The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA and Google Earth map Land art

The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA has teamed up with Google Earth to provide interactive maps of works in the current exhibition Ends of the Earth: Land Art to 1974 by “pinpointing their original locations to demonstrate the global nature of Land art and its relationship to real places and times.” Users can see both aerial photographs and street views of the sites as well as background information and contemporary images of each work as installed.

The beta SAH Archipedia

The Society of Architectural Historians announced the beta version of its Archipedia site is now available. This digital encyclopedia of American architecture offers only a sample of information, but when it officially launches later in the year, it will be published as two sites: the Archipedia of Classic Buildings (100 of each state’s most representative buildings with teacher guides) and Archipedia, with over 11,000 illustrated building entries from the Society’s award-winning print book series, Buildings of the United States. Once they launch, both sites will be available to individuals with a membership to the SAH.

Start spreadin’ the news: NYC Municipal Archives Online Gallery

The New York Department of Records has digitized over 872,000 unique photographs, maps, motion picture and audio recordings and has made them available in one digital archive. You can browse by collection and category or perform simple and advanced searches. Visitors are encouraged to return frequently as new content will be added on a regular basis.

New iPad app celebrates Leonardo as anatomist

Who says you can’t take it with you: The Royal Collection revealed a new iPad app that offers zoomable high-resolution images of, and other nifty toys with, all 268 anatomical studies by Leonardo da Vinci in their collection. The app has been launched in conjunction with its current exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomist (4 May-7 October, 2012) at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London. Alongside the images are interactive tools like 3D anatomical models, a “magic spyglass” that reverses the artist’s mirror handwriting, and a translation of his notes with just a tap of the finger.

Syracuse’s Marcel Breuer Digital Archive now available

Syracuse University Library has unveiled phase one of a new digital archive containing objects by and about architect and designer Marcel Breuer (1902-1981). The archive includes over 30,000 images of drawings, photographs, correspondence, and other materials created before 1955 and can be explored in its entirety or by project or name. For more information about reproduction and copyright, click here.

Century-old images of estates and gardens now available online

The Library of Congress announced a new set of digital images is now available from over 1,000 hand-colored glass lantern slides by Frances Benjamin Johnston, one of the first professional female photographers to achieve international prominence. The images, originally taken between 1895 to 1935 and used during her popular lectures, depict predominantly American gardens and historic homes.

Live: Damien Hirst (more likely assistants) at work

Two years ago it was Marina Abramović at MoMA. Now you can watch another artist at work: Damien Hirst, who has set up a live feed on his website with two views into his studio.

Google Art just keeps on growing

Just over a year ago we reported on the Google Art Project, which at the time had around 1,000 works from 17 museums.   According to the Google blog there are now over 30,000 high resolution works, from museums all over the world.   They also have 360-degree panoramic views of gallery interiors, and a growing number of gigapixel images (photographed in super high resolution, allowing for extreme detail viewing).  In addition to expanding the holdings, Google has improved the search and access capabilities, allowing users to build personal galleries and register comments.

You can watch demo videos on the blog site, or go straight to Google Art Project here.

New Google Street Views of the Amazon and Russian Highlights

Google Street View, which in the past created the Google Art Project, now offers the armchair tourist two new areas to explore: the Amazon River and Rain Forest or famous Russian buildings and parks. The unveiling of the Amazon collection coincides with World Forestry Day (March 21) and World Water Day (March 22) 2012 and includes behind-the-scenes videos of how they captured these spectacular views.

To experience other Google Street View collections, click here.

AD&A Museum’s Cliff May exhibition opens February 26

UCSB’s Art, Design & Architecture Museum has been going through an inside-and-out renovation and is ready to open its doors with Carefree California: Cliff May and the Romance of the Ranch House. The exhibition is the first major retrospective of the designer who popularized the ranch house and made it an icon of casual California living in the post-war era. The exhibition previews with a “California-cool” Gala on February 25 and opens to the public Sunday, February 26 from 1-5 pm.

In conjunction with Carefree California, check out Catherine Opie Photographs Cliff May and a supplemental online exhibition.