Daily Archives: April 19, 2011

Pulitzer Praise For Critic Sebastian Smee

Published April 19, 2011

Sebastian Smee, an art critic for the Boston Globe, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for criticism yesterday.

In announcing the award, the Pulitzer board called Smee’s writing “vivid and exuberant” and praised his ability to bring “great works to life with love and appreciation.” Smee, a relative newcomer to Boston, came to the Globe by way of Sydney, Australia, where he served as the national art critic for The Australian.

Sebastian Smee (AP)

Sebastian Smee (AP)

Smee told WBUR’s All Things Considered yesterday that he was particularly proud of a series he started called “Frame by Frame,” in which he highlights an individual work from a permanent collection in New England.

“The reason I like it, I guess, is since I moved here to New England three years ago I’ve just been so impressed by the quality and the range of the museums,” Smee said. “And not just the big, obvious ones like the MFA and the ICA and Harvard, but so many great, smaller college museums which have wonderful permanent collections.”

In 2010, Smee covered the MFA’s new Art of the Americas wing with the Globe as well as with WBUR’s Radio Boston. We learned about Smee’s love for illustrations in the The New Yorker from his piece on the Norman Rockwell Museum’s William Steig exhibit. Smee even ventured out to western Massachusetts to explore the art scene there. The art critic doesn’t just do art, either. Books sometimes fall into his repertoire.

Boston also features another local Pulitzer-winner. The Pulitzer Prize for music was awarded to “Madame White Snake” by Zhou Long. “Madame White Snake,” Long’s first opera, premiered in Boston at the Cutler Majestic Theater and was produced by the city’s very own Opera Boston.

Tuesday Morning: Authorities Engage On Energy

Published April 19, 2011

The controversial Cape Wind wind farm in Nantucket Sound may take a crucial step forward today. U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will unveil a final operation and construction plan for the project today, according to the Associated Press.

In other local energy news, the owners of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant filed a lawsuit in federal court yesterday designed to prevent Vermont authorities from shutting the plant down when its license expires next year. The Entergy Corp. filed the suit in the first salvo of what’s expected to be a lengthy legal battle.

Marathon fans in Kenya and Japan had a lot to celebrate yesterday after the 115th running of the historic Boston Marathon. Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai won the men’s race in record time, while countrywoman Caroline Kilel bested the field on the women’s side. Masazumi Soejima and Wakako Tsuchida gave Japan a sweep of the men’s and women’s wheelchair divisions.

If you’re interested in the 26,000-plus entrants who didn’t win, the Herald has a story on the non-elites, including an adorable picture of a couple celebrating after finishing the race and getting engaged.

The Bruins finally got on the board last night after downing the Canadiens 4-2 in Montreal. The team is still down 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

What we’re following: We’ll continue to report on the Boston police officer suing the city over a promotion, a pre-trial hearing in Sal DiMasi’s corruption case and the ongoing state budget negotiations.