On July 1, the BBC evening news included a story about Charles Saatchi's donation of his fabled art collection and museum to Great Britain. As the camera portrayed works of gigantic scale and moved through the vast spaces they require, I felt I might be wandering through yet another Carnegie International and began wondering what lay ahead for it and its audience.
Times move on, and things evolve. The International has undergone profound changes since its inception in 1895. When Jack Lane reinstated it in its current large group show format in 1982, I regretted the abandonment of the more highly focused presentations his predecessor had established.
Nevertheless, in the past quarter century some excellent shows have resulted, although at great expense financially, organizationally, and with regard to the sacrifices made by the individual curators who assembled them.
Given today's economic realities and the staggering number of other similar mega shows throughout the world, and given the loss of talent entailed by a system in which a curator sends up one great offering and then goes away (into a presumably happier hunting ground in which his or her career can really develop), the question is whether the underlying premises of this exhibition need to be readjusted once again.
Would the museum be willing to forge something entirely new, and with luck even more prestigious, whatever it might be? I, for one, surely hope so.
Mary Jean Kenton
Grindstone, Pa.
Great story on the Stephen Foster celebration in Lawrenceville (July 11)! We missed it because we were volunteering at the U.S. Women's Open in Oakmont.
However, there is an ongoing celebration of Mr. Foster's life in -- where else -- the Stephen Foster Memorial Theater on Pitt's campus. To the left of the lobby, you will find manuscripts, artifacts including his instruments, explanatory posters, etc., much of which was donated by Josiah Kirby Lilly, a retired president of Eli Lilly, an Indianapolis drug magnate who was a huge Foster fan. It's open to the public, free for self-guided tours, and a minimal charge to have a docent walk you through.
I graduated from Pitt, but only discovered this treasure when I went to Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre's (PICT) presentation of an original musical with Mr. Foster's music, "Beautiful Dreamer," earlier this spring. It was well worth the visit!
Anne Curtis
Squirrel Hill
There's a town in Illinois called Metropolis and it is erecting a statue of Superman's girlfriend, Lois Lane. Her former home was in the brush of a cartoon artist.
And in this day and age, explain why Pittsburgh can't find any space for a statue of one of its most famous sons, Gene Kelly?
I am a retired New Yorker who is 81. I have some blue and down days, like many of us octogenarians. My therapy? My DVD recorder. I just push the play button and go back to 1942 to be enchanted watching two legends, Gene and Judy, singing and dancing to "The bells are ringing for me and my gal."
I truly doubt that looking at a statue of Clark Kent's lover could ever do much for my spirits, but then again, I'm not from Krypton.
John K. Coyle
Bedford
In trying to improve future Three Rivers Arts festivals, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust should seriously consider moving the concerts back to the Point side of the park.
The current set-up for concerts works well, however it doesn't take advantage of the Point side's unique setting.
Many of my favorite memories of Pittsburgh are from watching live music on the Point while being able to watch river traffic, the fabulous view of Mount Washington, the city skyline and the fountain. Being separated from the rest of the city by the interstate, the Point side is like a tranquil island in the middle of the city.
Judson Kristoff
Mount Washington
Although "It's Not For Me to Say," it makes me sad to not see any review of the "Wonderful! Wonderful!" Johnny Mathis with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall after the 74-year-old's flawless performances on Friday and Saturday evenings.
I did see reviews for Dave Matthews Band and Bret Michaels, who are excellent musicians and performers who also deserve recognition. However, Johnny Mathis has been performing for 50-plus years and "Chances Are," he should have been shown the same respect with some sort of nod in what I think is Pittsburgh's leading newspaper. Johnny doesn't forget Pittsburgh on his tour and remembers his beginnings at the many local Pittsburgh area clubs such as Twin Coaches, Holiday House, Jackie Heller's The Copa, and other clubs flourishing in the 1950s that helped make him a household name. Our city should not ignore the decades of joy and entertainment he has brought to Pittsburgh.
His many fans at Friday night's performance were mesmerized by Johnny's velvet timbre of his amazing vocal capabilities that are still as good as they were many years ago. He awed the crowd with old songs, an incredibly arranged movie medley and some Spanish-inspired songs accompanied by a gifted acoustical guitarist. It was a remarkably nostalgic evening that took many theatergoers back to the days of Pittsburgh's vintage night club scene. He still has it. His songs stand up through many generations. I hope it's not until "The Twelfth of Never" that all generations of loyal PG subscribers, including us older ones, get to hear about his next performance.
Mary Ellen Connolly
Swissvale
First Published: July 15, 2010, 4:00 a.m.