massive capital campaigns and selection of architects that led to the new Walker, Guthrie and Minneapolis Institute of Art buildings. That’s why I’m baffled with the crux of a New York Times story today about handwringing over…

I have to say that I was a bit embarrassed to run out to Fifth Element the second school let out, just to cop the follow up to a somewhat boring and all around Faux-Epic Food and Liquor. The Cool has gotten good reviews, but if you are thinking of buying the album, know this: The Cool‘s theme is loose- it is a concept album based around a ‘story’ of the child from his previously released song, He Say…

These are not counterfeits intended to deceive. No one is fooled into thinking the Van Gogh painting they just bought is painted by Van Gogh. Rather the fake is like a reproduced poster of Van Gogh. But since it has been painted by hand, often with gusto and intelligence, it is much more interesting than a duplication of the original. It is an original reproduction. It is a hyperfake.

Now I know I haven’t written any movie scripts myself… lately. But I fail to be impressed by Juno, sure I chuckled few times, maybe even slapped a knee or two, but I just don’t see what all the hype’s about. I love my town as much as the next person, that means I think it’s alright, from time to time I’ll say ‘yeah, I live in Minneapolis’ or whatever. My favorite part about living here is how bonkers…

Devon Fox of Wheat Ridge, Colo., appears qualified for any number of jobs — travel agent, the director of an upper Midwestern tourism bureau, or perhaps he’ll be the focus of a bidding war between the Walker and Guthrie Theater to land his services as a publicist. Devon has time to make his decision — he’s 10 years old. Our assessment of his career prospects comes after his fan letter reached us by email…

A poster (far left) for the Guggenheim’s exhibition Richard Prince: Spiritual America (Marilynn K. Yee/The New York Times) and Jim Krantz’s 1997 photograph “Stretchin’ Out,” taken for a Marlboro ad. CultureGrrl has an intriguing post (Headline: Chicago’s Faux “Faun” Inspires Faux Journalism) updating the fake Gauguin brouhaha that spurred a slight tangentfrom me Wednesday. Thank you, CultureGrrl, for kicking the…

Tyler Green breaks news this morning on his Modern Art News blog that the Art Institute of Chicago has concluded that a Paul Gauguin sculpture in the museum’s collection, The Faun (c1888), isn’t from Gauguin at all, but from the so-called Greenhalgh Forgery Gang (aka The Bolton Forgers) — apparently fine art’s equivalent to the Legion of Doom. What I find most striking is that anyone would go through…

Since 1994, the Walker Art Center has been the innovative leader in teen programming, providing cultural institutions around the world with a successful model for engaging teenagers. The mission of Teen Programs is to connect teenagers to contemporary art and artists. The Walker was the first art museum in the country to devote full-time staff to working with and building teen audiences. Admission…