The first month of 2012 has seen its fair share of controversy in the art world. ArtThrob recently reported on the dire situation at the Johannesburg Art Gallery, in which the Contemporary and Eastern collections' storerooms are being threatened by an overflow of water and sewerage from the gallery's poorly-maintained waste water system.

Since our article, and the Mail & Guardian's report on the same situation that appeared on Friday 27 January 2012, we have learned that the staff members of the JAG have been instructed not to speak to the media on this matter.

What is puzzling is that neither the City Manager's office, nor the office of Arts, Culture and Heritage: Community Development seems at pains to release an official statement on a situation which is surely of interest to Gauteng tax payers, of whom many are art lovers.

Keep an eye on ArtThrob for further developments and reports on the JAG.

In other NEWS, Matthew Blackman reports on the blow delivered to VANSA Western Cape by the DA local government in that region. The Western Cape branch of the VANSA network announced recently that key funding from DEDAT would not be renewed in 2012 and, as a result, the branch is being forced to restructure and cut jobs.

In REVIEWS, I look at William Kentridge's recent Goodman Gallery show 'Other Faces'. In the Cape, Sean O'Toole reviews the two-part survey show at the AVA, 'Unnatural History' and 'Natural Selection'.

Also, we publish our much-anticipated Best Of 2011 feature, in which our various editors get to mouth off on last year's highs and lows. Expect sarcasm, righteous anger and shameless subjectivity.

The new year brings with it changes, and as such we bid a fond farewell to two staff members. Chantal Louw, our behind-the-scenes administrative person, is moving on. We wish her well, and assure her that she will be missed.

Also, we say goodbye to our Cape Editor, the incomparable Sean O'Toole, who is hunkering down in 2012 to concentrate on his studies. Sean is well known and respected in the SA art community, and his writing has been a vital source of critical edge for us.

At this time we also welcome Clare Butcher, curator, writer and previous freelance contributor to ArtThrob. Clare takes on the Cape Editorship, and we are happy to have her skills added to ours!

MICHAEL SMITH

MANAGING EDITOR