Here is a visual breakdown (view image full size) of key indices in relation to the state of violence, oil production, death rate, phone subscriptions, prison population & most interestingly the electricity production.

The most interesting measurement is when you compare to pre-war states, especially the electricity output.

Read more here

New York Magazine has published their “Best in Art 07″ with their choices for the top shows in 10 different categories as well as Best Debut and Failure.

Debatable highlights include:

Best Show: Matthew Barney’s performance with Dog, Band, Bull, Urine & ’67 Chrysler

Freshest Century-Old Painting: Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon turned 100

Best New Scene: The Lower East Side Gallery District aka the last cheap place in Manhattan for real estate

Read them all here and let the argument begin.

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Special Correspondent Tony Fitzpatrick interviews Time Out Chicago’s Ruth Lopez about just about everything. It’s an engaging and insightful conversation. Duncan and Richard chime in now and again.

The show closes with further proof that if there is an obscure musical tidbit in Tony’s past, we can find it.

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The Art Newspaper has released it’s annual report of US Museum acquisitions. You can read a complete list broken down by location here. For Chicago here are the 2006 purchases for the Art Institute & (not listed in the article) MCA.

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
-Fang reliquary head, Gabon, mid to late 19th century,
wood and copper, P.

-Triiptych icon with central image of the Virgin and Child,
Lasta, Ethiopia, late 17th century, reign of Iyassu I (1682-
1706), tempera on linen, mounted on wood and bound
with cord, P.

-Tiffany Studios, designed by Clara Driscoll, hanging head
Dragonfly lamp on mosaic and turtleback-tile base, around
1906, G and P.

-Couch-bed, China, late Ming to early Qing dynasty, 17th
century, huanghuali wood with woven mat seat, P.

-Jeff Koons,Woman in Tub, 1988, porcelain, partial and
promised G of Stefan T. Edlis Trust.

-Salvador Dalí, Venus de Milo with Drawers, 1936, plaster,
metal knobs and fur drawers, G of Mrs Gilbert W. Chapman.

-Nan Goldin, The Ballad of Sexual Dependency, 1981-87,
slideshow, P.
-Fireman’s coat, Japan, Early Meiji period (1868-1912),
late 19th century, cotton, plain weave, quilted and painted,
G of the James Tigerman Estate.

Museum of Contemporary Art

Bey, Dawoud Carrie II	Cattelan, Maurizio Felix
Elmgreen and Dragset, Short Cut	Lockhart, Sharon On Kawara: Whole and Parts, 1964 – 95, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, January 24 – April 5, 1998
Mik, Aernout Refraction	Neshat, Shirin Turbulent
Schutte, Thomas Ganz Grosse Geister (Big Spirits XL)	Stingel, Rudolf Untitled
Tan, Fiona Correction

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In this episode Bad at Sports welcomes guest reviewers: Boston up-and-comer Liz Nofziger and Columbia College Chicago’s Neysa Page-Lieberman. They join Bad at Sports locals Terri Griffith, Serena Worthington, Joanna Topor, and Duncan MacKenzie as we shake up and shake down shows in the West Loop. Tune in as they struggle with Gescheidle’s two new shows–Drew Beattie and Chris Verene–whose name Duncan butchers repeatedly; GARDENFresh’s first show in their new digs; and Gallery 40000’s two new offerings, Thomas Rapai and Amy Vogel. All that, and Brian Andrews talks politics and art!

ALSO A BRAND NEW CONTEST: The first Bad at Sports Essay Contest is announced in the outro this week. We need you to write a speculative essay of 100 words or less on why Edward Lifson dislikes us. These can be as speculative and fictitious as possible. The winner will have their essay read on the air by Book Guru Terry Griffith!!!

On that note don’t forget to e-mail Hello Beautiful and tell them about our project!!! HelloBeautiful@ChicagoPublicRadio.org

ALSO you can contact them via the following (lifted from their site)

Whether you’re an artist or enthusiast, musician or muse, Chicago Public Radio’s arts desk wants your thoughts on where to go and what to see in Chicagoland. Share your ideas one of two ways:

TheList@ChicagoPublicRadio.org

312.948.4623
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