– The VIP List: Imprisoned international cause célèbre Ai Weiwei is the sole fine artist named to Time magazine's annual 100-person power list, but there's a slew of other cultural figures in there. Here goes: actors Amy Poehler, Colin Firth, "Jane Eyre"'s Mia Wasikowska, Mark Wahlberg, Chris Colfer (of "Glee"), Blake Lively, and Matt Damon; musicians Patti Smith, Justin Bieber, (Korean pop sensation) Rain, Bruno Mars, Sting, and Tunisian rapper El Général (whose "Rais Lebled" was the anthem of Tahrir Square); filmmakers John Lasseter (of Pixar), Matthew Weiner (of "Mad Men"), producer Scott Rudin, and Rebecca Eaton (of "Masterpiece Theater"); novelists Jennifer Egan, Jonathan Franzen, and George R.R. Martin (of "Game of Thrones" books); designer Tom Ford; and Angry Birds creator Peter Vesterbacka, because face it, it's art. [Time]

– David Bowie Gets Museum Show: Ziggy Stardust himself will be the focus of an exhibition at New York's Museum of Arts and Design,
to open on May 9th. It'll be called "David Bowie, Artist," because he's
more than just a musician, you know: "From his roots in such
performance-based practices as cabaret, mime, and avant-garde theater,
to Ziggy Stardust, his revolutionary tour that synthesized theater,
music, and contemporary art into a rock spectacle, as well as his
innovative video collaborations, and his work in cinema and theater, 'David Bowie, Artist' presents Bowie as one of the most iconoclastic
cultural producers of the 20th century," the museum has announced.
[Press Release]

– Ned Rifkin Resigns as Blanton Director: On May 31, he will step down from his post of
director of the Blanton Museum of Art — which he has held only since May
2009 — and will turn his attention to teaching and scholarly work at
the University of Texas at Austin. "Much as I will miss working with the
outstanding staff at the Blanton, I believe my eagerness to teach more
and my desire to pursue meaningful research on a variety of topics will
better suit me," Rifkin says. Prior to joining the museum he was the Smithsonian's undersecretary for art. Simone Wicha, the museum's deputy director of external
affairs and operations, will fill the position of director on June 1.
[Press Release] 

– Hans Peter Feldmann Makes It Rain: The winner of the Guggenheim's 2010 Hugo Boss Prize
has decided to use his $100,000 award to cover the walls of a gallery
in the museum with $1 bills. "I'm 70 years old, and I began making art
in the '50s," Feldmann told New York Times nuncio Carol Vogel. "At that
time there was no money in the art world. Money and art didn't exist. So
for me, $100,000 is very special, it's incredible, really. And I would
like to show the quantity of it." It sounds amazing. (Read Feldmann discussing his art here.) [NYT] 

View Slideshow:

– Lincoln Center's Green Art: Well, not exactly art, but a lot of grass. Apparently the Lincoln Center performing arts complex is putting a lot of "love and care" into its 7,203-foot lawn — designed by Diller Scofidio + Refro
— even employing the services of a turf grass scientist (aka the "lawn
guru" or "Dr. Turf") to take care of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination
Lawn of tall fescue mixed with Kentucky bluegrass. [NYT]

– Beck's Beer Art: The German beverage has fostered its artsy
side over the past 25 years through fancy labels, and even longer if you
count the brewers' decision to go with a green, rather than brown,
bottle back in 1874. Now, Beck is loading London pubs with art by Tracey Emin, Jeff Koons, Tony Oursler,
and others, for patrons to enjoy as they sip cold frosty ones on the
annual Art Crawl. Also, design students can compete to create labels for
Beck's that will be shown on the walls of the collaborating bars. [Dazed]

– Marilyn Monroe, Before She Was Famous: Photos and letters from the time Norma Jeane Baker
spent as a morose teenage bride on Catalina island are on view in "Before
She Was Marilyn" alongside the show "Yesterday and Today: The Beatles
and Eric Clapton as Photographed by Pattie Body" at the Catalina Island Museum. [LAT]

– Hauser & Wirth Appoints Sales Director for Asia: The international gallery has assigned Sharmistha Ray, who will be based in Mumbai and New York, to the role, their first appointment exclusively dedicated to Asia. [Press Release]

– Guggenheim Foundation Appointments: Guggenheim Museum director Richard Armstrong has announced that Catherine Carver Dunn
will assume the role of deputy director, advancement — a new position
at the foundation that will be in charge of directing the capital
campaign as well as the global individual-development program, and
organizing special events as of July 1. Meanwhile, John L. Wielk
will become deputy director of corporate and institutional development.
Both Dunn and Wielk will join the Guggenheim's executive cabinet and
will report to Armstrong. [Press Release]

– Clark Art Curator Knighted: The Massachusetts museum's Richard Rand
was presented with the Chevalier award by France's consul general in
Boston in recognition of his scholarship on French art. "Mr. Rand's
achievements have not gone unnoticed by the French government," the
consul said. "France is very honored to have such a friend." Wow. [iBerkshires.com]