Matthew Carter has been “the creator of Georgia, Verdana, Galliard and 70 other typeface families during his 53 years in the field, and the Design Museum in London hails him as ‘the most important typography designer of our time.'” He “classifies his job under industrial design because he is perfecting a product — the English alphabet — that must perform a specific task for many people.”
Tag: 02.19.09
Bollywood’s Chameleonic Composing Star Goes Hollywood
“Before A.R. Rahman received three Academy Award nominations for his contributions to ‘Slumdog Millionaire’s’ Indian-infused techno soundtrack, he was known across India as ‘the Mozart of Madras.’ He’s long been Bollywood’s best-known composer, a household name…. Like Rahman himself, the soundtrack has a vast range: It jumps from a punk song by the Clash to a Hindi anthem to an aching sitar solo.”
For Hoover’s FBI, A Vexing Question: Is Jack Valenti Gay?
“When Beltway insider Jack Valenti died two years ago at age 85, he was playing the role of intermediary between Washington and Hollywood as the theatrical, snowy-haired president of the Motion Picture Association of America. But back in 1964, Valenti was a Houston ad executive newly installed at the White House as a top aide to President Lyndon B. Johnson. And J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI found itself quietly consumed with the vexing question of whether Valenti was gay.”
Removing The Visual Noise From Alice Tully Hall
A walk-through of the gleaming new Alice Tully Hall with architect Elizabeth Diller, whose firm, Diller Scofidio & Renfro, did the renovation.
Michael Kaiser On Smart Management In Troubled Times
Michael Kaiser, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, talks about his Arts in Crisis initiative, now under way: “‘When there are economic challenges, the first things that staffs and boards cut are programming and marketing, and that’s the worst thing you can do,’ he says. ‘You’re guaranteeing yourself you’ll have less revenue next year, and that’s how sick organizations get really sick. That’s why I’m so nervous right now and why I’m doing this.'”
Spidey Won’t Be Swinging Over Broadway Anytime Soon
“Spider-Man will have to wait a little longer for his Broadway debut because of production delays that have plagued the $31.3 million musical featuring songs by U2. Rehearsals for the most expensive show ever produced on the Great White Way have been put off from this spring, according to senior members of the production team, who declined to be named because an opening date has not been announced.”
Sales Limp As NY’s Art Show Opens Sans Sponsor Lehman
“Several dealers among the 70 with booths [at the Art Show] reported meager sales or none at all. Patrons — the women wearing large jewels and the men dressed in suits — spent as much time eating thumb- size vegetable dumplings, Peking duck in scallion pancakes and pulled pork sandwiches as they did perusing the art. ‘Everyone is paralyzed,’ said dealer Per Skarstedt. ‘It has to be either rare or inexpensive or both.'”
Canadian Stage Imports Its New A.D. From France
“[A]fter months of speculation, [Matthew] Jocelyn has taken the perennially controversial artistic reins at the Canadian Stage Company, the biggest of Toronto’s not-for-profit theatres. He replaces Marty Bragg, who had been with the company for 17 years in total, 11 in the now-defunct role of artistic producer; Jocelyn holds the new title of artistic and general director.” A Toronto native, Jocelyn “has spent almost the entirety of his career working outside the country.”