Among the top visual arts headlines today: Getty Foundation announces 2019 “Keeping it Modern” architectural conservation grants; Neil Armstrong’s lunar landing memorabilia sells for over $2+ Million at Heritage Auctions; Perez Art Museum of Miami’s chief curator Tobias Ostrander to step down; and Artadia announces 2019 Chicago awardees.

Getty Foundation Announces 2019 Architectural Conservation Grants
TheGetty Foundationhas announced more than $1.6 million in architectural conservation grants as part of its “Keeping It Modern”initiative. These grants are dedicated to 10 significant buildings of the 20th-century. It includes first time projects in countries such as Argentina, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Mozambique, Spain, and Uganda and stretches across four continents. The types of buildings range from a Soviet-era monument to a church, from a large exhibition hall to an inventive railway station. “Keeping It Modern,” was created in 2014, and has supported 64 national and international model conservation projects that focus on research and planning. It has also developed new networks of professionals involved in the conservation of modern buildings. The Getty Foundation will offer one moreyear of direct project support in 2020. Adaptive reuse is a common theme among many of this year’s projects.

PAMM’s Chief Curator to Step Down
Tobias Ostrander, the Perez Art Museum of Miami’s chief curator, will be stepping down from his position. According to theMiami Herald, Ostrander now plans to work independently, after helping to lead the museum for eight years. PAMM Director Franklin Sirmans said in a statement, “We are grateful for Tobias Ostrander’s time with PAMM, which did much to further enrich the history of the institution. After eight years with the museum — a time that spanned the transition from the smaller museum at Government Center to the new building here in Maurice A. Ferre Park — he has resigned to explore new opportunities and we wish him only the best.” During Ostrander’s tenure, PAMM received a $1 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support the institution’s new Caribbean Cultural Institute.

Neil Armstrong’s Lunar Landing Memorabilia Fetches over $2+ Million at Heritage Auctions
On the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch, Heritage Auctions hosted a three-day auction event that featured Part III of The Armstrong Family Collection™, July 17-18. Neil Armstrong’s personally-owned gold medal, which he carried with him on his historic Apollo 11 landing, sold for $2,055,000 on Tuesday, July 16. The solid gold Robbins Medal was the highlight of the beginning of the three-day auction event. The astronaut’s teddy bear also sold for $3,500. Competitive bidding took place for two memorabilia that Armstrong carried with him to the moon, collectors bid $143,750 for a 1-1/4-inch swath of muslin cloth from the left-wing of the Wright Brothers’ 1903 Flyer and a section of the flyer’s propeller ended at $150,000. Directly from Armstrong’s collection, the largest American flag flown aboard Apollo 11, sold for $137,500. “The response from admirers of Mission Commander Armstrong’s contribution to humanity has been simply overwhelming,” said Michael Riley, Director of Space Exploration at Heritage Auctions.

Artadia Names 2019 Chicago Awardees
ArtistsBethany CollinsandBrendan Fernandeshave been selected by non-profit organization Artadia as the recipients of the 2019 Chicago Artadia Awards.Bethany Collinswas awarded the LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Artadia Award whileBrendan Fernandeswas presented with the Liberty Specialty Markets Artadia Award. Each artist will also receive a cash prize of $10,000. This is non-profit’s tenth Award cycle in Chicago providing unrestricted Awards to artists in the city.