The rise of the “free economy” that Chris Anderson lauded in his book Free: The Future of a Radical Price (read Cory Doctorow’s astute review of the book’s arguments in the Guardian here) takes on an entirely different, and far less celebratory, meaning when applied to the work of artists, critics, curators, arts administrators and other low-paid (or no-paid) culture workers today. A newly launched newspaper called Art Work is attempting to lay bare hard truths about the flailing economy’s impact on cultural production. Finally, people are starting to talk about money, explicitly and on personal terms. Or at least, they’re trying to. Read more

Kelly Crow with the Wall Street Journal kicks off the new Weekly full color arts coverage in WSJ magazine with “Out Size Art” an article that explores the influence that the recession has on consumers desire to invest in large-scale art installation pieces. As buyers scale back, large pieces are the first to go asking are they more of a headache then a dramatic statement.

Ernesto Neto’s “Mother Body Emotional Densities, for Alive Temple Time Baby Son” (2007)

Further on Christopher’s post from this morning, here’s more info on the Art Institute layoffs, from the Chicago Tribune:

“The Art Institute of Chicago has laid off 22 employees, or 3 percent of its staff, as part of a larger series of cost-cutting measures.

Spokeswoman Erin Hogan said Friday that the cuts were made across the board and take effect immediately. Employees were notified Thursday.

“Of course we did everything we could to not go to this point,” Hogan said. “All departments have for months been reducing their operating budgets.”

Hogan added that new Modern Wing, which opened last month, “has been incredibly successful and it’s in part due to the success of the building that the cuts were not deeper.”

In a statement issued Friday, the Art Institute said its other cost-cutting measures include a voluntary 10 percent pay cut for the director, a weeklong unpaid furlough for employees and a salary freeze. Public research hours at the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries will also be reduced, the statement said.”

On this weeks roundup we check out the conservation of contemporary art, AFC’s recap of Venice and Basel, and most importantly cats getting stoned via boing boing. Hope everyone has a great weekend and maybe well see you at galleries tonight.

• Paddy Johnson’s recap of this years Art Basel and Venice Biennale. It didn’t sound like we missed much.
• Ed Winkleman’s post on starting a commercial art gallery in a poor economy.
• “Millennium Park’s tradition of dazzling and delayed public art goes on“
• Becky Smith is closing Bellweather in New York after 10 years.
  
• Art 21 has a great post by Richard McCoy about the the conservation of contemporary art.
• Turner Prize winner Steve McQueen will be showing his Deadpan in Times Square.
• Dieter Rams on Plural Blog
  
• “Judge Slams MoMA, Guggenheim on Secret Holocaust Art Agreement.” That doesn’t sound good.
• Offworld has a sneak peak at a follow up to my favorite Iphone game Rolando 2!!!
  

We just heard that The Art Institute of Chicago has laid of a good many of it’s employees today and there will be a town-hall tomorrow where other cost saving measures will be announced.

To those who lost their jobs today, be sure to thank Alderman Burke…..

Office: 773-471-1414
eburke@cityofchicago.org

On behalf of everyone at Bad at Sports we know very well what this is like and hope everyone lands on their feet as quickly as this economy will allow.