Monster Mash: U.S. chooses artists for Venice Biennale; imam addresses mosque critics

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

-- Chosen ones: The Puerto Rico–based multimedia team Allora & Calzadilla has been announced as the U.S. representatives to the 2011 Venice Biennale. (Art Info)

-- Controversial: The imam of the planned Islamic cultural center near ground zero in New York speaks out about the controversy surrounding the construction of the facility. (New York Times)

-- Sweet deal: Sotheby’s chief executive William Ruprecht has signed a new contract under which he stands to earn as much as $32 million through 2014. (Bloomberg)

-- Symbolic: Officials have hoisted a 70-foot piece of World Trade Center steel at ground zero. (Associated Press)

-- Accounted for: More than 500 ancient objects looted during the Iraq war have returned home, but many more remain unaccounted for. (Christian Science Monitor)

-- Star power: The off-Broadway New Group has announced its 2010-11 season, which will see appearances by Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei and Natasha Lyonne. (Playbill)

-- Dégagé: California Riverside Ballet and its former school, Riverside Ballet Arts, are operating as separate entities for the first time this season. (Press-Enterprise)

-- And in the L.A. Times: Gustavo Dudamel’s L.A. Phil inaugural gala concert is coming to iTunes; Bill T. Jones, Jerry Herman, Oprah Winfrey are among the 2010 Kennedy Center honorees.

-- David Ng