NEA chairman's 'Art Works' tour

Rocco Landesman, the chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, announced Wednesday that he is taking a whistle-stop tour of the country to "spotlight all the ways that art works." "I will visit downtown sculpture gardens, art walks along waterfronts, free public performances and exhibitions, historic-building renovations and subsidized artist workspaces and residences," said Landesman, making his first major speech since taking over in August. Speaking to the conference of Grantmakers in the Arts in Brooklyn, Landesman defined his "guiding principle" for the NEA. He also attempted to clarify what he called his own "blunt" positions and put out a few brush fires.