Reposted from WLM Advisors

by Hayley Miner

Google Art Project – virtual art viewing of inventory of the world’s great galleries and museums. You can “walk around” MOMA and view Seurat’s painting up close or Bruegel’s 16th century painting “The Harvesters” at the MET.

L.A. Arts Month is over. Art L.A. Contemporary closed on Sunday to a successful run at the Barker Hangar. The live programming of performance art & musical performances set this fair apart from all the other ones. Most lively and amusing was Marnie Weber’s ragtag monsters writhing about in the aisles. The Walead Beshty talk and other panel discussions at the fair also elevated the experience of art viewing.

Kenny Scharf’s mural in the Bowery was defaced by graffiti bombers. Now, there are surveillance cameras installed by real-estate mogul Tony Goldman who owns the wall. Scharf has since done touch-ups to the mural.

“Ode to Happiness” – an artist’s book created by painter Alexandra Grant and actor Keanu Reeves. They are giving a talk about their collaboration and the ideas of translation and friendship that inspired the book – Feb 13 at 4pm at LACMA.

Laura Owens (MFA Cal Arts 94′) is giving a talk at the Hammer Museum’s Billy Wilder Theater on Thursday, Feb. 3rd.

Regen Projects presents John Bock. Opening reception Feb 5, Saturday.

Lynda Benglis opens at New Museum of Contemporary Art on Feb 9, 2011. A major exhibition of her works. Her first museum retrospective in over 20 years.

Jedediah Caesar and Elke Krystufek opens at Susanne Vielmetter L.A. Projects Feb 5.

Larry Fink opens at LACMA on Feb 13. Fink, a society photographer who did shoots for Vanity Fair from 2000 to 2009.

A massive 3000 sq-ft ad for YSL’s “Parisienne” perfume with Kate Moss is now draped over the Musee d’Orsay. A decade ago, this is unheard of but with our economic climate, museums need to find creative ways to cover costs for renovations, like the d’Orsay, or other projects.

James Franco is everywhere these days. Latest project: teaching a class on creating a documentary about Franco called “Master Class: Editing James Franco…with James Franco”, taught by his friend Tyler Danna at Columbia College Hollowood. What’s next for this multi-talented indefatigable wonder boy?