Spanish artists rig ATM's to spew drachmas. Things are tense everywhere and somehow Greece, the cradle of western civilization is at the top of any attentive person's radar these days. It seems like a full circle civilization question... do people serve the system if the Kantian contract is broken between economies, governments and people? Seems like this Fall will bean social and economic roller coaster. Good that artists are inserting themselves, they are kinda the cartilage of a civilization's body.

Artists and writers creating crosstalk at the Guggenheim... hmmm. Carol Bove is probably the best of this genre at the moment, one where bookshelves are used constantly in installation art (add the extensive use of white if the artist is really gonna run with the cliche). Most writers just use art to an excuse to make words though and the writers who wish they were good artists usually just rip off Carol Bove these days (Bove is better because she isnt just a twee quotidian who makes one or two moves, there is a relationship to Giacometti that is actually more than just namedropping and posturing). Frankly, very few have done anything interesting with shelves on walls since Judd (partly because they weren't actually shelves).

Museums like the Tate are trying to engage and provide more experiences... but I think the real problem is not having enough immersive installation work. Let the Francis Bacon be a great painting (they work fine) and collect some great sensory stimulating installation art if the institution doesn't seem relevant, varied and current enough. Square peg round hole situation. Nice try but its a bit of a band-aide for a more endemic engagement/edifice problem. The art is current but the art market which defines patronage doesn't value experience as much as branded precious objects. It's a problem with Western thinking... best of luck with solving that my museum friends. Participation isn't the answer, promoting concentration and appreciation are and it takes curators who are philosophers not just ingratiator/careerists to do that.

Brian Libby interviewed the architect on his exciting Japanese Garden expansion... read my earlier and very extensive interview with Kengo Kuma if you haven't already.

Have a look at the preview of Portland's newest bridge... I'll have an extensive review when the bridge, transit systems and art are all fully operational in September. Instead of trying to recall archaic designs this bridge looks like it will play its part by being current. For once Portland seems to learned something about itself by not trying to relentlessly out-humble itself when it comes to a major design project. It has much to teach us about buildings and other spaces here.

In case you missed it Art in America magazine is being bought by Art News. The consolidation and retooling seed to focus on the web more answers the question whether the internet will matter to visual art as much as old school print. For me Art in America was always the only major US art magazine worth reading in earnest because it had an old school academic integrity to it. ...Aaaand we know how much the United States values intellectual integrity? Perhaps the retool will be more than a vanity publication?