Cheryl's Art And Music Guide

New Mexico's  Albuquerque Police Museum  is inviting families and youth groups to take part in their summer tours.  The establishment, which is across from City Hall, depicts how policing in the city has evolved over the decades. On view are photos of past employees, vintage equipment, badges, old police cars and uniforms. There are even journals dating back to the 1800s. Many items are from former officers and their families--donated or on loan.  Operating hours at 10 a.m. through 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Tours should be arranged at least one day ahead of time.   The museum is dedicated to the memory of former  Chief Paul A.   Shaver,  who led the department for 23 years.  Visit  https://www.cabq.gov/ police/our-department/the- albuquerque-police-department- museum  for more details. 

Rock journalist   Jon Hotten   is trying to raise money to help his colleague,   Mick Wall . Mick, who has contributed to  Sounds  and  Kerrang!  and written books about acts like  Metallica , the  Eagles  and the  Foo Fighters , recently suffered a heart attack. It was his second, and likely caused by stress.  Jon explains on the  Just Giving  page that Mick and his wife,  Linda , are being evicted by their landlord. They must vacate the premises by the first of August.  As a freelancer, Mick doesn't have job security, savings, or a pension, Jon adds. As for Linda, she is a nurse who doesn't earn a big paycheck.  And she has to look after her husband as well as her elderly parents, who require daily visits. 

Since 1977, Mierle Laderman Ukeles has been artist-in-residence at New York City's Department of Sanitation .  Her first project there was Touch Sanitation Performance . For almost a year, Mierle followed sanitation workers throughout the day, even sharing meals with them. She also shook hands with the employees--a total of 8,500--and thanked them for ''keeping New York City alive.'' Her artwork is said to blur the boundaries between labor and performance, and uncover connections between feminism, work, the city, and the environment.  Mierle is now the subject of a documentary.  Maintenance Artist   has been at a few film festivals.  The next stop is the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival , on the 19th and 25th of July. 

Renovations are ramping up at the  Motown Museum  in Detroit, Michigan.  As they enter the final phase, public tours will be suspended for about a year. That goes into effect on the first of October.  During the pause of tours, regular programming and retail operations will remain active. And throughout the summer, performances and other activities are planned for the museum's  Rocket Plaza .  The 40,000 sq. foot expansion will include interactive exhibits, a state-of-the-art recording studio, and cafe. It comes with a $75 million dollar price tag. The museum, located at the site of the original  Motown  studios, opened in 1985.

A former chairman of  Sotheby's UK  has written about the history of art in London, from 1945-2000.  With a name of  Rogues and Scholars , it's no surprise to find an assortment of colorful characters. They include knockers, who used to go door to door, hoping to snap up bargains. Many pretended the mirrors and furnishings they were examining had flaws--so would then offer to take it off the owners' hands. There was also a problem with runners. Sometimes the items they sold to auction houses and galleries were of questionable providence. One runner,  Michael Fulda , had questionable taste when it came to vehicles. After his van stopped working, he opted for a second-hand hearse! James Stourton  refers to other ''eccentrics'' in his book, but does not elaborate. Nor does he explain why the art duo,  Gilbert & George , left a gallery in a huff to join another. The pair's former dealer was  Anthony d'Offay.  He was able to make friends ...

A new documentary,   It's Never Over Jeff Buckley , is heading for U.S. cinemas on August 8.  Aimee Mann  and  Ben Harper  make appearances, as does Jeff's mother, musician  Mary Guibert . The premiere was held in January at  Sundance , which called it ''a tender look at Buckley through the eyes of friends, family, and collaborators.''  The director is  Amy Berg . She will be at the New York premiere on the 29th of July, at the  IFC Center . Jeff was 30 years old when he drowned in 1997. He made one official studio album,  Grace . According to a press release, the LP received ''astonishing reviews,'' and his cover of  Leonard Cohen 's  Hallelujah  ''further catapulted him to fame.'' Jeff only met his father, musician  Tim Buckley,  once. Tim also died young--from an overdose at the age of 28. The film will be available this winter on  HBO . Back in 2000,  Brad Pitt  hoped to do a biopic. But G...