Since the New York Times opened its complete archive on the web (previously it was only available as a web subscription), many people have been scouring the site for interesting history.
The first mention of Picasso comes on May 19, 1912, with this:
…it is to be regretted that this unquestionably talented artist, who is practically unknown [...]

Beautiful street art in Moscow and Brazil (not sure where). From Funny Picture Crazy.
Brasilian street art
and
Moscow street art

I read a New Yorker story recently about the cult of Leica cameras. Some of the most famous photographs in history have been taken with Leica’s, and photographers love them. But at $4,000+ a pop, you’d better really love it, and you’d hope it takes a great photo.
…as the camera has evolved over [...]

In the late ’80s, Czechoslovakia became a democratic state, and in 1993 peacefully separated into two countries – the Czech Republic and Slovakia. With democracy came capitalism and advertising, and with capitalism and advertising came The Hypermarket. Hypermarkets are the world’s superstores, selling shoes and spinach, pipe wrenches and pumpkins, all you would [...]

Montreal artist Cesar Saez is creating a 300 meter banana, with a bamboo skeleton and helium bladders, which he intends to launch into geostationary orbit over Texas. It is launching from Baja, Mexico. It will appear in the sky 10-20% the size of the moon.
Just to be clear, 300 meters is over twice [...]

I went to an afternoon of flat track roller derby, and even though it’s a sport, I could care less who won or lost. A lot of us were there to be entertained. Roller derby is dramatic and theatrical. Lots of players and whole teams have strong characters (whether real or mythical), [...]

5 Pointz has been mentioned in lots of places this year, but that’s ok, it’s good people hear about it.
5 Pointz is a graffiti museum and legal painting space in Queens. The building is a many story warehouse covered on all sides, ground to roof, with art by graffiti artists. Artists live in [...]

I’ve been trying to learn Japanese this year. I’m making progress but it’s definitely slow. While I took Spanish in high school, my brain didn’t shift the way it is now. As I started to write and learn these brand new characters, I started noticing all the things I take for granted, [...]

This is an excellent show, with beautiful cinematography and a very smart, passionate look at the people behind some of the greatest art in history. Episodes look at the lives of Van Gogh, Picasso, Caravaggio, Bernini, Rembrandt, Turner and Rothko.
More on the Power of Art site.
It’s airing on PBS now (schedule is on the [...]

International art collectors are warming up to a new breed of daring Japanese artists that are no longer beholden to Western styles.
Mentioned in the article is a Contemporary Arts Fund. I’m not sure how well known this is, but there are funds (like mutual funds) created by financial organizations that own artwork instead of [...]

For the past few months, 12 7-Elevens in the United States were converted to real life Kwik-E-Marts, the very 7-Eleven-like stores featured in The Simpsons. The 12 stores have outsides changed to Kwik-E-Mart logos and colors, staff inside wears Kwik-E-Mart shirts, and the store sells Squishees, Buzz Cola, Krusty-O’s and pink doughnuts.
Before this actually [...]

I loved the multi-story slides at the Tate Modern in London. I figured they were art (being an art museum and all), but I didn’t learn until later that they were sadly only temporary.
The slides were created by German artist Carsten Höller.

Learn more from Tate Modern.