Tag: 03.07.19

Ukraine Has A Censorship Problem, But It’s Not Caused By The Government

“Paramilitary groups, the most active of which is called C14, have existed as a form of ‘art critics’ since 2009, when they first burnt down the Gudimov Centre for its presentation of a book with a provocative name: 120 Pages of Sodome. Since then, they have intended to impact Ukraine’s cultural life, censoring the topics of gender, sexuality, and politics in art.” – Hyperallergic

Library Of Congress Chief Has Plan To Pull In Many More Visitors – But Will It Still Be A Library?

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden’s master plan involves a makeover of the main building, including its beloved Great Hall and Main Reading Room, to add exhibition space. But some staffers and observers worry that the extra activity and foot traffic will change the nature of the place — as the leader of the staff union local put it, “All of us are interested in having people in the library. We don’t want to see it turned into an events center just because it’s beautiful.” – The Washington Post

‘I Thought It Was One Of The Most Profound Experiences I’ve Ever Been Through’: Sergei Polunin Talks About His Most Recent Meltdown

Last week, ballet’s perpetual problem child had his manager summon a non-dance journalist to hear him “explain his recent activity on social media” — a series of Instagram posts that basically wrecked his career. Simon Hattenstone went, and Polunin explained — in his way. And no, he doesn’t regret anything. – The Guardian

Creating A Ballet For The Met Museum Galleries

“As his work for seven dancers moves from darkness (the staid and somber Assyrian Court) to tranquility (the meditative Chinese Garden Court) and finally lightness (a bright court in the American Wing), [he] takes the audience on a journey laced with history and spirituality.” Gia Kourlas talks with New York City Ballet corps member Silas Farley about his new piece, Songs from the Spirit. – The New York Times

From House Arrest, With No Internet, Kirill Serebrennikov Is Still Directing Operas

“Serebrennikov, the enfant terrible of Russian theatre, cinema and ballet, has been shuttered in his apartment for two years, accused of embezzlement in what his followers consider politically motivated charges.” But he’s now finishing his third opera staging under these conditions — an updated Verdi Nabucco in Hamburg. Thank heaven for USB sticks. – Yahoo! (AFP)

Evidence The Arts Help Struggling Students Do Better

Overall, the researchers found no significant differences in the amount of content the kids retained, regardless of which version of the lessons they received. But the arts-infused approach had a positive effect on “struggling readers.” Ten weeks later, those kids “remembered significantly more science content learned through the arts” than those who were taught using conventional methods.  – Pacific Standard

Art Institute Of Seattle To Close This Week, Leaving 600 Students Stranded

The closure comes after months of troubles that seeped into public view.In October, the Art Institute of Seattle laid off most of its full-time faculty as Dream Center announced 18 of the 31 Art Institutes campuses would close by the end of last year, including the Portland campus. WSAC notified Art Institute of Seattle campus director Lindsey Morgan Oliger of the school’s “at-risk” designation on Jan. 10 and prohibited it from enrolling new students. – Seattle Times

Laurie Anderson At 71

“As an artist I like to understand how things work. I only refer to that in my performances, because I hate it when people say, “You should do this, you should do that.” I never try to do that. I provoke, I put some little things in to consider. That’s the best I can do.” – Van