Cool: If you don’t have plans tonight, go down to EMP to hear what I think sounds like a great discussion panel on the evolution of taste in the 20th century. It’s moderated by Stephanie Stebich of the Tacoma Art Museum and features groovy-haired gallerist Jim Harris, free-associator extraordinaire Regina Hackett of the P-I, collector Barney Ebsworth, and Sotheby’s contemporary-art head Tobias Meyer (of the recent glowing New Yorker review that the magazine was slapped on by bloggers who said the mag should cover artists instead of auctioneers). The talk is free.

Bogus 1: You can walk on Maya Lin’s great big bump at the Henry again this Thursday, from 5 to 7 pm, if you sign a waiver and wear special provided footwear. Lame, but probably better than squeezing around its edges. They aren’t taking advance reservations, only opening the doors at 9:30 am for the signup. It’ll be like Wal-Mart the day after Thanksgiving! Or a Star Wars prequel!

Bogus 2: This from a press release I got earlier this week from the Museum of Glass in Tacoma:

Press Conference: Chihuly in Tacoma
Wednesday, June 7, 2006
11 — 11:30 a.m.
Museum of Glass, Hot Shop Amphitheater
Tacoma, Wash. (May 31, 2006)— Members of the media are invited to the Museum of Glass Hot Shop for a brief press conference to introduce the upcoming Chihuly in Tacoma event, a tribute by Dale Chihuly to his hometown. Scheduled for August 8 — 13, 2006, Chihuly in Tacoma encompasses a number of special events and activities in the Tacoma Museum District, including Chihuly’s participation in the Museum of Glass’ Visiting Artist Summer Series. Chihuly will work with teams of well-known artists demonstrating several of his signature glass series for Museum visitors. Tacoma Art Museum, William Traver Gallery and other institutions will feature related exhibitions, programs and events. Chihuly in Tacoma coincides with the tenth anniversary celebration of the Washington State History Museum.

Speakers at the press conference include:
· Dale Chihuly
· Mayor Bill Baarsma, City of Tacoma
· Tim Close, Director, Museum of Glass

A question and answer session will follow. Along with the speakers, representatives from the Tacoma Art Museum, Washington State History Museum, William Traver Gallery and other organizations will be available for questions, interviews and photo-ops.

So, what exactly is the “news” that will be shared at this press conference? And what exactly is this “Chihuly in Tacoma” event, other than that he’s coming to work in the museum’s hot shop for a few days, which he has done before, and that a bunch of places are going to be showing his work, which they already are (you can not throw a rock in Tacoma without threatening some Chihuly glass)? What exactly is the artistic content here? If this is the first initiative of the museum’s new director, Timothy Close, I’m unimpressed. I hope instead that it was planned before he got here, since he’s the one many of us are relying on to help clarify what on earth that museum intends to do with itself.