New York contemporary art collectors Dorothy and Herbert Vogel plan to give away 50 works to major institutions in each of the 50 states - a total of 2,500 pieces. In Ohio, they've chosen to make their donations to the Akron Art Museum. The gift includes works by American artists Lynda Benglis, Jene Highstein, Robert Mangold, Nam Jun Paik, Richard Tuttle, Raymond Parker and 20 others. "The Vogels don't have lots of money," says Akron Art Museum Director of Curatorial Affairs Barbara Tannenbaum. But "on their combined salaries as an employee of the U.S. Postal Service and a librarian, the couple managed to amass a provocative, intelligent and significant art collection. And now, they are generously giving it to all of us." The National Endowment for the Arts is funding the publication of a book, The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection: Fifty Works for Fifty States, scheduled for release in November.
If you're looking to acquire some art, you might visit SPACES during regular gallery hours on Tuesdays through November 1, when the gallery offers a preview of its Annual Silent Auction. There are works by local, national and international artists who have donated pieces to help raise money at the benefit event, which takes place November 1. For information or tickets, call 216.621.2314 or go to spacesgallery.org.
A PlayhouseSquare survey found that customers like a good deal on performing arts tickets. Really? As result, they're continuing the Smart Seats program, which in the 2008-09 season will offer more than 25,000 tickets for just $10 each. In fact, most PlayhouseSquare shows will offer tickets at that price. Of course, that doesn't include handling fees, but come on - 10 bucks! To check availability, go to PlayhouseSquare.org/SmartSeats.
Due to a sloppy note in the editing process last week, our print edition story on the creation of Michael Tisdale's play Goldstar, Ohio (now on stage at Cleveland Public Theatre) made an incorrect connection between a funeral service for his father and a memorial for fallen veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rather than saying that he hated the coincidence, it should have read that he marked the coincidence. We regret the error. See our review in this issue. - Michael Gill