Cruddy Economy, Gas Prices Hurting Craft-Show Artists

"The craft show life. You might call it the artist's rendition of a traveling salesman. It's set-up on Thursday, pack-up on Sunday, with selling in between. Often, there are only a few days before the next show." Humble as it may seem, it's a multibillion-dollar industry. "Still, rising gas, motel, and other costs are cutting into profits, forcing some to leave the business...."...

Banksy (And Animatronic Friends) In The Great Indoors

"The rumors are true: Banksy is -- or was, or has been -- in town, and he's doing more than just painting, or hiding." The graffiti artist's handiwork has been spotted downtown recently, "and on Wednesday a Banksy piece was unveiled at 89 Seventh Avenue South (near Bleecker Street) in Greenwich Village. This one is not a mural but an installation: a mock pet supply shop, filled with animatronic creatures...."...

Gallery Alleges Extortion Attempt By Former Enron Exec

"Enron Corp.'s former chief operating officer of global markets, Jeff Shankman, was sued by a New York art gallery for allegedly trying to extort more than $150,000 by claiming a painting he bought was a forgery."...

Design Challenge: A Beautiful, Muscular Bike Rack

"There's no single reason why bicycle commuting has gone into high gear, though spiraling gas prices, concern about greenhouse-gas emissions, and an appreciation of messenger cool are surely contributing to the crowded bike lanes." But parking for bikes in Philadelphia has not kept pace, and existing racks are aesthetically and practically displeasing. "The time has come to build a better bike rack."...

The Standout On The Stirling Prize Shortlist

The Royal Institute of British Architects' Stirling prize is handed out tomorrow, and it ought to go to Pritzker winner Zaha Hadid for her Austrian ski station, Colin Amery argues. "It is notoriously hard to predict the Stirling's result, though on grounds of aesthetic adventurousness Hadid wins hands down."...