News: Tracey Week

Just in case you haven't been reading the newspapers: she wants the tax laws changed so she ain't taxed in the highest bracket, she's got private health insurance and cat called Docket, she once had a bad time eating a cheeseburger when a man and his family approached her, and she thinks life can be a bit like a helter-skelter. Yes, folks, it's just been Tracey Emin week. Her opening at White Cube saw Hoxton Square heaving with assorted fans, cynics and liggers, and the column inches flowed all week.

Opinion

Ronan Keating thinks life is a roller-coaster. Perhaps him and Tracey ought to collaborate.

News: Canapes and Champers

Partywise Emin went head-to-head with the Whitechapel centenary bash. Emin and chums partied at Below 154, the hip basement bar at the Great Eastern Dining Rooms, whilst the Whitechapel went for the Great Eastern Hotel (we know it's confusing but try to keep up). The Whitechapel went for champagne and canapes in the hotel's glorious first floor atrium, whilst Tracey, bless her cotton socks, went mental. Our correspondent, Arsenal's lanky striker Kanu, informs us that Emin was not at all happy when the Great Eastern Dining Rooms elected to shut down the party at 1am. Her furious protests that she'd been promised partytime until 3 in the morning fell on stony management ears. Rumours abound that a lock-in ensued after the departure of the Emin entourage but Artrumour knows nothing officer.

News: Fish Pie

Despite the efforts of Jopling and the Whitechapel, maximum points for food was taken this week by Stephen Friedman. The usually unassuming dealer went for broke with a lavish dinner in a Vauxhall furniture warehouse for Yinka Shonibare with those folk from the French House providing the nosh. Perhaps those folks from art rag frieze are right: is food the new sea breeze?

It's That Time of Year

You think all these parties, dinners and mega-shows are a coincidence? Fool! Nominations for the 2001 Turner Prize are wanted now and to be nominated your show has to be up and running by 24 May. So like, if you've done fuck all for the past 12 months you might have to count yourself out of the running. Artrumour tips Yinka Shonibare and Lisa Milroy to be on that Turner shortlist, but what do we know - we said D.J Simpson would win the Becks….

Tomorrow's Art Yesterday

….which Tim Stoner won. People's choice D.J. Simpson was left high and dry and the panel almost unanimously went for Tim Stoner with only Zadie Smith plumping for Alex Garland's 'The Beach'. According the rumours which we certainly would not have any truck with, Stoner has been behaving like a 'winner' (we think we heard that right) since the shortlist was announced. His Dad was something big in the unions so we better shut up now before we get picketed.

Fact

Out of 16 Turner Prize winners (17 if you count George as separate from Gilbert), only 2 have been women (Whiteread and Wearing). And one of those was in the suspiciously all-female shortlist of 1997 which followed the outcry over the all-blokey shortlist of 1996. Although we could be wrong - it might be 3, as no-one at Artrumour has any idea whether Grenville Davey is a man or a woman.

Fact

The food at the ICA Becks prize-giving ceremony was a bit ropey this year, and the outrageous queuing system meant that art world luminaries like Maureen Paley were forced to push in.

Good News

Apparently the Chisenhale almost went bust around three months back, but didn't, so that's nice. Expect a change in programme direction though with less group shows (no money, no press) and more solo shows. So all you liggers you demand free drinks at Chisenhale private views because 'I once worked here 6 years ago helping put a show up', stop at once and pay your quids.

Useful News

Got a show up and no reviews? Get a mate to phone Art Review offering to write a piece about you - apparently they've got no writers and will take almost anything. But let's not be too hasty to slag off the new exciting reformed art rag - apparently they're going to sponsor a big young graduate show in October which is nice. All of you out there who are interested in fresh blood should also check out the Fresh Art thing on at the Business Design Centre in July (they're the bods who do the interesting bit at the otherwise horrific London art fair). Ah, another summer, another round of freshfaced hopefuls dreaming of celebrity, canape-studded receptions, parties thrown for them by feverishly eager dealers, sychophantic journos referring to them by their first names in full-page national spreads...Artrumour asks: will this madness never stop? Answers on email please.

NEWSFLASH

As you may know out there Tuesday is anti-global-capitalist-rich-scum-unfettered-free-market day or whatever, and Oxford Street is a particular target. Artrumour want to be the first to congratulate Anthony D'Offay for their bravery in having a champagne opening at their Dering Street galleries (that's just off Oxford Street quite near Oxford Circus) between 6 and 8 on Tuesday. And that goes for the Gagosian Gallery as well.