Hm. After lawsuits and countersuits and a lot of bad publicity, the museum deaccessioned and sold 40 pieces of art from its collection, including some Norman Rockwells, to fund a “New Vision.” The new director says, “‘It didn’t scare me, obviously. I’m here. … You’ve got to find a way to pick up on the other side of that and move an institution forward.” – The Berkshire Eagle (Massachusetts)
Tag: 04.05.19
City Of New York Places Artists-In-Residence At Social Service Agencies To Develop Art Around Social Issues
One, for instance, will be “working on a project that deals with unequal birth outcomes and maternal mortality for pregnant and parenting black people in the Bronx.” Says an assistant commissioner, “Artists can be creative problem-solvers.” Indeed. – The New York Times
A New York Club Founded In The 1970s By The Child Of Sharecroppers Is Still Going Strong
At the Sugar Hill Restaurant & Supper Club, owner Eddie Freeman and his family have seen every kind of music and dancing from disco to house music to whatever the white hipsters now gentrifying Bedford-Stuyvesant are into. “One thing has remained consistent throughout all of the renovations and changes in clientele: ‘The music makes you want to dance.'” – The New York Times
The Latin American Movie-Makers Rejecting Machismo
At Madrid’s Film for Women Festival, three directors agree that quotas aren’t ideal, but they might be necessary right now. “At least until there is some equality. ‘Or better, let’s talk about equity,’ says [Argentinean director] Lorena Muñoz.” – El País (Spain)
As Movie Studios Keep Churning Out Superheroes, Who Is Shazam, Again?
Other than a fun lunkhead, Shazam – who, let’s just go for maximum confusing here, used to be called Captain Marvel – is one of comic books’ most important superheroes, historically speaking: “In his prime, he regularly outsold Superman and Batman. And he was the first comic book superhero to appear on film.” – The New York Times
Scott Robinson’s ‘Tenormore’
Whoa: “An out-and-out plug on Rifftides is rare.” – Doug Ramsey
Dan Robbins’ Painting By Numbers Revolutionized Art
Robbins – who just died at 93 – changed the relationship of the average, at-home painter to abstract art through his homely scenes that, reduced down to color shapes with numbers in them, influenced (and delighted) Andy Warhol. Robbins’ clever idea did more, though – “its secret influence can be seen right through 60s American art.” – The Guardian (UK)
If You Judged By TV Shows, You’d Think Most Bisexual People Were Psychopaths
What’s up with the terrible representation, TV? Of course, “the sexually manipulative bi character is not so unique,” but Villanelle, Frank Underwood, and Annalise Keating’s characters shade more into the diabolical. – BuzzFeed
The Man Who Was Called ‘Mr. Followspot’
Linford Hudson worked at London’s Palladium Theatre for more than 50 years, and he just got a special Olivier award for his skill. “I was born to do the followspot,” he says. ‘A lot of people try and fail. It takes a lot of finesse and feeling. I don’t use sights.” And he has stories. Ask him about the time Bette Midler flashed him, but don’t ask him about the parties Sammy Davis Jr. threw for cast and crew alike. – The Stage (UK)
The TV Show That Revived Musicals Comes To An End
After four seasons, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is ending, but it began at a time when critics declared the TV musical utterly moribund after the decline and fall of Glee (and, earlier, Smash). But more than a little show that could, the wild plot and edgy comedy of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend got around certain issues with musicals and musical theatre by framing all of the music (150 original songs so far) as an imaginary therapeutic device for the main character, allowing her “to escape from her overwhelming emotions and her unfeeling family.” – The Atlantic