“[She] dropped out of college to join the poetry swirl in New York’s Greenwich Village in the 1950s. She arrived in San Francisco in 1968, too late for the North Beach Beats, but she established herself as a singular force, a feminist in a poetry culture that was overwhelmingly male. Her publishing career spanned more than 60 years and 40 books.” – San Francisco Chronicle
Author: Matthew Westphal
What Carlos Acosta Wants For Birmingham Royal Ballet
Well, besides getting through COVID (and he has things to say on that, too). “I want to challenge the perception that ballet is for white people, this is for old people. … We are in Birmingham, with its own demographic, and we have to keep that in mind when commissioning. I want to highlight how important the city has been to the U.K. Heavy-metal music was born here, Led Zeppelin came from here — we’ll do those ballets! But this art form was born centuries ago, and we have a responsibility to cultivate that side, too.” – The New York Times
A Brief History Of Fights Over Museums Selling Off Art
“Deaccessioning is hardly new in the art world, however, and neither are the debates surrounding it. Below, a look back at some of the most notable deaccessioning plans from the past five decades.” – ARTnews
The World’s Whitest White Is Here, And It Can Help Fight Climate Change
In the past few years we’ve seen the debuts of the world’s blackest black (several times) and pinkest pink. Now comes a white acrylic paint, developed by engineers at Purdue, that reflects 99.5% of light and stays cooler than the ambient temperature even in the brightest sunshine. Meanwhile, artist Stuart Semple (who created that super-hot pink) has developed his own Whitest White, which (he says) reflects 99.6% of light. – Artnet
Jon Stewart Is Returning To Television
“As part of an expansive, multiyear deal with Apple, the Emmy-drenched former writer, producer and host of The Daily Show is set to front an all-new current affairs series for the streaming service. The show, which will run for multiple seasons, puts Stewart back in the anchor’s chair as he explores a host of topics at the center of both the national conversation and his own advocacy work.” – The Hollywood Reporter
A Third Of U.S. Theatres Surveyed Fear They’ll Go Out Of Business In 2021
“Only 23 out of 60 are confident that they will not need to close before the pandemic runs its course. You read that correctly: Almost as many theatres surveyed think they’ll need to close next year as think they will not need to consider closing at all.” – American Theatre
COVID Roars Through The Ranks At La Scala And San Carlo
In Milan, 18 choristers and three woodwind players have come down with the coronavirus, even as La Scala has shut down again. At the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, 12 employees, among them management, chorus singers, orchestral players and ballet dancers, have tested positive for COVID so far. – AP
Hay Festival Director Suspended Following Employee Grievance
“Peter Florence, the founder and director of the Hay festival, has been suspended from his position after allegations of bullying from a staff member. … Finance director Tania Hudson has been appointed interim chief executive of the festival in Florence’s absence, alongside international director Cristina Fuentes La Roche.” – The Guardian
What All Those English-Language Schools In Japan Really Signify
There are more than 5,000 English-as-a-Foreign-Language schools in the country — about 20% more than in China, which has more than 10 times the population. And their lessons come on top of the English classes included in Japan’s public school curriculum. And yet the Japanese rank among the worst in Asia in English proficiency. So what purpose do all the EFL schools there serve? Several purposes, actually. – Metropolis (Tokyo)
AAMD’s Failed Oversight: Murky “Clarification” of Its “Financial Flexibility” Resolutions
Better late than never (but not soon enough), the Association of Art Museum Directors is attempting to backpedal from its decision, six months ago, to temporarily loosen its tight strictures against the use of proceeds from art sales for anything other than acquisitions. – Lee Rosenbaum