Bloomsbury book cover stirs anger

Book cover’s about-face

For the second time in less than a year, Bloomsbury USA has put a white girl on the cover of a book that’s about a girl of color.

First it was Justine Larbalestier’s “Liar,” which has an African American protagonist. This time, the book is “Magic Under Glass” by Jaclyn Dolamore. The romantic fantasy features Nimira, a brown-skinned protagonist, but the figure on the cover that was shipped to stores is white.

Now it’s being withdrawn, the publisher’s website says, because “the jacket design has caused offense and we apologize for our mistake. Copies of the book with a new jacket design will be available shortly.”

“Sticking a white girl on the cover of a book about a brown girl is not merely inaccurate, it is part of a long history of marginalizaton and misrepresentation,” Larbalestier wrote on her website.

-- Carolyn Kellogg Fairey to close Deitch Gallery

Jeffrey Deitch is planning to close his New York gallery with a bang. The art dealer, who was recently named director of Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art, said that his final exhibition will be a solo show of work by street artist (and political lightning rod) Shepard Fairey.

Deitch said the exhibition would feature “probably more than 20 works” by Fairey. The show is set to open May 1 and will run through the month at Deitch Projects’ SoHo location.

The theme of the exhibition is Fairey’s “vision of America,” Deitch said, and will include portraits of some of Fairey’s “American heroes.” He said that the artist has been working on the project for about a year.

-- David Ng Nominees in sound editing

The Motion Picture Sound Editors announced nominees for the 57th annual Golden Reel Awards on Friday, honoring the best in sound and music editing in feature, TV and other categories.

Nominated for best sound editing of music in a feature film are “2012,” “(500) Days of Summer,” “An Education,” “Avatar,” “The Informant!,” “It’s Complicated,” “Sherlock Holmes” and “Star Trek.”

Nominees for sounding editing of music in a musical feature film are “Crazy Heart,” “Every Little Step,” “Nine” and “Michael Jackson’s This Is It.”

Nominees in the dialogue and ADR category are “(500) Days of Summer,” “A Serious Man,” “G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Star Trek” and “The Stoning of Soraya M.”

The winners will be announced Feb. 20 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites. For a complete list of nominees, to go theenvelope.com.

-- Susan King

Lowe to exit ABC’s ‘Brothers’

Rob Lowe will leave ABC’s “Brothers & Sisters” at the end of the season, his publicist, Nicole Perez-Krueger, said Friday.

Lowe plays Sen. Robert McCallister, who is married to Calista Flockhart’s character, Kitty. He has appeared on the drama for four seasons.

Perez-Krueger said Lowe was in talks with ABC for his own show.

This isn’t the first time Lowe has left a role where he’s part of an ensemble. He exited NBC’s “The West Wing” in 2003 to star in “The Lyon’s Den.” The show was canceled after six episodes.

-- associated press L.A. Phil plans London stop

The Los Angeles Philharmonic won’t announce its 2010-11 season for a few more weeks, but Britain’s Barbican Centre revealed Friday that the orchestra would be visiting London in January 2011.

Music Director Gustavo Dudamel will conduct the orchestra in two performances at the Barbican.

On Jan. 27, 2011, they will perform John Adams’ “Slonimsky’s Earbox,” Bernstein’s Symphony No. 1 “Jeremiah” and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. Mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor is scheduled to perform the vocal part in “Jeremiah.” The orchestra’s visit ends the next day with Mahler’s Symphony No. 9.

The L.A. Philharmonic said it would announce its 2010-11 season on Feb. 16. A spokeswoman for the orchestra confirmed the dates at the Barbican.

-- David Ng Spice Girls musical in works

If it worked for ABBA, why not the Spice Girls?

Producer Judy Craymer says her company will create and produce a new stage musical based on the songs of the girl-power group whose recordings have sold more than 75 million copies. The show is tentatively titled, “Viva Forever.” No production timetable has been announced.

Craymer will produce “Viva Forever” with “American Idol” creator Simon Fuller, who has managed the Spice Girls.

Craymer produced both the stage and screen versions of “Mamma Mia!,” featuring ABBA songs.

-- associated press