Marcel Proust Museum Reopens, Art Social Media Experts on the Rise, John Lennon Glasses Go to Auction, and More: Morning Links for July 22, 2024

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THE HEADLINES

IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME. Apart from the recreation of Marcel Proust’s bedroom at Paris’s Musée Carnavalet and from La Villa du temps retrouvé in Cabourg, Normandy, there are in France very few places dedicated to the memory of the French author, famous for writing In Search of Lost Time. The house of his aunt Elisabeth Amiot, which was turned into a museum in the 1970s, has just reopened after a major renovation and extension work, in Illiers-Combray, in the Eure-et-Loir department. In the very first room, a display of rare documents allows visitors to dive into Proust’s life and literary universe, before leading to the writer’s childhood room and that of his aunt. The adjacent building is home to brand-new galleries, reports Beaux Arts. 

THE ART WORLD 3.0. “Museums are addressing a lack of in-house expertise in creating digital content by hiring from a growing pool of social-savvy freelance,” reports Aimee Dawson in The Art Newspaper. Social media can feel like a minefield nowadays, and the art world seems to be fascinated by it. In the past few years, several social media-savvy freelances in the arts have made a name for themselves, launching businesses meant to help the sector improve its online game. Why do museums and institutions have trouble telling their own stories on Instagram or TikTok? Why are they so quick to rely on arts-centric social media consultancies? Is Covid-19 the only reason for a considerably increased focus on social media in the arts? So many questions…

THE DIGEST

Francis Bacon, a designer? An exhibition at the Espace de l’art concret in Mouans-Sartoux, near Nice, looks back at the British painter’s early career, revealing pieces of furniture never before shown to the public. Did he make a name for himself in the field? Did design influence his painting? Art historian and specialist Rebecca Daniels shared her opinion on the matter. [Beaux Arts]

A pair of round blue-tinted glasses given by singer and photo collector John Lennon to a man who was visiting Abbey Road Studios in 1968 are to be auctioned on July 31 at Farleigh Golf Club in Surrey. The item is expected to fetch up to £3,000. A collection of photographs taken at the music recording studios, including some snapped on the day of the photoshoot for The Beatles album cover of the band walking across a zebra crossing, are also for sale. [BBC]

Artist Asher Liftin got the profile treatment from Mateo Sancho Cardiel. Discovered on Instagram, the 25-year-old, whose work appears in the 2012 film ‘Moonrise Kingdom,’ sells paintings to famous clients, including producer David Geffen, or Jan Koum, the founder of WhatsApp. He is also in favor of images created with the help of artificial intelligence. “I was never one of those people who sat down with a pad and a pencil to draw something that came from my imagination,” he said. [EL PAÍS]

The fifth edition of Upstate Art Weekend took place last week on the rolling hills of New York State’s northernmost regions, boasting 145 participants—a long ways up from the 23 it had when the event first launched in 2020. Founded by the curator, fair director and Stoneleaf Retreat artist residency co-founder Helen Toomer, UAW marries institutional participation from mainstays like Dia Beacon and Olana State Historic Site with a wide variety of programming at various galleries, nonprofits and art centers throughout the region. [The Art Newspaper]

Not everyone has the means to visit an art museum, so the LSU Museum of Art brings art to them.That’s been one of the institution’s missions since 2012, when it began its summer Neighborhood Arts Project, which aims to get kids from underserved neighborhood in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, involved in free art activities. However, not all participants are kids. “We’ve been able to connect with senior centers, too,” education manager and public programs manager Callie Smith said. “So, we’re reaching people of all ages.” [The Advocate]

THE KICKER

TOP 10. In less than a week, the Olympic torches will be lit in Paris. The 206 participating countries will then continue an ancient tradition, revived in 1896 by Pierre de Coubertin after a 1500-year pause. This event, attended by 241 athletes, is the starting point for Olivier Margot‘s and Etienne Bonamy‘s book “The Last Heroes – 100 Moments of Olympics Legend” published by Assouline. This new photographic album pays homage to history’s most extraordinary Olympian champions, and chronicles each Olympiad’s most unforgettable moments. From a 1920s American heartthrob swimmer to the famous Black Power podium salute, here are 10 iconic images. [BBC]