The latest press release from the Brooklyn Museum, titled "THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM ANNOUNCES THE INCLUSION OF AN EXCLUSIVE LOUIS VUITTON STORE WITHIN THE RETROSPECTIVE OF JAPANESE ARTIST TAKASHI MURAKAMI" contains this interesting tidbit in the fourth paragraph (their bold not mine):

The Louis Vuitton store at the Brooklyn Museum will be located in a 550-square-foot gallery within the retrospective on the fifth floor of the Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing for the duration of the exhibition. Louis Vuitton has fully underwritten the construction of the store and will be responsible for its staffing and operation. A selection of Monogram Multicolor bags and small leather goods will be available for sale for the duration of the © MURAKAMI exhibition. Styles for sale include the Alma, Speedy, Ursula, Beverly, Rita, Eugénie, and Alexandra. Just as the MOCA store presented a number of limited-edition Monogram canvasses revisited by Takashi Murakami, the Brooklyn store will also offer a new version of these "Editioned Canvasses," signed by the artist and sold as exclusive art products. The new version, called Monogramouflage, is an exciting new pattern created by Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton, and gives viewers a glimpse of a bright new product line that will be launched at the Brooklyn Museum Louis Vuitton store on June 1 before being sold in selected Louis Vuitton stores worldwide. Louis Vuitton plans to donate a portion of the revenues generated at the Louis Vuitton store within the Brooklyn Museum on the evening of the Gala to the Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation.

The foundation's website may be found here.

Update: I just read more about what the foundation does:

The Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation (FEHSF) is a non-profit corporation formed to assist Federal Agents and law enforcement officials through supporting their families with emergency funding, financial assistance and community outreach. In particular, FEHSF provides monetary support to families of Agents and officers who are seriously injured or killed on duty protecting the nationÂ's citizens or enforcing our laws. Additionally, FEHSF supports those Agents or Agents' families during times of personal difficulties.

Frankly, I should think our federal government should provide these resources rather than expect private fundraising to take care of these people and their families. Perhaps we should stop cutting taxes for the people that can afford Louis Vuitton bags so that the feds can afford it?

Note: The press release is not online. I received it via email.

I was reading this otherwise pretty good article on a young activist in today's City Section of the New York Times today when one thing leapt out at me.

To the Ramparts (Gently)
By BEN GIBBERD
Published: March 23, 2008

...

“I actually think violent action isn’t radical at all,” he said firmly. “Radicals go to the root of the problem, and they want to change society. Violence doesn’t change society, and if it doesn’t go to the root of the problem, it’s not radical.” Mr. Kelly paused. “I don’t know what it is,” he added, “but it has nothing to do with what I want to do.”

Drama, Yes. Violence, No.

Despite his attitude toward violent protest, Mr. Kelly has not shied away from dramatic tactics. He has been arrested twice, once two years ago during a protest on PaceÂ’s Manhattan campus, and once a year ago when he and about 20 other S.D.S. members were detained for occupying an Army-Navy recruiting center in Lower Manhattan. Neither arrest led to any charges.

...

Is this writer implying that getting arrested in non-violent protests is somehow a moral equivalent of using a bomb or other violence to make the same point? I find that a rather dangerous position.

Related: James's post titled Times Square bomblet outperforms march of a million

I got an email about this over the weekend. Check out B. Blagojević's post on the ArtCal Zine and NEWSgrist for more information.