A lot went down this week in the weird and wild world of Art. Some things were more scandalous than others, some were just plain wacky—but all of them are worth knowing about. Without further ado:
+ Greek preservation experts cracked open Jesus’ Jerusalem tomb for the first time in centuries. [Art Daily]
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+ German baking products manufacturer Dr. Oetker says it found four artworks in their company collection that may have been looted by the Nazis in World War II. [The Art Newspaper]
+ An art historian thinks she might have found the bed van Gogh famously painted in The Bedroom. [TIME]
+ Dev Hynes, a.k.a., Blood Orange released a new music video for “I Know,” featuring featuring Russian ballet dancer Maria Kochetkova. [Noisey]
+ Philanthropist, millionaire, and collector Eric Smidt donated $25 million to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. [My News LA]
+Somebody spent $22,000 on a naked statue of Donald Trump known as The Emperor Has No Balls. [The Los Angeles Times]
+ Swedish hotel magnate and financier Urs Schwarzenbach received a four-million-dollar fine from Swiss authorities for avoiding import tax after failing to register 200 artworks he had brought into the country. [The Daily Times]
+ A genuine 21st century art form is about to die: Vine was bought out by Twitter in 2012 and it looks they are finally pulling the plug on the shortform video app. [Vine]
+ Pussy Riot released a new music video reacting to trump and celebrating the vagina. [YouTube]
+ This Saturday, a performance at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center came to an abrupt end when an audience member reportedly threw a “powdered substance” into the pit of the orchestra that was later identified as human ashes. [The New York Times]
+ A new theory regarding van Gogh’s ear has emerged in writer Martin Bailey’s new book Studio of the South. Bailey suggests that the painter’s notorious act of self mutilation was set off by the news of his brother’s engagement. [The Telegraph]
+ The LACMA hosted their celebrity ridden Art + Film Gala this weekend and raised $3.6 million. [Variety]
+ Student-led protests erupted outside the Art Institute of Chicago to contest a museum trustee’s complacency in budget cuts to Public Education in Illinois. [Hyperallegeric]
+ Nicki Minaj hung out with Marina Abramović at Fashion Group International’s Night of Stars Gala. [Instagram]
+ Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson hilariously trolled Yoko Ono at her own show with a deep Simpsons reference. [Artnet News]
+ A 6.6-magnitude earthquake hit central Italy this week, destroying much of the Basilica of San Benedetto in Norcia and the 15th century frescoes inside. [CNN]
Did we miss any pressing art world stories? Let us know in the comments below!
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