Arts Europe

Undaunted by economic recession and a lingering fear of travel in the Gulf War's wake, organizers of this year's Edinburgh International Festival, which begins Saturday, have assembled an intriguing program that highlights performing groups from Eastern Europe. Up to 250,000 visitors flock to the Scottish capital at festival time each year, and about 30,000 of them are American.

It's a classy art show. It's a funky happening on the beach. It's a hot social scene. It's a cool video lounge where you lie on a foam-covered ramp while watching arty pictures on a big screen. Bottom line: Art Basel Miami Beach 2002 -- the New World's first taste of Europe's most important art fair -- is about buying and selling modern and contemporary art.

Re "ART/LA89 Draws Mixed Reviews From Local, Out-of-Town Dealers" by Suzanne Muchnic, Dec. 12: I was amused by the Europeans' dismay regarding local collectors' lack of sufficient interest in European art--as if we should roll over and play dead for anything from Europe. The fact is that most of what came over from across the Atlantic was just not that good or new, in the opinion of many attending ART/LA89. Just because something is esoteric and ugly does not mean that it should automatically qualify as art. Could it be that local collectors don't care for the hodgepodge of detritus that European galleries try to push off on what they think is an uneducated local public?

The line may often be obscure between artistic and political expression, but not so at an exhibit now drawing throngs to the doorstep of the German government. This line is unmistakably marked with the bright signal flags of wet laundry billowing in the late-summer sunshine. At Schlossplatz--Palace Square--the clothesline is the canvas for Berliners who want to wash their dirty linen in public.

Though humility can easily transmogrify into arrogance, Richard Tuttle has maintained--over a distinguished, 30-year career--a set of attitudes and a vocabulary of forms that are astonishingly unassuming. This is not to say that Tuttle's work is without pretense. It wants to make a big point with and about the minimal gesture, while refusing to accede to Minimalist art's historic ethos that "what you see is what you see."

It's a classy art show. It's a funky happening on the beach. It's a hot social scene. It's a cool video lounge where you lie on a foam-covered ramp while watching arty pictures on a big screen. Bottom line: Art Basel Miami Beach 2002 -- the New World's first taste of Europe's most important art fair -- is about buying and selling modern and contemporary art.

The line may often be obscure between artistic and political expression, but not so at an exhibit now drawing throngs to the doorstep of the German government. This line is unmistakably marked with the bright signal flags of wet laundry billowing in the late-summer sunshine. At Schlossplatz--Palace Square--the clothesline is the canvas for Berliners who want to wash their dirty linen in public.

Historic anniversary celebrations, top sports events, opera, a desert and the Golden Gate Bridge all add up to special happenings that will make for a memorable vacation this year. Here are of some of the highlight events around the world. UNITED STATES Arizona: Diamond Jubilee: 75th Anniversary of Arizona's Statehood, through Dec. 31. Exhibits, parades, ceremonies and programs are keyed to the theme of "Diamond in the Rough."

Suzanne Biallot has been appointed director of marketing for South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. Before joining the retail center, she was editorial director for Goldbook in Beverly Hills. Biallot has also held editorial positions with both Town & Country and Elle magazines in New York, and served as vice president of corporate communications for Faberge Inc. and director of public relations and advertising for Guerlain Inc. in New York. * Gary Nelson has joined Scantron Corp.

Though attendance fell far short of expectations, those who showed up for Saturday's opening day of the Los Angeles Festival at San Pedro's Point Fermin/Angel's Gate were treated to a cultural experience that was light-years away from the usual summer fest blend of hot dogs, rock bands and Budweiser.

Though humility can easily transmogrify into arrogance, Richard Tuttle has maintained--over a distinguished, 30-year career--a set of attitudes and a vocabulary of forms that are astonishingly unassuming. This is not to say that Tuttle's work is without pretense. It wants to make a big point with and about the minimal gesture, while refusing to accede to Minimalist art's historic ethos that "what you see is what you see."

Undaunted by economic recession and a lingering fear of travel in the Gulf War's wake, organizers of this year's Edinburgh International Festival, which begins Saturday, have assembled an intriguing program that highlights performing groups from Eastern Europe. Up to 250,000 visitors flock to the Scottish capital at festival time each year, and about 30,000 of them are American.

Re "ART/LA89 Draws Mixed Reviews From Local, Out-of-Town Dealers" by Suzanne Muchnic, Dec. 12: I was amused by the Europeans' dismay regarding local collectors' lack of sufficient interest in European art--as if we should roll over and play dead for anything from Europe. The fact is that most of what came over from across the Atlantic was just not that good or new, in the opinion of many attending ART/LA89. Just because something is esoteric and ugly does not mean that it should automatically qualify as art. Could it be that local collectors don't care for the hodgepodge of detritus that European galleries try to push off on what they think is an uneducated local public?

The Monterey Jazz Festival is back. And, amazingly, it is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The event that began amid the West Coast jazz and Third Stream music of the late '50s is still hale and hearty in the fusion, funk and retro jazz of the '90s. One of the most unusual special events at the festival--which runs from next Friday through Sept. 21--appropriately celebrates not only Monterey's 40th, but another 40th as well.

Esa-Pekka Salonen, one of the world's most renowned orchestra conductors, just began his ninth season as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Salonen, 42, is married with three children. He and his wife have homes in Los Angeles, London and in his native Finland. Desktop: I'm a Macintosh person. We have two G3s in London and an older PowerMac. In Finland, there is an iMac and G3. In Los Angeles, I have a G3 and my kids have an iMac.