Victoria

Artists, demonstrators shed their clothes at Saanich's Gyro Park.  “Seven artists and demonstrators shed their clothes on a Saanich beach Sunday, in recognition of the new year and to underscore the vulnerability of humans in a dangerous time.” Times Colonist, January 3, 2012

Kamloops

Emily Carr film rescreened “Kamloops Art Gallery presents the film Winds of Heaven: Emily Carr, Carvers and the Spirits of the Forest on January 5^th.  The free presentation is a second screening after the first one, held in December, was cut short by a technical difficulty.”  Kamloops Daily News, January 4, 2012

Calgary

It's not their first rodeo. The High Performance Rodeo, Calgary's International Festival of the Arts, runs Thursday through Jan. 28, and includes works by performance artist, Laurie Anderson.  Calgary Herald, January 3, 2012

Edmonton

Festival satisfies burning desire to heat up dark winter nights.  “At the event, each artist has a day and a half to build a sculpture with materials such as straw, dried twigs, twine and willow branches… it must [then] ignite in a giant whoosh, surprise viewers a few moments later with a secondary ignition, then entice when it's just coals and embers.” Edmonton Journal, January 4, 2012

Toronto

Life after the plague. “Sometimes, simple is best. That was the quiet, relieving sense I had coming to the Power Plant’s “Coming After,” which appeared to have set for itself the monolithic task — not to mention socially, politically and emotionally fraught — of cohering the state of gay art made a generation after the AIDS crisis.” Toronto Star, January 4, 2012

Art project a boon for teen. The art gallery at Delisle Youth Services has become a beacon for the celebration of youth and their talents, said executive director Margaret Campbell. “It’s all about youth finding their strengths . . . to keep moving forward.” Toronto Star, January 3, 2012

From art to adventure “Chagall or not, the Art Gallery of Ontario is worth a visit. Famously redesigned by renowned architect and Toronto native Frank Gehry, it features a striking glass facade and contemporary interior with serpentine staircases.”  Detroit News, January 3, 2012

Ottawa

Vessel connected to B.C. not unique after all.  “It was hailed a year ago by Heritage Minister James Moore as a "unique" work of art with deep connections to B.C. history. The historical link remains, but it turns out the "Ptarmigan Vase" isn't a one-of-a-kind treasure.”  Vancouver Sun, January 4, 2012

Museum of Civilization acquires historic painting of the Terror.  The museum purchased the watercolour by 19th-century British Arctic explorer and artist Admiral Sir George Back for $60,000 at auction in September and this week put it on display in the Special Exhibitions Corridor. Ottawa Citizen, January 3, 2012

Canada

Leah Sandals’ Top 3: The Institution, Reframed. “For Sandals, art's institutions (and their troubles) are what stood out during 2011.” Canadian Art (online), January 4, 2012

London

David Hockney Takes A Public Dig At Damien Hirst "A small note on the posters for David Hockney's forthcoming exhibition at the Royal Academy contains a sly dig at another superstar artist about to launch a major exhibition. The note reads: 'All the works here were made by the artist himself, personally'." The Guardian (UK) January 3, 2012

Hockney's Potshot At Hirst - Maybe He's Got A Point - Hockney notes that in his forthcoming show at the Royal Academy “all the works were made by the artist himself, personally” he is teasing a younger artist who probably deserves it and can certainly take it.  The Telegraph (UK) January 3, 2012

Paris

Clash Over Restoration of Leonardo’s ‘Virgin and Child’ A battle is raging over the restoration Leonardo da Vinci’s “Virgin and Child With Saint Anne,” pitting the Louvre against those who believe that the cleaning has been too aggressive.  New York Times, January 4, 2012

Draguignan, France

Ronald Searle, British Cartoonist, Dies at 91.  The British cartoonist and caricaturist whose outlandishly witty illustrations for books, magazine covers, newspaper editorial pages and advertisements helped define postwar graphic humor, died on Friday in Draguignan, in southeastern France, where he lived.  New York Times, January 4, 2012

Istanbul

A colourful history of Finnish design on display A traveling exhibition documenting the 60-year history of Finnish design company Marimekko is currently on display at Milli Reasürans Art Gallery in İstanbul’s Teşvikiye district.  Today’s Zaman, January 4, 2012